Suzuki Kizashi S AWD

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The Kizashi is an all-new mid-sized family sedan aimed at taking on everything from the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, to the Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu. 2. Just one engine is offered, a 2.4-liter 4-cylidner that makes 185-hp with a six-speed manual or 180-hp with a CVT automatic. 3. Fuel Economy with the CVT is rated at 23/30 mpg (city/hwy). 4. Pricing will start at under $20,000.

PREVIEW

Kizashi (pronounced ka-zah-shee) is not a sliced-and-diced fried egg presented by an over-enthusiastic Ghinzu chef, or a gently garnished sea bass smoked via the backyard Hibachi; it’s the newest mid-sized sedan served up by Japan’s ‘other’ automotive restaurateur: Suzuki.

At an October press launch in the Pacific Northwest, Suzuki Vice President Gene Brown called the Kizashi, “The most substantial car ever built by Suzuki.” The Kizashi replaces the underwhelming, undersized, Korean-built, Forenza sedan and wagon, which exited after the 2008 model year (did anyone notice?). In the 2009 model year, Suzuki snuck by without a true mid-size, sedan.

The Kizashi, manufactured in Japan at Suzuki’s newest and most modern assembly plant, is built from the ground up with Suzuki calling the shots (no partnership agreement with another automaker). While it’s boldly eying smaller European performance sedans such as the Volkswagen Passat as competition, after a day of twisting road driving to Mt. St. Helen, the sporty and well-regarded Mazda6 sedan may be a better comparison.

INTERIOR

The Kizashi has a dash of elegant exterior nuances thanks to jeweled headlights and a smallish front grille. It still has an imposing front-end design, however, thanks to a lower center intake that is framed with the same lines that run around the grille. Its stance is slightly toned down from the Mazda6’s sporty looks, but the Kizashi does boast as standard fare (in all trims) dual climate controls, push-button start, secondary steering wheel radio controls and dual tipped exhausts.

The Kizashi is available in front drive or sure-footed all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive (which adds about 125 pounds) is available in all trims sans the base and is activated with the push of a dashboard button. Torque split is automatically regulated depending on factors including wheel slippage and steering input. This marks a notable difference from Japanese mid-size rivals Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Mazda6 which offer front-drive exclusively.

UNDER THE HOOD

One all-new four-cylinder engine powers the four trims (S, SE, GTS and SLS). At 2.4-liters of displacement it makes 185 horsepower when mated to a six-speed manual transmission, or 180 horses with the performance-tuned continuously variable transmission (CVT). This compares with 170 horsepower from the Mazda 6 four-cylinder. The Kizashi’s CVT offers an infinite number of forward gears (not just five or six) cutting out the ‘lurch’ sometimes felt with conventional automatics.

While just about every mid-sizer out and about offers a V6, Kizashi is content (for now) with its competent in-line four. This could turn off potential buyers who insist that a V6 is a must, but with the V6 sedan segment continuing to shrink Suzuki seems to have made the right decision.

Editions with front drive and the CVT average 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, which are respectable figures when compared to rivals. The CVT comes standard with the SE trim. A six-speed manual is available in the other three trims as well as the CVT, which adds $1,100 to the bottom line. All-wheel drive is a $1,250 hit. For those who enjoy a manual transmission performance and availability in a high-end trim, Kizashi delivers.1