• Howick and Botany Times
When it’s from a niche player that’s already rocked the small car segment, it gets downright exciting.
Suzuki has a track record for doing things right: think Samurai, Vitara, and most recently, the excellent Swift, a car that’s exceeded expectations both in execution and sales performance.
Buoyed by Swift’s success, Suzuki has introduced its mid-size Kizashi – a name that cheekily means ‘omen’ or ‘warning’; “watch out Mazda6, Ford Mondeo and Honda Accord, we’re coming to get you”.
Yes indeed, Suzuki might be a small player in the scheme of things, but it’s got a really big stick.
That stick is powered by a willing 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that, in the case of the Limited model tested here, drives the front wheels through a CVT (constantly variable) automatic transmission.
Acceleration is brisk with good launch feel, and apart from that annoying busyness you get from a CVT transmission at full throttle, the whole deal feels smooth, quiet and refined.
Initially, Kizashi was also going be offered with a GM sourced V6. But when GM started its slide to near oblivion, it divorced Suzuki and the V6 went with it.
What this means is that Kizashi’s chassis is set up to handle more grunt than the four-cylinder can produce. So, there’s no torque steer, and the handing is balanced and composed which will keep the more conservative buyers happy.
Extensive use of sound deadening inside and under has resulted in a remarkably quiet ride, with almost no road noise despite the Limited’s low profile 235/45x18 Yokohama tyres.
Kizashi has a roomy feel to it. Although 105mm shorter than Mazda6 in overall length, its wheelbase is just 25mm less. Kizashi is 25mm wider than the Mazda, and is one of the widest cars in its class.
The Limited’s leather clad interior is a class act. There’s great attention to detail, and the fit and finish is hard to fault. Apart from busy-looking instruments, the dark toned cockpit design is handsome in an understated way.
Being the top spec model, Limited is loaded with safety and convenience features. Having said that, the likes of dual zone climate air, steering wheel mounted audio controls, the annoying keyless entry and seven speaker audio system are available right across the range.
Seeing how Kizashi evolved from a series of three concept cars and a clean sheet of paper, you’d expect a few flaws in the design.
Well, I couldn’t find any.
Yes, I could do without the keyless entry and I’d really like a Limited with a manual gearbox, but that’s just me. No doubt others will love the proximity key and CVT auto.
Kizashi is an excellent car that’s more than capable of pulling a swifty and dealing to its competitors, particularly when you consider its sharp pricing that starts at $35,990, through to $42,990 as tested here.
Suzuki just needs to ensure that Kizashi doesn’t fly under the mid-size car buyers’ radar.
