It’s a real battle out there. The mid-size car wars have been raging for years with perennial favorites like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord staking their claim at the top of the heap. They haven’t gone without challenge though as the Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and others have put major dents in the top two’s battle armor of sales. In a James Bond movie, you have one man out-dueling superior (supposedly) foes. Like Bond, the Suzuki Kizashi is fighting its way towards the top of the mid-size car heap - if not in overall sales - for sure with performance and style.
I had heard good things about the Kizashi over the last couple of years but didn’t get the opportunity to drive one until recently. I came away very impressed with this mid-size samurai warrior. It’s received accolades from JD Power and Associates (highest ranked mid-size car in the APEAL category), Auto Pacific (tops in consumer satisfaction for two consecutive years) and Consumer Digest (Best Buy). Suzuki sums it up best with the tag line “premium without the premium.”
The outward appearance is stunning compared to most of the cars it competes against. An aggressive front fascia, clean and distinct character lines on the side, and a distinctive rear-end are all held proud by the right-sized 18 inch wheels and tires. Your eye is drawn to the tail of this car by a high sculpted trunk lid (somewhat like a BMW 1-Series) and eye-catching exhaust shrouds that are resplendent in shape and nickel-like plating. Of course mine came in “Arrest-Me-Red” (technically it was Vivid Red) with a black cloth interior.
Entering and starting the Kizashi is a breeze thanks to the SmartPass Keyless entry and push button start. Inside, creature comforts like Bluetooth (including streaming audio), steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls gave this Kizashi great ergonomics. Comfortable and supportive front buckets complemented the generous leg and head room in the rear. For sound fanatics, the Kizashi comes equipped with a 425 Watt, Rockford Fosgate sound system. Of course, with a system like that you must have an iPod interface (via USB) as well as an auxiliary jack for playing your own favorites and here again, the Kizashi came through. A 60/40 split rear seat leads to a cavernous trunk with four tidy flush-mount tie-down hooks. Back up front, the instrument panel is an exercise in clarity with rich lighting accents. A huge glove box with a separate shelf for the owner’s manual keeps everything neat and roomy.
Getting this sculpture on wheels moving is a little bit of a different story. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is certainly smooth enough but definitely could use more horsepower and low-end torque. 185 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 170 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm seem reasonable, but it just feels a bit gutless ’till you get the revs up. My main thumbs-down point with the Kizashi is the less-than-ideal gas mileage. Although the EPA rates the Kizashi at 20/29 mpg city/hwy, I only averaged 26.6 in mixed yet mostly highway miles - better than the 24 mpg combined rating, but still on the low end in this class. By contrast some mid-size competitors are nearing 40 mpg (hwy) currently.
The six-speed gearbox is decent. It has a rubbery shifter feel, yet shifts are crisp and precise. The pull-up ring interlock for reverse makes for effortless execution and is the best part of the shifting experience.
Ride quality is firm yet comfortable and the only noticeable flaw would be when rough road arises. That’s the only time I noticed excessive tire noise. I’d have to give Suzuki some benefit of the doubt here as this particular press fleet car came with well-worn hoops. Speaking of which, the 235/45/18 Dunlop SP Sport 7000 tires have fantastic grip. Those well-worn tires quietly grabbed the asphalt like a cat digging its claws into carpet. The most outstanding dynamic quality is the sheer utter lack of body lean in the corners. I’ve driven some race cars with more lean than the Kizashi! It inspires confidence yet still gives great feedback through the precise and well-weighted steering wheel.
If you’re looking to break away from the generic styling that has infiltrated this segment of the market and if you’re looking to be an independent thinker and not follow the crowd, the Suzuki Kizashi is certainly worth a look. It comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile zero-deductible, fully transferable limited power train warranty. At $22,774 as tested, it’s competitively priced and a good value. If you don’t mind the less-than-stellar gas mileage, this could be your next car.
| 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS | |
 Photo courtesy of Suzuki |
| Dashboard | |
 Photo courtesy of Suzuki |
| 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS - Rear | |
Photo courtesy of Suzuki |
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Larry Mason
©Copyright 2012 Larry Mason