Vehicle: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport
Price as tested: CDN$29495
Performance: About a year ago, when Suzuki introduced their mid-size Kizashi. We love it so much that it was one of the nominees for our family car of the year, although it has taken a backseat to both VW Jetta TDI and Hyundai Sonata due to its noisy CVT transmission. A year later, Suzuki introduced the Sport version of the Kizashi. Instead of using CVT as with its AWD silibings, it comes with a sweet 6-speed manual mated with a nice clutch set-up. While the 6-speed has nicely done gear ratios to suit Kizashi’s sporty character, its clutch feel and feedback are anything but light and progressive. Its the sort of clutch feedback which feel right at home in any decent sports sedan. Gone is the rather noisy CVT, in with the 6-speed manual with the FWD version is a nice move by Suzuki. The rest of the mechanical bits are similar to those of other Kizashi. Other than the fact that Suzuki refused to put any 6-cylinders in the Kizashi, which is a smart move especially when you consider those V6 in Camry and Accord only have less than 10% taken rate. On the other hand, both Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima have used the form of turbocharged 4-cylinder instead of any V6 is the prime example. That means Kizashi’s 2.4 liter 4-cylinder 16-valve with variable valve timing and electronic throttle are very good unit, indeed. Not only it doesn’t have the noisy and rough racket as Suzuki powerplants of yesterday, its refinement and NVH are about on par with those big boys from both Japan and Korea. The throttle response is quick, while it doesn’t feel breathless and irriating when pushed it through the rev range. 180hp, which is 5 down from CVT-equipped version and 170 lb/ft of torque certainly help matters, when you consider the fact that Sport costs 3241 lb at its wrist.
Handling: One of the most impressive aspects of Kizashi have to be its dynamic abilities. Despite the lack of AWD in Sport variant, its FWD doesn’t leave us cold. In fact, it remains as fast and well-planted as its with its AWD silibing. The electric power steering feels sharp and responsive, while remains relatively precise and pointy to where driver wants it to go. Even if it comes with stiffer sports suspension, it doesn’t have any of those rough-riding scanario as with many of those so-equipped rivals. In fact, its able to ride as good as many of Kizashi’s targeted premium rivals. The result is a ride quality which feel both supple and firm, without feeling spongy and softly sprung. It has a sense of suppleness which we usually feel in European rivals. Pushed the Kizashi through the twisties, it exhibits the amount of driving fun, which would feel like a rarity in a class of boring family sedan. The Kizashi feels every inch a proper sports sedan without a single doubt. Its electronic stability control remains uninstrusive when pushed hard into a corner, it only starts to intervene whenever driver rears its ugly heads. Its just a pity that Sport doesn’t come with the optional AWD. It would make Kizashi Sport such a world beater if Suzuki is able to put together a world-class AWD with a nice ESC and 6-speed manual.
Brakes: With standard 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, Kizashi’s stopping power is as impressive as its dynamic package. The stopping distance is short, while pedal feels solid and well-modulated. ABS only acts up at the right time at the right place wraps up such a nice engineered package.
Interior: Kizashi comes with proper 60/40 split fold-down rear seats with ski-pass through, while the hinges are nicely padded for keeping it from crashing into the groceries below. However, the high liftover and narrow side sills have limited the loading capacity into this rather spacious trunk.
The rest of the interior is typical Kizashi. It still have the best interior in recent Suzuki memory. There are nice materials on the dashboard and door panels, while the auto climate control is initutive and easy to use. Those leather seats are well-foamed and comfortable.
Conclusion: The Kizashi Sport is a very nice piece of engineering. The addition of a 6-speed manual to the party has added the spicy to the already potent sports sedan. Mix up with good looks, classy interior and a great chassis, Kizashi is definitely a car which should be in everyone’s shopping list.
Competitions:
Honda Accord
Toyota Camry
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Mazda6
Ford Fusion
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5