Suzuki Kizashi (A) 2010

The Review

Totally underrated car. No one wants a Suzuki badged luxury car I guess but they are missing out. I am now driving a used Kizashi and it feels solid. Well built, no rattles, drives very well- responsive, agile. Luxurious factory Japanese cowhide, quiet except for initial acceleration when you hear the CVT drone. It's not as spacious as the Camry but it feels so much better to drive and the cabin just feels more upscale and sporty. The warranty was extended to a full 5 years unlimited mileage. FC is quite good for a 2.4L car and the CVT gearbox encourages smooth driving. Lots of equipment- HIDs, cruise control, 6 airbags, 7 speaker hifi, 18" alloys shod with low profile Aspec dB tyres. Even has Euro flash three times to pass turn signal indicators. I am very impressed what Suzuki has been able to achieve with this car.

The Review

Remember how Japanese sedans used to be before the turn of the century? Simple, boxy little cars? Cars like the Accord, Sunny and (can't believe I'm saying this) Camry? They were simple, honest and very direct in their operation. They had that aura is simplicity and connected feel to the road; perhaps because there was not much between the driver and the road due to the way they were manufactured. But they were unabashed about their simplicity and the Kizashi is a car that's like that. Comparing modern cars to my old 90s Civic, modern cars are more like appliances or machines rather than vehicles. You're wrapped up in the car in an isolated manner but the Kizashi involves you in the drive and commuting experience. It may be a CVT gearbox but the gear changes are smooth and power is never found wanting. The engine is a little buzzy but it is eager; the same can't be said of today's eerily quiet flat torque plateau engines. The overall drive encourages you to search for a clear piece of tarmac, keep your hands on the wheel awaiting the entry of each turn and your right foot covering the throttle await the exit. I haven't driven a family sedan quite this fun in awhile. Barring the old Legacy (which is very capable in a modern sense with its AWD), the Kizashi is a bag of fun to drive in an old school honest to god sort of driving experience. The interior is plasticky but that's the sin of most manufacturers nowadays. The lay out of the interior is clean and intuitive. The seats are rather comfortable but they dont offer any support under cornering loads. Overall, I like this car a lot and the fact that Suzuki made it is quite a surprise and a rather pleasant one at that. Furthermore, it looks very under the radar. Hahas, my friends thought it was a bloated SX4. In a way that jib isn't so bad considering that it won't take more than a smile and a wave to convince the men in blue at road blocks that you're a nice upright citizen and not a tarmac hungry racer.