The 2010 Kizashi is Suzuki's first shot at the D-Segment market after enjoying many years of success in the small car market. In Japanese, "Kizashi" means "a sign of great things to come".
Styling-wise, I can't help to feel that the frontal view of the car looks like an upsized SX4 sedan with a hint of VW Jetta. It should look non-offensive to most people but doesn't seem to stand out among the sea of Teanas, Camrys and Accords.
The rear view of the Kizashi is more distinct than the front. I like the treatment of the twin exhaust pipes. They have a nice "D" shape and looked quite sport. The tip of the boot is tilted upwards. Its unique but gives me the impression of a chicken's bottom. What do you think ?
Having said that, the boot of the Kizashi gives an overall sporty feel that is lacking in say an Accord or Camry. Not a bad job by Suzuki.
Next, we come to the interior. The layout of the cockpit looks logical and a new driver will feel at home almost immediately. On the other hand, it looks rather plain but most new offerings on the market (such as the Subaru Legacy) goes for a layout that is more functional rather than inspirational. Perhaps, this is the new trend.
Finally, we come to the most important aspect of an automobile - The engine and gearbox combination. The engine is basically a reworked version of the existing 2.4-liter four-cylinder 16V found in the Grand Vitara. It has aluminum head and block, twin-balancer shafts, forged pistons and an intake variable valve timing., generating 185 horsepower at 6500 rpm. Not too bad but it pales in comparison to say Volkswagen Passat's 2.0 TFSI engine, which generates 200hp at a low rpm. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission to enhance fuel efficiency.
Will the Kizashi be successful in Singapore? I believe it will be an uphill task. A 2.4L engine would mean high road tax. In addition, it does not have an outstanding attribute to make it standout against the more established Japanese sedans such as the Camry and Teana. Nonetheless, it's Suzuki's first attempt at manufacturing a large sized 4 door sedan and I would say it's quite a decent job, though not outstanding.
Suzuki, Kizashi, CVT, new suzuki and 1 more...
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