2010 Suzuki Kizashi SE

Midsized sport sedan moves Suzuki into the mainstream

By Nina Russin

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

The midsized Kizashi is the keystone of a product offensive that Suzuki hopes will make it a major player in North America. While Suzuki is well known in the US for its motorcycles, marine products and ATVs, automotive sales lag behind Asian competitors such as Toyota and Honda.

Midsize sedans are the biggest segment of the passenger car market. Suzuki’s strategy is to build on its reputation for value pricing, adding performance rivaling European competitors..

All four Kizashi grades come with a 2.4-liter, 180-horsepower engine and choice of a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available on all but the base model. Standard safety features include four-wheel disc brakes with four channel antilock braking, electronic stability program and traction control.

The test car is the front-wheel drive SE, with keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, a ten-way power driver’s seat, and a seven-speaker audio system with MP3 and iPod compatibility. Base price is $21,499 including destination and handling. Floor mats and special paint bring the MSRP to $21,754. Read the rest of this entry »