Struggling for midsize-sedan relevance
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: It cracks me up that this is called the
Sport model. It's anything but. The combination of the four-cylinder and
the continuously variable transmission just doesn't cut it. Add in
all-wheel drive sapping even more power and, well, you get the picture.
The fact that the four-cylinder is a bit crude and loud only adds to my
distaste for the 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS. The shift paddles on the steering wheel seem like some sort of cruel joke.
It's
not bad-looking inside and out. It reminds me a lot of the
last-generation Volkswagen Jetta, which was good-looking. The all-wheel
drive would make the car a good winter warrior, and I will say that the
steering is good, and the ride/handling mix is as well.
But the Kizashi is not really on my radar. Not with the Mazda 3, the Ford Focus, the Chevrolet Cruze, etc. on the market--or at least not on my radar as a new car. Maybe a sub-$20,000 used one.
COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT:
This Suzuki brought back fond memories of our long-term Kizashi; I know
that I was one of the few in the office who enjoyed zipping around in
the car. But, that 'Zashi did not seem as sluggish and as noisy--even
with the CVT--as this Sport model did. Wow! I found myself turning up
the radio to be able to hear it over the buzzing, especially at higher
speeds.
Inside, the interior is pretty basic, which I expected.
But the yards of hard plastic lent a lesser-quality look. And the seats
lacked bolster. But there was plenty of legroom and shoulder room up
front and in the back seats, and the trunk was spacious.
The
Kizashi is good around curves and corners and is easy to toss about. And
brake pedal feel is solid. This car does handle well; it just needs a
better combination to get it moving down the road.
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY:
I remember when the Kizashi hit the market--it made quite an impact, at
least among auto reviewers, being the first modern Suzuki sedan to feel
like a real car. Unfortunately, it never made much of an impact among
the buying public thanks to a nonexistent marketing campaign and the
fact that folks shopping midsize sedans simply don't think to look at a
Suzuki dealership.
Outside, Suzuki made an effort to craft
something a little different, and the Kizashi stands out to some degree.
On the inside, though, it's a generation old already, thanks to hard
plastics, an outdated driver interface and chintzy feeling controls.
Then there's the smell--is it possible for a car to smell cheap?
But
what kills the Kizashi for me is, unsurprisingly, the powertrain. The
four-cylinder CVT combo is just plain bad and would be in any car. But
it's more noticeable by virtue of the otherwise adequate wrapper in
which it's packaged.
Would Suzuki have had a competitive midsize
sedan if the Kizashi had a better driveline? Probably not, but you have
to wonder what would have happened if, say, the Hyundai Sonata's turbo
four and six-speed automatic were under the hood, and a smattering of
ads had directed folks to at least take a test drive.
Instead,
along with its Grand Vitara stablemate, the Kizashi likely will become
one of the last four-wheeled Suzuki products we see on these shores for a
while.
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: The
Suzuki Kizashi looks good. I've always been a fan of the shapely exhaust
outlets and its overall sporty appearance. Like Cynthia, it made me
think of our long-term Kizashi.
It's a shame that this car didn't
make a bigger splash with consumers. As Andy noted, the lack of
marketing and the company's history of mediocre cars didn't do the
Kizashi any favors. However, Suzuki does have some street credentials,
but that's for its great motorcycles. There's a Suzuki bike in my garage
right now, and I love it.
As for this Sport model, I do like the
small cosmetic upgrades, but I think Suzuki should have attempted to
squeeze some more power out of the four-cylinder to go along with the
suspension upgrades.
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS
Base Price: $26,494
As-Tested Price: $27,149
Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; AWD, continuously variable transmission
Output: 180 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 170 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,241 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/24.3 mpg
Options:
Bluetooth connectivity ($250); premium floor and cargo mats ($210);
premium metallic paint ($130); trunk subfloor organizer with first aid
kit ($65)
