2010 Suzuki Kizashi Review

The design of the all-new Suzuki Kizashi is exciting and fresh. I would say the exterior looks more European than Japanese because of the elegant body lines. While driving the Kizashi around town, I could see several bystanders struggling to see what car it was. Inside, you will find comfortable seats, easy-to-use controls and excellent fit and finish. The engine is peppy and delivers decent gas mileage (I achieved 24 mpg on regular unleaded gas in mixed driving) thanks to the smooth continuously variable transmission. And there is plenty of room in the trunk to stow gear for weekend retreats with the family. –Joe Chulick

The Suzuki Kizashi is not a cheap car, but then again it's not too expensive, either. The one we drove had push-button start, an all-wheel-drive system available at the touch of a button, a reasonably spacious interior and trunk, and an interior that you would be happy to own for a long time. Sadly, the dashboard is made from the same ugly plastic that Honda puts in many of its cars. Start adding options and the Kizashi can easily cost more than $20,000, which puts it in very capable company. The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion all sell for similar money, but feel bigger and better made. Their engines are smoother and feel much more powerful, too. So while the Kizashi is a really good effort by Suzuki, it's not competitive at the price. –Paul Hagger

Suzuki has really hit the mark with the all-new Kizashi. It features a distinctive design and feels well-executed. The interior is nicely done with textured materials, soft-touch on the dash and a nice dark-charcoal patterned cloth for the seats. The center stack is clean, and even though it's hard plastic, it has a matte finish and some metal-look trim. Gauges include two large, round dials for speedometer and tachometer and a split screen in the center for trip computer and gear selection indicator for manual mode. The chassis feels pretty stiff, with a nice overall balance and good steering feel. The engine puts out 180 horsepower, but feels a little light, which is probably a function of the continuously variable transmission, which gives you only as much power as you need, to maximize fuel economy. –Mike Meredith

Suzuki keeps building better and better cars, and the Kizashi is proof of that. The small car has big styling, with a bold grille and an integrated rear exhaust. Inside, the Kizashi is attractive and comfortable, with plenty of room in the rear seat and a surprisingly large trunk. On the road, it handles well and is nice to drive, but the engine gets buzzy at high revs. This, combined with a rather powerful engine for this class, may be why I didn't see especially impressive fuel-economy numbers. In a nod toward saving fuel though, Suzuki has given Kizashi drivers the ability to turn the all-wheel-drive system on or off. With prices starting around $22K, the Kizashi is a great value in the small-car market. –Perry Stern

source-http://autos.msn.com