Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SLX Review

Suzuki’s attempts to break the monopoly of the executive sedan segment with the Kizashi. Does it have any chance going up against the Volkswagen Jetta and the Honda Accord?

Suzuki Kizashi background

When I heard late last year that Suzuki was planning to go into the luxury sedan market, I had a quiet chuckle to myself. What does a maker that’s better known for plucky city cars and offroaders know about supplying vehicles to the average accountant? Well, if the Kizashi is anything to go by, clearly the company knows quite a bit and has done some serious homework. Okay, so what exactly do the worker bee corporates of this world want?

They want space, they want reliability, a bit of performance and some prestige wouldn’t be too bad either. The car that does this best is the BMW 3-Series. However, not everyone can afford this rather popular vehicle so the man in the suit has to look at the cheaper options. He’s left with the Volkswagen Jetta and the Honda Accord. You may object now and yell, “But Dave, what about the Kia Optima?” Fair enough, that and the Hyundai Sonata are added to the list.

The problem arises when you look at the VW Jetta. While it actually is a pretty decent car, it has the emotional appeal of a new tumble dryer and can work out rather expensive if you even so much as glance at the options list. Honda’s Accord is a fantastic vehicle and combines decent looks with brilliant ride and levels of comfort. The annoying thing is that it’s a Honda and there’s not enough ‘coolness’ and ‘look at what I can afford’ with the brand. Then there’s the two Koreans who are suffering from Honda Syndrome. Mind you, I haven’t had an Optima to evaluate yet…

Suzuki Kizashi cool looks

You’re left with the Kizashi. As car names go, it has one of the coolest names to ever sit on the bum of a car. As far as executive sedans go, it has to be one of the best looking too. Granted, I am a young, male petrolhead and even the slightest hint of sportiness gets a thumbs up of approval. This thing looks fantastic thanks to some rather sexy lines, racy wheels, chrome grille and it looks like it has a wing at the back, thanks to the shape of the boot. The only annoying thing are the exhausts. From afar, they look all futuristic but upon closer inspection, they’re actually covers for a much smaller pipe.

Suzuki Kizashi powerplant

Right, so the Kizashi now needs to have some go to match the show. Our man in the suit can’t be left standing at the traffic lights by lesser cars and he wants to have enough power to boss around smaller cars who are hogging the fast lane on the freeway. Despite the modern trend of fitting small turbocharged engines, the Kizashi comes with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. It’s strong and has good grunt at the coast. With 131 kW and 230 Nm, the Kizashi can hit 100km/h in just under 8 seconds. It’s not quite a robot racer but has enough oomph. It’s not terribly thirsty either and I registered a decent 8.2L/100km on the trip computer.

One of the Kizashi’s strengths is in the way it drives. It has the slightest hint of sportiness to it, which I think is what this segment desperately needs. Yet, when you’re not in the mood to hurry home, the Kizashi settles nicely into a highway cruiser. Throw in some corners and the Kizashi responds well, even more so if you’ve got the manual gearbox. Stay away from the dreary CVT unit – the manual is way better. If you’re after a bit more sportiness and handling prowess, I believe there’s a racier version coming this year with tricked-out suspension.

Suzuki Kizashi build quality and features

The ace in the Kizashi’s sleeve is the interior specification and build quality. I was blown away by what you get as standard and most of the features I discovered when I wasn’t looking for them. I got into the car late at night during a storm and the headlamps and wipers came on automatically. Park Distance Control is fitted as standard, too. There’s an abundance of leather and quality soft plastics in the cabin too. With a leather steering wheel, gearknob and seats, the Kizashi feels rather plush. It also has a rather potent audio system with USB/aux/phone pairing ability.

The only problem with that is the USB port is situated in a very awkward place by the ashtray/lighter, meaning a cable is dangling. Most manufacturers have their ports in the centre armrest storage binnacle. Speaking of storage, the boot is impressively large and can hold two sets of golf clubs with ease.

Suzuki Kizashi 2.4 SLX Conclusion

Right, so it drives rather well, has plenty of technology and happens to look great. What’s the catch? Amazingly, there’s very little wrong with this car. For R312 900, you’re getting a cool executive sedan that has enough tech to impress your colleagues, enough power to waltz past slower traffic and enough space to take the family on holiday. I’m not the only one who struggles to find fault with the Kizashi as the car cracked a nod at the South African Car of the Year awards and deservedly made the finals.

Suzuki Kizashi price in South Africa

We like:
·         One of the best looking executive sedans
·         Drives well
·         Value for money
·         Luxury interior

We don’t like:
·         Avoid CVT gearbox
.        Some poor ergonomics, like USB port position

Suzuki Kizashi specifications

Engine:                2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol
Power:                 131 kW @ 6 500 rpm
Torque:               230 N.m @ 4 000 rpm
Transmission:     six-speed manual
Wheels:                18-inch
0-100 km/h:        7.8 seconds (claimed)
Fuel economy:   7.9l/100km (claimed combined cycle)

Also consider:
Honda Accord
Mazda6
Volkswagen Jetta
Kia Optima
Hyundai Sonata