Suzuki Kizashi Car Reviews

The Kizashi's Achilles heel is its engine. At a time when most car manufacturers are downsizing and turbocharging their petrol engines, Suzuki is offering the Kizashi with a 2.4-litre petrol engine. It's a decent unit and propels the car well, but it only manages 34mpg and emits 191g/km of CO2, making the Kizashi an expensive option for company car drivers. The lack of a diesel engine is a major downside.

To drive, the Kizashi feels sharp and direct. There's plenty of grip and a remarkable sense of agility that's rare to encounter in this segment of the market. However, the CVT gearbox which is fitted as standard is slow, dim-witted and noisy, and spoils the driving experience.

The Kizashi isn't as big as its rivals from Ford and Vauxhall and, although the boot is very spacious at 461-litres, taller passengers may find headroom lacking in both the front and rear seats.

At £21,995, the Kizashi is well priced, especially considering the good amount of equipment included as standard.

Background

The Suzuki Kizashi was unveiled in the USA in 2009 and was launched in Australia and New Zealand the following year. The Kizashi was launched in the UK in January 2012.

Summary

The Kizashi is by no means a bad car, it's just nowhere near good enough to compete in this sector. On the plus side, it's good looking, nice to drive and well equipped. However, it will be pricey to run and the lack of a diesel option or a manual gearbox is a major downside.