Insurance Group: 26
MPG: 34.0
CO2: N/A
0-62 Mph: 8.8 secs
BHP: N/A BHP
Range: 471 miles
PROS: The Kizashi comes with a good amount of standard equipment.
CONS: It is comprehensively outclassed by all of its major rivals in terms of handling, ride, running costs and practicality.
The Kizashi is fitted with a 2.4-litre petrol engine which develops 176bhp and 170lb-ft of torque. This sounds like plenty but, in reality, the engine really isn't gutsy enough to haul the Kizashi around with any sort of gusto. Peak power arrives high up in the rev range and, because the Kizashi is fitted with a CVT automatic gearbox, the engine revs very high whenever you put your foot down. 0-62mph takes 8.8 seconds and flat out you'll be doing 128mph.
Through the bends, the Kizashi is no fun to drive. Chuck it into a corner and it does grip well thanks to its four-wheel drive system, but the inconsistently weighted steering undermines your confidence in the car's handling. Couple this with a lumpy, bumpy ride and you're left with a distinctly underwhelming driving experience.
Despite the poor handling characteristics, the Kizashi can't even boast of offering a relaxing drive. The awful CVT gearbox means that the engine is always audible, and both wind and road noise are apparent at motorway speeds.
Although it would be facetious to call the Kizashi ugly, it's hardly what you'd call a looker. The bland exterior styling means that you'd be forgiven for losing it in a multi-storey car park... which is probably a good thing.
On the inside, things aren't much better. The dash is logically laid out but the quality of some of the interior plastics is very poor indeed. That said, you do get a good amount of standard equipment thrown in for your dosh, including alloys, climate control, electric mirrors and windows, an electric sunroof, metallic paint, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats and a CD player with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.
There isn't an awful lot of space inside the Kizashi. Taller passengers will bemoan the lack of headroom and rear legroom and, at 461-litres, the boot space is hardly class-leading either.
On top of this, Suzuki has a very un-Japanese reputation when it comes to reliability, finishing close to the bottom in last year's J D Power Survey. You do get a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty to protect you in the event that something does go wrong; however, many budget Far East manufacturers will top that -- Hyundai and Kia offer a five-year and seven-year warranty, respectively.
The Kizashi should be a safe place to be thanks to a surfeit of airbags and a host of driver aids, including stability control and electronic brakeforce distribution. On top of this, the four-wheel drive system should provide you with plenty of grip when the road gets slippery.
At £21,995, you are getting a lot of car for your money with the Kizashi, but there are still better cars available for less cash. Depreciation is also very likely to be steep, as it is unlikely that there will be a huge demand for these cars on the second-hand market.
What's more, Suzuki's claimed fuel economy figure of 34mpg combined is very unimpressive, and CO2 emissions of 191g/km will mean high road tax bills under VED band J.
There is very little to recommend the Kizashi. The 2.4-litre petrol engine fitted to this model is the only unit on offer, and it's thirsty and not particularly powerful. On top of this, the Kizash...
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