Production 2010 Suzuki Kizashi in the Flesh in OC, CA

I was recently at a hotel near South Coast Plaza. I spotted a new red Suzuki Kizashi with distributor plates in the parking lot. My first impressions were that Suzuki had a winner in its hands. Although I was unable to take more interior photos, it looks very high quality and stylish. It is an excellent alternative to the midsize car segment. Although, this car is more suited between a Toyota Camry and Corolla.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R17hijVb1wI

MBCLS07 - 9/2/2009 2:17:33 AM

+6 Boost

Not bad. But as with most production versions, not nearly as interesting as the concept that preceded it.

rxh8me9000 - 9/2/2009 2:56:00 AM

+3 Boost

Front looks like a Golf,Maxima and G37 had a 3-some. Rear looks like a Civic coupe banged a Scion Tc. This is not a bad thing. I like it! This is the direction Suzuki should be heading.

lexusrox123 - 9/2/2009 12:50:48 PM

0 Boost

it reminds me of the chevy malibu...at least the front does.

rxh8me9000 - 9/2/2009 1:53:37 PM

0 Boost

Yeah,I'll even agree with that.

JUGNU - 9/2/2009 4:19:20 AM

-1 Boost

I think it's not looking too different from Suzuki SX4. Fine design but this segment is getting very competitive, who is going to buy this when new Sonata will come out.

JUGNU

fatandsassy - 9/2/2009 8:35:36 AM

0 Boost

reminds me of a jetta

Hantra - 9/2/2009 10:03:20 AM

+2 Boost

It's a JETTALTIMA!

answer - 9/2/2009 1:07:19 PM

+2 Boost

I dig it.

fit4life - 9/28/2009 10:17:31 PM

+1 Boost

That's a really nice looking car! I had seen the concept car at an autoshow already. It was a real looker... very flashy and sleek, but maybe a bit too outlandish for an actual production model. Suzuki did a great job at toning it down while at the same time still leaving alot of the design elements intact. This car will age really well.

One thing that this article didn't mention though is all the engineering that went into this car. There is nothing else like the Kizashi in this catagory of car on the road today!
For starters show me another car in the segment that has: aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings, forged connecting rods, forged crankshaft, timing CHAIN (not a belt), balance shafts, hydraulic valve lifters AND coil-over ignition. There are none.

If you don't know what all that means, trust me, it means this car will be a great performer and is better engineered than anything in its catagory and price level. The prices are going to start around 19k, and go up to 25k for a totally loaded version complete with AWD! To get anything even close to this car you will have to spend ATLEAST 10k to 20K more that you will with Kizashi.

Suzuki tends to put it's money where you can't see it, unlike other brands that sell a fancy interior on a dinosaur chassis. Multi-link fully independent suspension too, no lame-o semi-trailing arms or torsion beams to be found on this car.
Combine all those features w/ the AWD option and there's plenty to differentiate this car from Honda's, Toyota's, VW's and Subaru's, etc.