What Was The MOST Underrated Car Of 2010

Lexus ES350

underRATED not underSTEER

MSP6 If I could I'd boost you +100,000 that was funny lmao

Pontiac G8 GXP

Oh look it has the Mercedes C class, Chevy Malibu and Toyota Rav4's headligths. The c pillar is found on the bmw, Accord, Legacy and Infinti G sedan. But only the HKAG are copys right? Lexus ES" Really? The 2011 Galant's tailghts coped the Lexus ES'. The G8 greenhouse came from the 2005 Altima. Speaking of Pontiac, the headlights on the Grand Prix looks like the Lexus ES's but only the K7 copied the ES Right? Give me a negative 15.

All new 2010 Subaru Legacy. Don't know whether it is selling well or not but don't hear much about it here or any other forums. It is one of the least discussed car of 2010.

JUGNU

I think it would have to be the Suzuki Kizashi. A very competent car that's nicely equipped for under $25k. May not be the fastest thing out there, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck imo.

Without a doubt its the Suzuki Kizashi. I had NO interest in buying a Suzuki as I always purchase Kia, Hyundai and sometimes Honda. The Accord was bland, my test drive of the Sonata was ok but felt too big especially on sharp turns, the Kia Optima (2011) was cool but the materials felt a little inferior to the Sonatas. I took a chance and test drove the Kizashi SLS. WOW! Best bang for the buck and handles like a sportscar!

Now I see why Suzuki is #1 in Japan!

Most Underated 2010 Model: SUZUKI KIZASHI!

Runner Up: Subura Legacy (almost bought one but the Suzuki handles better IMO)

I was inches away from buying a Kizashi until I test drove and hit the accelerator. 0-60 in 9 seconds is just wrong....shudder!!

BMW X6M

I'll have to go wit with the Suzuki Kizashi too.

If only the Kizashi had more power and could get to 60 in at least 7 seconds or less so you don't have to krap your pants and hold on for dear life as you punch it to the floor hoping to be able to merge without getting rear ended by a 3 cylinder Geo Metro or a bus. Other than that, If I were shopping in its segment I'd chose it over its rivals any day.

Saab 9-5

001

Sales of Kizashi suck in USA because Suzuki hardly advertises/markets their products. Suzuki Swift was car of the year in Europe but would hardly sell here unless they start to market their products. Kizashi is an awesomely underrated car because it is like a well kept secret.

The Kizashi is the most underrated car.

I agree with 001, the Saab 9-5 is sadly overlooked. Here in LA they've sold only one, and you'd think LA would jump all over a distinctive, rare choice like that.

Funny enough, by the same company but on another end of the spectrum is the Spyker Aileron. Great reviews, drop-dead looks and workmanship, and would make big waves where Ferraris are commonplace (but don't take that as a complaint).

Buick Regal and Lacrosse. Everytime I see one I am amazed that they look so good.

"Buick Regal and Lacrosse. Everytime I see one I am amazed that they look so good."

Really? the Regal's roof line copied the Mazda 6. Headlights from the Mercedes C class and side profile from the Infinti G sedan, Legacy and Accord. Now give my my negative points.

There are some good mentions here like the 9-5, although that car isn't as un-expected from a company like Saab. Buick Regal is a good car, however as far as I can determine based on the amount of publicity and advertising it has received, I wouldn't call it either "under-rated" or an under dog.
The only car I can think of that truely deserves the title based on it's almost "best kept secret" status would be the Suzuki Kizashi.
I didn't even know that car existed until last month, when I went to test drive a 2011 Sonata SE.
After I left the Hyundai dealership within a few blocks I was drove past a Suzuki dealership, I thought it was a bit strange that they had some new Audi or Volkswagen sedan up on a lifter at the front of the parking lot but either way, that German sedan was a real looker and one I wasn't familiar with. So I whipped a U-turn so I could enquire what new Audi/VW model sedan that was.
That's when I got the shock of my life. After parking in the Suzuki Square lot I was approached by a sales associate that informed me that the German sedan up on the lifter was not German at all, but rather a new Suzuki model, the Kizashi!
He then pointed to the other side of the parking lot where he had no less than 5 used Audi's, 2 used BMW's, and a used Mercedes, all of them traded in by their previous owners on a new Kizashi.
It was that fact that led me to my next question for the sales associate. Can I test drive one? Which invoked a slight smile on his face, as if to say, "I have you now".

The first thing I noticed once inside the Kizashi SLS was that the overall fit and finish was defintely a step up from the interior of the Sonata SE I just test drove. Even the plastics in the Kizashi seemed to be of a higher grade than those in the Sonata.
In fact, the interior of the Kizashi seemed much closer to what you would find in a German sports sedan rather than Asian inspired. As we were driving we began to discuss equipment and what the SLS came standard with. That's when I realised that in order for me to match the price of the Kizashi as equipped, I would end up having to spend several thousand more by "building up" a Sonata SE to match all of the standard features of the Kizashi SLS.
So on the road the next thing I noticed was how quiet the Kizashi is on the road as compared to the Sonata. The side streets and arterials near the Suzuki dealership are anything but ideal, which was actually a good thing, since it showed me real world fashion, the noise levels I would be dealing with on a day in day out level between the Kizashi and Sonata. Kizashi clearly won out on this level as well.
Two situations where this is very apparent is on well worn roads that were initially some type of black top, but through years of heavy rain and use, have become pitted and feels more like you are driving on small pebbles.
In Sonata this produced a significant amount of interior noise which sounded something like you would expect more from an e

expect from an economy car. Kizashi on the exact same streets didn't produce the road noise that was apparent in the Sonata.
The same held true one I got on the freeway too. In the Sonata there was a steady and annoying amount of noise coming from both the freeway surface but apparently also from air resistance.

The Kizashi on the freeway was practically silent, remiding me much of Mercedes C-class. Additionally, Kizashi exhibited greater passing power than the Sonata SE, most likely due to Kizashi's gearing.

When it came to steering again, there was no contest. Specially at highway speeds. The Kizashi held tight during sudden lane changes with no wobble and minimal understear. The Sonata on the other hand got sloppy, and the suspension just exacerbated the situation.

In summation, I would assert that after having had the chance to actually expirience Kizashi and having previously owned and driven much more expensive cars from Audi/VW, Lexus, Acura, Subaru, etc, when it comes to refinement and handling, Kizashi can deffinitely take on cars costing twice as much.

It is a shock not only that this car comes from Suzuki, but that they were able to acheive this with their FIRST ATTEMPT at the segment!

I would never have come to this conclusion if I had merely done an "armchair appraisal" of Kizashi. Like most people, my previous perceptions of Suzuki as a car manufacturor would have tainted my estimation of the car.

Based on all of that, I've concluded that BY FAR Suzuki Kizashi is the most underrated car of 2010/2011.

I'll definitely make a trip back to the Suzuki dealer once the Kizashi-turbo edition arrives later in 2011.