In automotive terms, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi is much like a cult classic. The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi is a midsize sedan available in S, SE, Sport GTS and Sport SLS trim levels.
The Kizashi S comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, keyless ignition/entry, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Sport GTS models with AWD also receive steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles (optional on front-wheel drive models).
The top-shelf Kizashi Sport SLS adds automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, heated sideview mirrors, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Powering all 2011 Suzuki Kizashi models is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. In performance testing, a Kizashi SLS with the six-speed manual and front-wheel drive went from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds -- slightly above-average performance for a four-cylinder midsize sedan. Estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg in combined driving on the S model with the manual transmission, while the CVT model is rated at 23/31/26 mpg. The other trims achieve 20/29/24 mpg with the six-speed manual, 23/30/26 mpg with front-wheel drive and CVT and 22/29/25 mpg with AWD and the CVT.
Standard safety features on all 2011 Suzuki Kizashis include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front and rear side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Kizashi GTS with 18-inch wheels came to a stop in an excellent 114 feet.
For drivers looking for a little more excitement out of a family sedan, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi should prove satisfying.
Some other developments are noteworthy: The Suzuki Kizashi took third place in a Cars.com comparison test among eight leading family sedans; buyers have been raving about the 2010 in Cars.com's consumer reviews; and this time I got to test a 2011 version I missed last time: a manual, front-wheel-drive version of the Sport SLS trim level. That car is basically the opposite personality of the 2010 Kizashi GTS automatic with all-wheel drive.
The Kizashi actually turns heads, and that's rare in the midsize sedan class. Both in our comparison test and in casual test drives of different Kizashi models, observers have described the quality as above average. Thankfully, in the Kizashi Sport SLS, the leather was as good for its type as the fabric was in the GTS.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the Kizashi achieved the top score of Good in frontal, side and rear impacts, and was rated Acceptable for roof strength. In this crowded class, 11 models do the Kizashi one better, earning a Good rating for roof strength, which predicts rollover protection.
The Suzuki Kizashi features eight airbags, including seat-mounted torso airbags for all outboard seats, as well as side curtains. For all the Kizashi's safety features, click here.
For what it is, the Kizashi is priced reasonably well, though Suzuki might be wise to lower the price as an incentive for buyers. If all a car had to do to succeed in the market was be a good car, the Kizashi would be in excellent shape.
For 2011, there are slightly sportier versions called (ingeniously) the Sport GTS and more sybaritic Sport SLS, which supplant the current GTS and SLS models. Inside, there’s a new metallic-accented steering wheel covered in perforated leather.
Suzuki claims 0.93g for the Sport, impressive for the segment.
So the changes are small, but the price hike ought to be commensurately puny, say Suzuki spokespeople. The 2014 Kizashi Sport GTS 2.0 T?
