Suzuki Kizashi unveiled, heading to Oz

By Matt Brogan | July 31st, 2009

Suzuki’s mid-size sedan, the Kizashi, has finally been officially introduced to the public, and Suzuki Australia has confirmed its interest in having the car for the local market.

Offering all-wheel-drive, the Kizashi will go on sale in Japan and the US initially before spreading to other markets, including Australia.

“Kizashi is scheduled for launch in the US in late 2009 and we are keen to establish potential production and specification for Australia,” said Suzuki Australia General Manager, Tony Devers.

“With the addition of the just launched Alto and Kizashi, Suzuki would be competing in more market segments than ever before,” he added.

Suzuki Australia is yet to finalise its specification levels and pricing.

Under the bonnet the Kizashi is powered by a 2.4-litre, DOHC, four-cylinder engine mated to a choice of six-speed manual or CVT transmissions, though only the latter will come with all-wheel-drive.

The all-wheel-drive system can be switched off to allow power to only go to the front wheels, presumably for fuel and wear-and-tear savings. Suzuki says the system is based heavily on its i-AWD system in the smaller SX4.

Power and torque figures will be released closer to the December on sale date but expect around the vicinity of 150kW/245Nm.

The suspension has been designed to get the best of the sedan to allow it to compete with more performance-oriented rivals like the Mazda 6 and Subaru Liberty.

Suzuki promises high-end Akebono brakes and optional 18-inch alloy wheels as well.

Inside, the Kizashi will offer cloth or leather seats, as well as a 425-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

Eight airbags, ABS and ESC will fitted as standard to all models in the range.

http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

It has been a long wait for this car, and it has been worth it. The styling is very clean and contemporary(unlike the SX4) and the interior is well balanced. I don’t think the 2.4 will have power outputs near 150KW, but it would be nice. I do hope this is the the golden child for Suzuki. They deserve it.

P.S:Is it just me or are the rear bootlid and badges reminiscent of the Citroen Xsara?
Stevo

Very VW Jetta looking from the front. Should have a DSG option instead of CVT. However, it does looks pretty good to me.
Mike

Very nice car, maybe Holden could share this with Suzuki like they did with the Barina. That we they could get rid of the EPICA.
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

GREAT looking car, and if priced from around $30k, it should be a big success, especially as it will be a quality built japanese car!!!
Jimmy James

Pricing is the critical factor.

Pricing is one of the key reasons another brand (Skoda) are not succeeding as they deserve to here in Oz.

Anyway, if they price the Suzuki Kizashi below the Mazda, Honda and Subaru competitors, they’ll do well.

If they try and price match, they’ll fail.

A fully fruited Kizashi at $29990 driveaway would have considerable appeal in the market I would have thought…

Perhaps a lower spec model in the mid 20k range to really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I wish them good luck.

JJ

PS – Just realised if you add the letter T to the end of Kizashi its less than flattering…perhaps a new name is required!
Gilly

I love Suzuki but my pet hate is that their anticipated models look so far from the stunning concepts that I can’t help but be dissapointed in the overall result.
Jake

Great looking car..well done Suzuki
zahmad

Looks very similar to the Honda legend in the front…and the steering wheel design is straight from BMW….no bad thing!
Jazrod

those projector beam bezzles in the lights look like those of the golf/jetta! and other than that and the grill is similar also.

regardless, this looks like a great car! just dislike the doors for some reason…

good job suzuki!
absi

lovely design … without being too radical its not boring either!

love the 18inch wheels on it … i used to think the Mazda 6 was a nice looking car, but this one is better in my opinion… lookswise anyway …

I do like the name.

i like the beige interior too… gives it a very upmarket feel.

i must say its a much better looking car than the new liberty!!!!
alex

Looks great from the rear. a little frompy from the front.. but overall a nice looking car. i just wish it was a little more like the concept cars…

Kia anyone?
PaulS

The interior doesn’t look like to be on par with that of Mazda 6 and Accord Euro, but I’ll wait until I see in real life before I make further judgement.

This looks quite European… there is a hint of Jetta in there and those rims remind me of Alfa Romeo 159. The grille and air dam configuration remind me of VW and Audi…

The AWD system would be a nice point of difference, kudos to Suzuki for testing out the market!

All and all, very interesting car…
Yanzo

looks kinda coool O.o
Frenchie

The V6 version of this is meant to have the high feature 3.6l GM engine.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

It has a Bangle-butt!
Wheelnut®™

I read a similar article about the Kizashi on another popular automotive website – which included the sentence:

Suzuki claims the Kizashi will be more dynamic to drive than “a field already saturated with countless nondescript transportation appliances”.

I wonder which Make/Model they’re iluding to by that statement?
Original Alex

Why couldn’t they just keep it exactly as the concept was? It looks good, but it has gotten a bit mumsy looking with that front bumper, where as before it looked sportier and classier.
Still, after the SX4, I suppose I should just be happy that they’ve made a saloon with good proportions.
It looks good and will probably be a great package. I’d rather one over a Mazda 6, but I just can’t figure out why they couldn’t have kept it exactly as the concept was. It’s not as if it was out there or anything, just perfectly handsome.
Mumble Duck

Doesn’t look bad. But, the rear end reminds me of some older Hyundai’s and Daewoo’s. Yuck.
Jake02

I like it, I really do. I reckon this’ll be quite well for Suzuki – they deserve it alot. The design is quite fresh, and some areas explore unchartered territory for mid-size sedans (eg the bootlid with that massive lip/spoiler).

My only negatives are the window line (really reminds me of the Chrysler Sebring), and some parts of the interior. The dials/manual gearknob look to seriously be almost exactly from the Subaru Liberty Spec-B (not the new one, the one still on sale) and the lower plastics look to be, well, pretty average (just from looking in pics!).

I can’t wait for the V6 AWD model though – it should be a pretty good car! Oh, and the Diesel and Wagon…
Elitist

I dont know how Holden and Ford stay in business?
niski

i’ll wait for this, i’m still driving my 7 yr old suzuki liana GS and haven’t had any problems ever, only tyres and battery were replaced, proven suzuki reliability
Martin

I am going to go against the flow here, and say, I hate it.
The front is wanna be Audi/Volkswagen, the interior is kind of boring and the dash looks like it sits too high.

The rear end; lights look too Daewoo-esque and out of proportion and the boot lid is trying way too hard to be like a new Aston Martin.

Side on, looks too short, it really looks as though, between the front doors and the boot, should have been lengthened a bit.

It’s ok, I’ll wait for all the negative thumbs down. meh.

maximark

I’m with you mate and also it will be a nightmare to clean those mag wheels.

Shak

I dont hate this car or anything, but they should have kept exactly the concept looks. this has become a bit soft around the edges, and the front looks as if its staring at you with those projectors from the old golf.
Kris

Looks alright to me, but yes, there does appear to be a bit of a VW influence at the front end. From other reports I’ve read, I think the 2.4 engine will have 130kw and 245nm of torque. If Suzuki can get this car to handle as well as the Mazda 6/Liberty/Mondeo etc, but keep the price below them, then this car could do well. Hopefully they’ll throw in a decent amount of kit to attract buyers, I think they will have to for this model.
Alex

Martin, you are very much entitled to your opinion but sorry, there is no Aston Martin in that boot lid.
Martin

You wanna make a bet, Alex. Look at the DBS’s boot lid and you will see what I mean.
Alex

Martin, I know very well what the DBS’s boot lid looks like. The Suzuki doesn’t really look like it. I think the boot lid is more like the one on the 3 Series if anything; it has exactly the same line going over the top where the centre break light is.
However, I’m sure you won’t change your opinion so we’ll agree to disagree?
Eddie

The concept got lost in translation for production model. What’s with the Jetta-esque front?
Andrew

Frenchie, I doubt this will feature GM’s HFV6. I’d say it will use the new Grand Vitara’s 3.2l unit, as I imagine it also shares this 2.4
o

how could they have ruined the concept that looked prduction ready? this happened with the alto as well
crouchy

With all that equipment, it sure sounds expensive!

Nevertheless I think they have really stepped up the game with that interior especially considering its origins. Coupled with Suzuki reliability and what is a pretty attractive car (YES! We know the concept looked better but they generally do) and I think they have come up with a winning formula.

Japan vs. Korea – The winner is the motoring public.
Dano

I was all over this thing in concept form and now think it’s a pig! There’s nothing at all about this bloated release that even resembles the original concept if you don’t include the twin pipes. Notice there’s no full on side profile pics, the reason for that is this thing is a barge. The new Kia VC kanes this thing in the looks department.
observer

Good looks, AWD plus CVT, Typical Suzuki build quility and value for money and I’m sure it will be loaded with goodies……Subaru watch out you are on notice!!!!

Doogie

SLI Auto $41k+
Manual $39k+
SL Auto $33k+
Manual $31k+
Are they kidding?…it’s a damn Suzuki not a Mazda…that’s like trying to sell mutton as lamb.Why would anyone even think of buying this at that price when you can buy the Mitsubishi Lancer VRX with all the modern cons and safety devices including blue-tooth (optional on Kizashi) for around $27k drive-away.Nice car but at that price I’ll walk over to the Mazda or Mitsubishi dealers who have more realistic prices..The SLI sells for $20,000 in the USA and they are struggling to make sales at that price.

jp

a car company responding to market trends within the same decade as asked and being affordable… sounds loike a winner to me….. pity this car will probably suffer a bit from being brand snobbed
Mike

It actually looks pretty good despite looking vastly different to the enticing concept model. I think the grille they chose with all that black plastic cheapens the look a bit. But the lines and shape of the body are still appealing, especially from the side. I hope they bring the v6 to Aus
crouchy

Anti-spam: Chrysler

For some reason whenever I look at the front end I think of the Sebring.

There is A LOT of sebring about that front end!!!!
http://carz.com/ Carz

It kinda reminds me of Camry, Civic and Focus but it looks good. It’s a bit different from what Suzuki often produce but it’s worth it.
Martin

Alex, agreed! .
Al Juraj

It looks nowhere near the handsome concept car. It’s much like a bigger SX4 sedan without the dorkiness. Fine effort nonetheless from honest Suzuki
Fieldmarshall

Looks excellent. I like the upmarket suspension.
I hope car does well for Suzuki. I’m on my second
Suzuki Motorcycle, and on two wheels they make an honest reliable product. (powerful too!)
So, I might be a buyer down the track.
Glen

man i hate it how people say: “omg it looks like this brands car from this angle and this other car from this angle” SHUT UP who cares what it reminds you of, soon enough u will see other cars and be like “omg that looks like a Kizashi!!” its called FASHION and trends…

oh another pet hate, nothing from your comments but was reading a review of an american website, and all they did was complain, “oh its just a Suzuki, they should price it really cheap otherwise noone will buy it” Suzuki have put a LOT of money into this car, and the amount of accessories going into it, its obviously going to be a bit pricey, why judge it by the brand?? whats wrong with Suzuki?? NOTHING, I am a proud owner and would never buy such brands as Toyota BECAUSE of the marketing scheme etc. the way how they gloat about being the “top seller; so obviously our cars are the best” *coughs*

i would pay upwards of $50 000 for the V6 AWD model with full leather and all the fruit (nice black one, with dark window tint and possibly lower the suspension a little =D)
BUT it should all depend on the drive
and judging by the amount of time spent on making this car; i have high hopes
well done suzuki

Doogie

OMG…the tyres on the Kizashi look like the tyres on the Holden Commodore.They had to steal that idea from GMH
AS for $50,000 for a suzuki car…you have rocks in your head…All their competitors have all those extras and more and asking at least $10k less.It’s like trying to have a Kia on the market at Audis price when it should be at ALDIS price…lol

Steven

Autocar just reviewed this car and they say the drive is outstanding and the interior quality is approaching german standards.

I wish there was a diesel engine and wagon body option but I’m sure this will come as the car sells more.
Philip

It really does not do much for me. Styling is up to date, but hardly inspiring. Performance, probably adequate for most boring drivers but nothing spectacular. To me it’s just another car that will blend in with all the other average cars.
Adrian

Nice looking car, the tail lights remind me of one of the Audi models. The only thing I believe spoils the Kizashi is the lip spoiler, it’s like excess fat that really shouldn’t be there.
Raj

Still the big compititor is Honda Accord Euro
robby

they should have stuck with the concept version…
it was a really nice look car, how ever this isnt to bad…just hope they dont get to exited and price it over 35k… when i think suszuki i think cheap reliable motoring… dont go euro pircing pls….
Paul

I had a Baleno for about 2 years and it was fine. Cheap to run, never any issues. I was in the market for a new car and looking at the Mazda 3 SP25 Luxury Pack we (read, wife) decided it was too small for us, so started looking at the Mazda 6 hatch, Accord Euro, Subaru Liberty but didn’t really want a big car. Came across the Kibashi, er Casaba um anyway, the Suzuki was the right size and felt good to drive and certainly well screwed together and I was a fan of Suzi’s motorcycle heritage so now have the XLS on order.