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Suzuki's big gamble looks set to pay off ; First Drive exclusiveIt is not often that we obtain an exclusive on a new motorcar set to see the light of... [Hull Daily Mail (England)](Hull Daily Mail (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Suzuki's big gamble looks set to pay off ; First Drive exclusiveIt is not often that we obtain an exclusive on a new motorcar set to see the light of day in new-car showrooms from next spring, but Iain Robertson has now driven the Suzuki Kizashi, which is new in more ways than one It could be termed a suicidal gesture to introduce a new large D- segment car to the UK market, at a time when most larger models are in serious decline. However, Suzuki has seldom played the new car game by the rules of convention and the Kizashi model is anything but conventional in Suzuki's book. Kizashi, by the way, means a sign of great things to come. How fortuitous. For a start, Suzuki has never produced a medium-sector model before. The Japanese company has verged on it a couple of times, albeit by adding a boot-lid to its Swift and then its Liana line- up, but they were hardly medium-sector contenders. Designed originally in the mid-2000s, the Kizashi appeared as a concept car in 2007, with the strong prospect of it being productionised for 2008. Therefore, it has been on sale in its domestic and US markets over the past three years. However, as stated, the Kizashi is not a conventional car and it is not so easy to position it in the market. Its dimensions place it slightly below the Mondeo and Insignia, although only a finely marked 6in ruler would be able to establish by how much more compact it is in reality. Its cabin is certainly spacious enough, with a surprising amount of room in both the front and rear seats. Allied to this is the bold sweep of dashboard, with its accompanying "soft touch" plastic mouldings to add a soupcon of up-market appeal. The instrument display is marked out technically but remains legible, there being only two easily read dials within the nacelle and a digital read-out for the on-board computer. It is uncomplicated, classy-looking and more than adequate for most motoring needs. While the UK will receive a CVT (constantly variable transmission, with sixspeed and manual option), the one-off test car was equipped with a very slick six-speed manual gearbox. The selector sits within a bold centre console, with plenty of useful storage space, twin cup-holders and a USB socket for an iPod. The optional sat-nav system is also contained within the centre stack, with the heating and ventilation controls for the climate system located just below the screen. Electrically controlled memory seats feature up-front, with very high-quality full-hide trim covering most of the interior, including the door cards. The range of adjustability, thanks to both rake and reach levers on seats and steering column, enables a very comfortable and supportive driving position and passengers will find very little to complain about either. Were you seeking a comparison, then I would venture to suggest that an Audi A4 would make a decent rival, especially in terms of build and assembly quality. However, where the German car is held in high regard for its presentation, the Kizashi has it beaten hands-down in the chassis department. Suspended on KYB dampers and, in "sport" trim, slightly beefed-up springs, the ride quality is firm and supple but never less than comfortable and controllable. The Germans have a lot to learn on sorting out their ride and handling compromise, which Suzuki has always seemed to manage to perfection on all of its models. In design terms, the frontal aspect of the car is particularly striking. A large "shield"-shaped grille is divided by the licence-plate bar in typical luxury car form. The twin Xenon headlamps are stylishly arranged, with smart chrome fillets located below the front fog lamps. UK models will obtain daytime running lamps. As the Sport variant, the Kizashi receives a most attractive set of 18in alloy wheels that fill the arches appropriately. A neat body kit includes side skirts and a boot-lid spoiler that are obvious, yet remain subtle in their detail. Above the side skirts is another flash of "bling" in the form of a long dart-shaped strake at the base of the door apertures. At the rear, there are shades of Vauxhall Insignia VXR for the chrome- ringed exhaust outlets, while the curtailed boot-lid is not dissimilar to that of the Subaru WRX STI. It is very shapely and most attractive. Needless to say, the boot, equipped with a "ski-bag" (through the folding rear armrest), as well as folding rear backrests to increase its capacity, is both deep and accommodating. It can be opened via the "plip" key-fob, or remotely from within the car. Incidentally, there is no key start, as an instantaneous pushbutton "stopstart" serves the ignition purpose. Overall, driving around the Lincolnshire countryside, I discovered the Kizashi behaved impeccably on the county's roads, its suspension absorbing the worst of the unattended ruts and cracks, as if they were not present. Its behaviour in town was impressive, the 2.4-litre engine providing a sensible amount of torque and overall refinement for surprisingly lazy progress. The performance is good from its 178bhp four-cylinder engine. The car is capable of a top speed of about 135mph, dispatching the 0-60mph benchmark in just 7.5 seconds on the way. Despite its constant four-wheel-drive layout, there are no typical understeery tendencies to deal with. Its rivalry with the Subaru Impreza and even the Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive systems is abundantly clear. If I perceive a minor issue, it lies with its inevitable (thanks to 4WD) 183g/ km CO2 rating, which will affect its VED and company car tax levies. Mind you, the CVT transmission on cars destined for the UK will reduce that figure slightly. At an anticipated and fully loaded price of Pounds 22,000 to Pounds 24,000, Suzuki should have no difficulties whatsoever in selling its initial 500-car allocation and I believe there will be a strong enough demand to warrant an extra allocation in due course. When I think back to the days of the launch of the Skoda Octavia, a not dissimilarly sized car, its initial allocation of 800 models in 1997 sold out within days of landing in the UK. If Suzuki plays its cards right, and I have no doubt that it will, the Kizashi could become an overnight success like the Czech model. It is the right size. It has the right package. It is well-built, performs strongly and would be very easy to live with. That it is totally new, is just so complete and is styled so beautifully, are plus points that could make it a vital introduction for Suzuki in Great Britain. First drive facts Model tested: Suzuki Kizashi 2.4i Sport. Body styles: Four-door sports saloon. Engines: 2.4 (P4). Trim grades: Luxury, Sport. Prices: From about Pounds 22,000 to Pounds 24,000. In the showroom: Spring 2012. Star rating: ..... Warranty: Three years, 60,000 miles. Website: www.suzuki.co.uk (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |