2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS: Introduction

So, wait, it's going to be a Chevy powered Miata? It's not a joke about building a modern Cobra? Really?

I find myself asking "What is this?" in a not so friendly way.

Ah Suzuki, where shoddy vehicles and fraudulent dealers combine to make the worst automotive company on earth!

Great Intro Article!

Upfront, the grill looks similar to a VW Jetta.

Based on looks alone, overall, I like this car. Let's see how it holds up over the Long-Term Test.

Significant car for Suzuki I guess, but given their generally bottom-of-the-class cars and tiny market share in the US why did Edmunds get another one after the snoozer SX4? At least you guys got the manual and not a positively dreadful CVT.

Question: So the 4 new cars were a VW, a Honda, a Mazda, and a Suzuki. So what was blurred out on the checkout list after Chevrolet Corvette. None of the new cars start with C. See, I called shenanigans.

Anyway, my last personal experience with a Suzuki was my mom's old Sidekick. The brakes went out on nearly the same day every year and there was a little lever built in to clear the shifter jam that would regularly occur. Yup, they fix the jamming, they just built in a tool to fix it whenever it occurred. Now the last Suzuki LT test went pretty well. Hopefully this one goes well too. Unlike other car fans and consumers that will refuse to acknowledge certain automakers due to past problems without regard to current greatness, and who will defend other manufacturers to the death due to past greatness while ignoring fatal flaws in current products, I judge automakers on their current products.

stovt,

Perhaps the blurred out 'C' car (Chevy) is a short term tester?

In any case, I got 3 out of 4. The Miata project car threw me off. I figured the Z06 already filled the used car spot and didn't count on there being another.

front reminds me of the current MK5 Jetta

Never been a Suzuki fan, but everyone here seemed to like the SX4. Interested to see how this thing performs.

Good choice guys. I was kinda hoping you would opt for the AWD version, but that only comes with a CVT.

As we all know, Suzuki is pretty much on the ropes here in the USA, with sales in a free-fall, and with no end in sight. Or is there? Could this car be the one to help reverse that sales slide? I sure hope so. All early reports so far have been extremely positive. It would be a real shame if this car fails because Suzuki decides to yank their US sales operation.

BTW, I drove two AWD Kizashis back in January. From what I've seen and experienced, they deserve to succeed.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have driven this car before and everyone hating on it and suzuki... everything you thought you knew about suzuki and its cars, FORGET IT! this is the car that previews other cars from this japanese automaker. i could go into details but its build quality is not unlike that which is found in acuras and VW's. it feels solid when it goes down the road, suzuki got the electric power assisted steering right as far as weighting and feedback go, and its handling? some say its an 80% car meaning its good up until about 80% of its total limits, then it feels floppy. i thought it was fun all the way up to its limits so im interested to see what inside line thinks.

overall, its an amazing vehicle because its so un-suzuki. if this is the car that previews the future products from this company, im sold. and lets not forget that GM, the company that almost ruined this brand with its rebadged daewoos, has released its control and VW now owns part of suzuki so im very excited to see what happens.

GREAT PICK, IL!!!!!!!!!

i'm looking forward to this vehicle. i'm shocked at how much front looks like a Jetta and the rear looks like an Infiniti...M?

Anyways, its an interesting choice.

the thing that really excites me about suzuki (besides the looks and sporty handling of this particular vehicle) is that it presents another option. the reality is that there are no new mainstream american car companies and it seems as though there never will be. thus, we have to look to the foreign countries to provides us with increased competition and new car companies. instead of just the domestic big three and the foreign big three (honda/toyota/nissan), you now have hyundai/kia as an honest option. this car may prove that suzuki could be becoming a real option, too.

i love competition and variety and the more the better i say...

Do they still make Swift GTis? JK!
Interesting choice IL. I hope it goes well.

Five years ago, we had six Suzuki dealerships. We might have one left, if it hasn't closed too.

My expectations are low.

Interesting comment S197gt. Every time I watch Top Gear I'm reminded simply how many more brands they have than we do, not even counting men "building cars in their shed" and the European market is smaller than ours. Yet all we hear about is how our market must consolidate, GM can't support so many brands, etc. I'm not saying that isn't true for the American market. My question is why.

@stovt001:

Regulations keep the cost of getting into the US market pretty high, thus keeping out the marginal players like Proton as well as the specialist players like the late, great TVR. The same issue restricts engine choices in the cars we do get--the cost of emissions certification for the enormous range of diesels BMW offers in the Euro 3-series is a case in point. They'd have to go through separate certification for each engine, with no guarantee of selling enough 320d or 325d models to make it worthwhile.

As for the mass-market European players (Renault, Peugeot, Fiat), the quality per dollar just isn't there. Keep in mind that the Accord in Europe is deemed a direct competitor for the C-class and 3-series, and is priced as such. Cars that sell in Europe for the equivalent of US$20k may be very nicely equipped but they can't begin to compete with our basic four-cylinder Accords, Camrys, and Sonatas on reliability, interior space, or power--three things US buyers tend to regard as very important.

Interesting choice.

This is a relative unknown and a novelty compared to the Crosstour and the Terrain.

Looking forward to a few Suzuki revelations.

I think i saw this car heading south on the 110 a couple days ago. How many other grey Kizashis could there be out there right now? It's a good choice. I really wish Suzuki would bring over some of their Kei cars.

"Keep in mind that the Accord in Europe is deemed a direct competitor for the C-class and 3-series, and is priced as such."

Also keep in mind that the NA market has a different Accord model than the rest of the world. The Acura TSX is an Accord everywhere else, and it is priced higher than the NA Accord.

Was kind of hoping you guys chose the new Hyundai Sonata instead....but this would be interesting to see

im glad to see a car that it reasonably sized. everything today is do damn big for no reason other than just being big. in glad that theres an "in the middle" car

someone asked if they still make swift GTi's.. they are called swift sports now and they are pretty bad a** and well respected in europe

"why did Edmunds get another one after the snoozer SX4?"

Free car. Nuff said.

I used to say hey, I like the looks of that car, but ick, it's a Kia/Hyundai!

Now that only applies to the Kizashi (as Suzuki's only good-looking car). No matter how good a car looks, Suzuki = bikes, and that's it.

@zoomzoom22: Why? Things change, and ignoring that possibility means you might miss out on something good.