2010 Suzuki Kizashi
Though Suzuki is usually better known for motorbikes it also makes cars. The
Kizashi is a stylish machine with a powerful appearance that gives a look of
sportiness.
In August 2010 the Suzuki Kizashi Sport arrived Downunder. As befits its title this
Kizashi has a full-on sports body kit, 18-inch alloys and lowered ride height that
further enhanced its already strong appearance.
It took the European route of being offered with all-wheel drive for better traction on
slippery surfaces. Ice, snow or rain. However, it’s an AWD, not a 4WD as in Suzuki
SUVs.
The so-called Kizashi Sport is heavier than the standard front-wheel-drive, but has
no more power so is slower in a straight line.
The 2.4-litre engine petrol four produces 131 kilowatts of power and 230 Newton
metres of torque. This is a relatively large car so performance is adequate rather
than exciting.
Transmission is by a six-speed manual or CVT automatic. The former was never
particularly popular and you may be able to pick one up for a pretty reasonable price.
In August 2013 the emphasis on sporty looks was further enhanced by the fitment of
the body kit used on the Sport model was installed on all models.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi
Suzuki Kizashi is relatively tall and provides good interior room. There’s better than
average legroom in the back seat and four adults can be carried in comfort.
Headroom is fine in the standard models but the sunroof in the topline Kizashis
steals a fair bit of height from the back seat.
Interior stowage space is good, with large door pockets and several other areas to
hold all the little nick-nacks that seem to travel everywhere with us.
The boot capacity is very good thanks to the tall-tail design and the opening is
reasonably wide. You may find it difficult to get some really bulky items in, keep this
in mind when shopping around for used cars as other makes may be better suited.
On the road the Suzuki Kizashi feels almost European in the strength of the body.
Ride comfort remains good even on rough roads and tyre/road noise are generally
well subdued, though coarse-chip surfaces do raise noise levels significantly.
There is a fair number of Suzuki dealers Australian wide and the big success of the
4WD models mean there are more dealers in country and bush areas than for many
other makers in this market segment.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport
Insurance premiums for the Kizashi vary more than usual for this class, possibly
because low sales mean that companies have statistically different experiences with
them. Shop around for a good deal, but make sure you’re doing accurate
comparisons.
If you are keen to get the high build quality of a Japanese vehicle, but like the
chassis dynamics of a European one then a Suzuki Kizashi should be on your short
list of cars.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Kizashi is a well-built vehicle with a solid reputation but it still makes sense to have a
professional inspection.
Should you wish to do an initial inspection yourself look for the following:
Crash damage or signs of repairs, the easiest things for amateurs to spot are ripples
in the body panels when viewed end on in good light; tiny paint spots on unpainted
areas like glass, badges and trim.
Uneven wear on the front tyres and/or damage to the wheel rims probably indicates
poor parking, but may also have been caused by a crash.
Check the condition of the interior trim, particularly in the rear seat area where it may
have been knocked about by the kids.
Be sure the engine starts easily and settles into a smooth idle within a few seconds
of kicking over. Ideally, do this check with the engine stone cold after an overnight
stop.
The CVT automatic should be smooth and easy in operation. If you feel it’s not in the
correct ratio for the conditions it might be worthwhile getting CVT expert to check it
out.
Manual gearboxes that crunch on fast downchanges may be due for major repairs.
HOW MUCH?
Expect to spend from $5000 to $9000 for a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi XL; $6000 to
$10,000 or a 2013 Touring; $7000 to $11,000 for a 2011 XLS; $8000 to $13,000 for
a 2012 Sport; $9000 to $14,000 for a 2013 Sport; $10,000 to $15,000 for a 2015
Sport; and $11,000 to $17,000 for a 2016 Sport.
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