TPRM president Scott Black with the Kizashi.

Over the years, Suzuki has been overshadowed in the U.S. by foreign automakers including Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda and even more recently, Hyundai. Often described as quirky by the motoring press, they built nice cars that were reliable but not remarkable. For some reason, their success in making exciting motorcycles never seemed to translate to their auto business.

A recent drive in the new Kizashi did much to dispel that dowdy image. The four door sedan was downright fun. In fact, for the first time I would put a Suzuki on my short list the next time I am looking for a new car.

The spunky Kizashi, which roughly means “something great is coming” in Japanese, comes in a stylish wrapper. The “arrest me red” color of the press car was draped over a sharp body that is light years ahead, in my opinion, of a Corolla for example. Some of the styling cues were Audi-esque with a fit and finish that would rival the German car builders.

Inside, the car is nicely trimmed. While not to the level of a Mercedes, BMW or Audi, it certainly isn’t priced in that category so that would not be a fair comparison. But the tactile sensations are good, the optional Rockford-Fosgate stereo extremely nice and the seats are very comfortable. With a high roof, it was easy to find a comfortable position for my 6’1” frame; equally important, the back seat was absolutely spacious. A few more soft plastic, or better yet leather, surfaces would be nice, but overall the car was nicely equipped for its class.

All of the controls are easy to read and well laid out. The clutch pedal (yes, thank you Suzuki for offering a manual tranny!) was nicely spaced from the gas and brakes. Everything seems to have been designed to be intuitive, making it easy to get in, power up and head out.

Driving the car was surprisingly delightful. Though I generally dislike front wheel drive cars, the Suzuki was well-balanced and light on its feet. The brakes were well modulated and strong, yet not harsh. Torque oversteer didn’t really rear its head, though of course the free-revving 4 cylinder engine only puts out 180 HP. A bit more of bottom and mid-range power would be helpful, but the engine never felt overmatched.

Overall, the car displayed a nimbleness that encouraged you to row through the gears and attack corners with brio. Granted, my time was spent on city streets and a bit of highway and not on a proper track, but the dynamics of the Kizashi exceeded my expectations.

Suzuki not only offers the car with FWD, but they also have an optional AWD system. A 200 HP V6 is an option, though sadly the 6 speed manual transmission cannot be had with that power plant and the AWD. If Suzuki wanted to really shake up the perception of their brand, a sport package with a sweet sounding exhaust, 240 HP V6, AWD and a 6 speed manual for a base MSRP of around $26K would be a fast way to get there. With the specter of high fuel prices and draconian government emissions standards in the future, maybe the wise move would be a 200 HP turbo 4 cylinder with the AWD and 6 speed. This would be a great competitor to the entrenched small and mid size car brands, as well as a serious threat to Subaru, Mitsubishi and Kia.

Is the Kizashi for real? Absolutely. Anyone looking for a car in this category should seriously shop the sporty little sedan. The car has a real soul in a market filled with simple appliances. Sedate and comfortable in town, but spirited when pressed the Kizashi easily fills double duty as a family taxi or a Walter Mitty one minute escape. Take a spin and you will see. And order one in red if you really want to add a dash of spice to your life. The best news of all? With a starting price of just $18,999, it is also very easy on the pocket book. Something great is most definitely coming.

For more information on the Kizashi, go to www.suzukiauto.com.

–Posted by Scott Black