From the land of the rising sun, comes another rising star, the Suzuki Kizashi. Launched in Japan back in October 2009, the Kizashi has slowly been introduced to other world markets, first, North America in December ’09, followed by Australia and New Zealand in May 2010, India in February 2011 and finally, South Africa. Maybe it was this drawn out introduction of the car that Suzuki was hinting at when they came up with the name ‘Kizashi’, translated from Japanese as, ‘Something great is coming’. Well, having driven the car at the media launch in the Hartebeespoort area in Gauteng last week, it has to be said that the wait is over.

The Suzuki Kizashi is an important car for the world’s 9th largest vehicle manufacturer. Traditionally a specialist of compact cars and 4×4′s, the Kizashi is Suzuki’s first medium-sized sedan, the fastest production car it has ever launched in South Africa and it assumes the flagship role in the South African model range. Despite its ‘first, fast, flagship’ status, the Kizashi carries Suzuki into a new market segment too, and one of the toughest at that. Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS, Hyundai Sonata, Audi A4, Toyota Corolla, Mazda6, well, you get the idea, it’s competitive. So, in a market that’s as full of variety and quantity as a Sumo wrestler’s sushi plate, where does the Suzuki fit in and does it need soy-sauce and wasabi, or does it appeal by being fresh ‘out of the box’?

Suzuki’s design team built the Kizashi upon the brand’s core mantra of: forthrightness, value, sportiness, spirit and excitement. Well, thankfully the forthright element shines through as soon as you familiarise yourself with the car, as the solid build and feel common to all Suzuki models – a little less so with the Alto – is present and accounted for. The styling is a combination of European-style design with Japanese craftsmanship, a fusion that is far from awe-inspiring, but certainly gives the Kizashi a unique charm, while sporty design cues come in the form of a wide stance, 18-inch wheels with large 235/45 profile rubber, and exhaust tailpipes inspired by the firm’s GSX-R sports bikes. The Kizashi doesn’t lack presence and manages to impart a degree of pride so archetypal of everything Japanese.

As an all-new model, the Kizashi represents the best of Suzuki – a company with a history in automotive manufacturing than spans over 100 years. Built upon a rigid chassis that has received specific reinforcing beneath the floor, pillars, as well as the engine and suspension mounts, the Kizashi’s steel body forms the basis for a comfortable ride and deft handling. The front suspension employs McPherson struts with a cradle-type frame for a lower centre of gravity. At the rear, a multi-link arrangement also contributes to a lower centre of gravity together with a lower floor panel for improved interior space. Suzuki have paid special attention to reducing NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels, which is apparent within the first few minutes behind the wheel. Floating suspension mounts with bushes improve comfort and quietness, whilst aerodynamic efficiencies, such as plastic cladding beneath the floor, help to further to reduce wind noise. As a result, the Kizashi’s ride quality is one of its winning qualities, managing to achieve the sort after balance between proficient road-holding and passenger comfort.

Between its four doors, the Kizashi boasts a well fitted interior. Leather trim on the seats, door panels, steering wheel, handbrake and gear selector, combine to offer an executive feel common to cars in its class. The plastic dashboard is well fitted and its hard touch is neatly moderated with the distinct shapes and textures of the silver inserts surrounding the centre console, together with the soft-touch rotary dials for the dual-zone climate control and the sound system. Interior space is on the generous side, although taller rear passengers might wish for slightly more headroom. Luggage capacity is ample, with 461-litres, and folding rear seats (60:40-split) offer added versatility.

Beneath the bonnet lies a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, producing 131 kW and 230 Nm of torque at 4 000 r/min. The Kizashi is available with either a 6-speed manual or a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). The naturally aspirated engine offers enough motivation for a car that weighs just shy of 1.5 tonnes, giving the three-pedal model a sub-eight second 0 – 100 km/h sprint time. The CVT equipped Kizashi behaves in a fashion synonymous with having an infinite number of gear ratios to choose from, that is, sky-high revs and the associated noise under acceleration. Thankfully, however, Suzuki has programmed their CVT with several intelligent control modes that provide the best use of the engine’s power and torque under prevailing driving conditions – ‘Start mode’ for example, which maintains lower gear ratios for strong off-the-line acceleration. This clever programming together with Suzuki’s efforts to reduce interior noise, mean the spinning engine isn’t too distracting and, thanks also to the 230 Nm of torque, the Kizashi doesn’t need to rev as high, and for as long, as other CVTs mated to small capacity engines.

With their global sales being spurred on by the burgeoning Indian and Chinese markets to the tune of 2.6 million vehicles in 2010, the timing of Suzuki’s entrance into a new market segment looks to be spot-on. Despite the tough competition, the Suzuki Kizashi fills a gap in the company’s model range, which now stands to attract a new type of customer and retain those who may be outgrowing the brand’s previously small-car biased line-up.

Pricing includes a 6-year/90 000km service plan, 3-year/100 000km warranty and roadside assistance.