St. Sauveur, Quebec – Last May, Japanese automaker Suzuki launched its largest and most sophisticated sedan ever in Canada. It’s called Kizashi, which roughly translates into "something great is coming".
Still hot from the oven, this surprising four-door deserves to be recognized for its many qualities. After all, there isn’t anything quite like it in the brand’s low-profile product family.
Imagine a midsize sedan that may not be as roomy as most competitors in its class but features all-wheel drive as standard and offers driving dynamics on par with a BMW 323i or VW Passat. That, in essence, is the recipe of the Suzuki Kizashi SX.
A new model to spice things up
Now, things get even more interesting with the addition of a new model to the lineup. Suzuki Canada introduced journalists to the all-new Kizashi Sport as part of a special media event in the Laurentides region of La Belle Province.
Available as early as next month, this second model will position itself between the top-of-the-line SX and another newcomer, the entry-level Kizashi S.
Front-wheel drive and a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine come standard with both the S and Sport models. However, the latter adds five horsepower for a total of 185.
Oh, by the way, forget about a V6! First of all, Suzuki does not build this type of engine. Moreover, it would compromise the car’s outstanding balance, according to Bill Porter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Suzuki Canada. "The Kizashi doesn’t need a heavier engine and more horsepower. That would only jeopardize the ideal blend of ride and handling achieved by the car," he claims.
It’s like fitting a V6 under the hood of the Mazda MX-5. Some crazy tuners have taken a shot at it, but they only messed up an otherwise perfectly-balanced little roadster.
Still hot from the oven, this surprising four-door deserves to be recognized for its many qualities. After all, there isn’t anything quite like it in the brand’s low-profile product family.
Imagine a midsize sedan that may not be as roomy as most competitors in its class but features all-wheel drive as standard and offers driving dynamics on par with a BMW 323i or VW Passat. That, in essence, is the recipe of the Suzuki Kizashi SX.
A new model to spice things up
Now, things get even more interesting with the addition of a new model to the lineup. Suzuki Canada introduced journalists to the all-new Kizashi Sport as part of a special media event in the Laurentides region of La Belle Province.
Available as early as next month, this second model will position itself between the top-of-the-line SX and another newcomer, the entry-level Kizashi S.
Front-wheel drive and a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine come standard with both the S and Sport models. However, the latter adds five horsepower for a total of 185.
Oh, by the way, forget about a V6! First of all, Suzuki does not build this type of engine. Moreover, it would compromise the car’s outstanding balance, according to Bill Porter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Suzuki Canada. "The Kizashi doesn’t need a heavier engine and more horsepower. That would only jeopardize the ideal blend of ride and handling achieved by the car," he claims.
It’s like fitting a V6 under the hood of the Mazda MX-5. Some crazy tuners have taken a shot at it, but they only messed up an otherwise perfectly-balanced little roadster.
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| Front-wheel drive and a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine come standard with both the S and Sport models. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |