2011 Suzuki Kizashi - Quality Review

Suzuki hasn't accomplished any magic with interior space here; the 2011 Kizashi is more of a compact sedan than a mid-size one on the outside, and the same rings true inside. However, the Kizashi has nice, supportive front bucket seats that are highly adjustable and even good for taller folks—plus a great driving position.

In the back seat, headroom can be a little tight and there's clearly not as much space overall compared to mid-size cars, but even some of the tallest, lankiest people will be able to wedge in there for across-town jaunts. Also, then there's no middle passenger (we advise you limit it to two back there), there's a folding armrest with sturdy cupholder.

Where the Kizashi shows its compactness most, perhaps, is in trunk space. While its trunk is decently sized, the opening is narrowed than that of mid-size sedans. Seats are split 60/40 and fold forward, though not quite to a fully-flat position; however headrests tuck nicely away without needing to be removed.

Throughout the Kizashi, materials are a pleasant surprise. Nicely grained plastics pair with soft-touch and padded surfaces in most of the places you'd brush against—except for the hard side of the center stack (knees), and controls are backlit in a soft red hue, with gauges lit in a pale blue, matching the vacuum fluorescent audio and climate control displays. Controls for audio and climate have a positive, high-quality feel with a textured grip; they wouldn't be out of place on a car costing twice as much. The USB input, for iPods or other media players, is located inside the large storage bin just ahead of the shifter, so you can close the lid and leave the electronics out of view.

Thanks to some excellent suspension and sound-insulation work, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi rides very well, with a firm but well-damped feel overall. Even minor bumps from railroad tracks, potholes, and the like aren't overly jarring, and in general there's less road noise than many other sporty, non-luxury sedans its price.

Overall, the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi feels a little more sophisticated and detail-oriented than other mainstream mid-size sedans (or at least their base versions), with pleasing materials and an interior that's nicely detailed and just roomy enough by most accounts. About the only issue is that the engine tends to get boomy when revved; but overall with very little vibration and switchgear that feels high-quality, the Kizashi has a remarkably sophisticated feel.