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SAFETY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
'Good,' frontal impact; 'good,' side impact; 'good,' rear impact; 'acceptable,' roof strength
IIHS
Not yet rated
NHTSA
The 2013 Suzuki Kizashi isn't at the top of its class for safety, but it remains one of the better picks, thanks to some reasonably good ratings and a few security-minded features that aren't so common in this class.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the Kizashi has earned top 'good' ratings for frontal and side impact, as well as rear impact, but they earned just 'acceptable' for roof strength. On the other hand, it's one of just a few new models to earn top 'good' ratings in the new small overlap frontal test. Federal NCAP scores for the Kizashi aren't available--and since it's a relatively slow-selling model it likely won't be included as part of that program.
The Kizashi includes eight airbags as standard, as well as rear side bags. And in Kizashi models with all-wheel drive (AWD)--which may in itself provide more secure handling in some all-weather situations--the stability control system can enable stronger steering boost to quickly countersteer and encourage the right corrective action in a skid. The all-wheel-drive system is a multi-mode system that allows front-wheel drive operation, but that safety feature works in either mode.Conclusion
Respectable ratings and standard rear side airbags help distinguish the Kizashi for safety.
