sign of good things to come. That is what the word Kizashi means in Japanese. It may just prove to be true. Maruti is spearheading its attack at the top-end luxury segment with the Kizashi. The front-end honey-combed grill has a strong resemblance to the Swift and the bold “S” makes sure everyone knows it is a Suzuki. The rear-end has a Porche Panamera look with the twin chrome-tipped exhausts. The overall look of the car — beefy, muscular, yet sleek — gives a sporty look and lives up to its introduction as a luxurious sporty sedan. The long sloping bonnet, short rear deck and a huge cabin area give it a sleek and a swift stance. The overall look is European, and this is what Suzuki wanted. So far at first sight, the Kizashi scores full marks.The sweep back headlamps have clear lens and for a change the amber indicator lights are set separately into the bumper and not part of the headlight cluster. The headlamps can be adjusted for levelling. The rear lights are large and wrapped around with the reversing lights, which are incorporated into the cluster. A high mounted spotlight sits perched precariously atop the rear deck with the Suzuki “S” logo below it.
No mistaking this car. To further confirm it is pedigree, the Suzuki name is on the left of the lid and the unusual font claims it to be a Kizashi. The car sits on large 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels with 12 spokes, which enhance the sporty look.
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At first sight, the Kizashi scores full marks
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The interior is ultra-luxury! Slip into the light beige leather seats, which are wide and well padded. The driver’s seat has a 10-way power adjustable position. There is a memory lock for three positions. One each for dad, mom and daughter. This means that every family member can personally select his/her seating position. Sink into the seat, just press a button in the armrest and the seat will automatically move into the pre-selected position.
The front passenger seat has a four-way power adjustment facility. Both front and rear seats have armrests which house storing bins. There are separate climate control options for the front two seats. The rear seats also have A/C vents. Being a five-seater, the rear seat has three headrests. The rear seat is 60-40 split and folds. The rear seat also has a trunk-pass-through. The armrest folds out of the way, and if you are transporting skis (not likely in Chandigarh), or curtain rods, you can load them from the trunk and they can intrude into the passenger area. The steering has tilt and telescopic adjustments. The steering wheel is multi-functional. It holds the audio controls and also has cruise control options. The Kizashi comes with a manual transmission and automatic transmission.
Please note that the A/T is not the traditional auto gearbox. It is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This provides a jerk-free continuous change of gears and provides an ultra-smooth drive. The CVT has an over-ride option, which means it can be used as a manual gear shift. While driving in the auto-mode, it is possible to shift gears up or down. This is possible by pulling on the paddles, which are housed behind the steering wheel.
The Kizashi abounds with safety features. Seat belts and airbags are taken for granted, but the Kizashi has six airbags. This includes, in addition to the normal front airbags, two side airbags for the seats plus curtain airbags which cover the windows. This means that in case of a collision, the driver and passenger will be cocooned and safe. ABS with EBD are standard, as is the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). The CVT model has Hill Assist, which means no rolling back while waiting to start uphill.
The start-stop push-button does not require a key. This feature is becoming increasingly popular because the older generation with arthritis found it difficult to fit and twist a key behind the steering wheel. A brilliant example of ergonomics and a user-friendly innovation. The engine to propel this beauty is a 2.4 litre, 4-cylinder, 16-valve VVT with a DOHC, putting out 178 ps at 6500 rpm and 230 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It is the same engine that can be found under the bonnet of the Grand Vitara.
The Kizashi is imported as a completely built unit (CBU) from Suzuki’s Sagara plant in Japan. The price in Chandigarh is Rs 16.87 lakh for the manual transmission and Rs 17.89 lakh for the CVT version. Bookings have started with a Rs 50,000 deposit. Deliveries begin in March.
Happy motoring.
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sign of good things to come. That is what the word Kizashi means in Japanese. It may just prove to be true. Maruti is spearheading its attack at the top-end luxury segment with the Kizashi. The front-end honey-combed grill has a strong resemblance to the Swift and the bold “S” makes sure everyone knows it is a Suzuki. The rear-end has a Porche Panamera look with the twin chrome-tipped exhausts. The overall look of the car — beefy, muscular, yet sleek — gives a sporty look and lives up to its introduction as a luxurious sporty sedan. The long sloping bonnet, short rear deck and a huge cabin area give it a sleek and a swift stance. The overall look is European, and this is what Suzuki wanted. So far at first sight, the Kizashi scores full marks.