Pricing: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

The Suzuki Kizashi is set to enter into the competitive midsized sedan category with a starting price of just under $19,000. The base Kizashi S will be offered with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission for $18,999. The S will also have an available automatic CVT for $20,499 or all-wheel drive for $21,749. The entry-level version will offer a number of standard features including eight air bags, which include front, side, and curtain; stability control, ABS, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, and audio controls on the steering wheel.

Suzuki forecasts the volume model will be the SE, available with a CVT and all-wheel drive. Additional features will include 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, and a power driver’s seat with three-position memory. Prices will range from $21,499 to $22,749.

The GTS is the sporty line available with a six-speed manual or performance-tuned CVT with steering wheel paddle shifters. Features include a premium audio system with 10 speakers, Bluetooth capability, 18-inch wheels, fog lights, and power moon roof. The GTS pricing starts at $22,499 and will top out at $24,849 for the AWD CVT.

The top-of-the line SLS adds leather seats, power passenger seat, heated front seats, auto dimming rear-view mirror with a universal garage door opener, heated outside mirrors, automatic rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and rear proximity sensors with audible warning and visual display. Prices for the SLS range from $24,399 for FWD manual transmission to $26,749 for AWD CVT.

All models regardless of trim will be powered by a 2.4-liter engine and add $735 for destination and handling.

We recently drove the Kizashi GTS line and weren’t impressed. We found the ride stiff and steering not very Euro inspiring as Suzuki has marketed. The interior was pleasing and seats decent.

The Suzuki Kizashi will hit dealerships in December and we’ll put it through the paces at our track in the coming months.

Read our Suzuki Kizashi first impressions.

—Liza Barth 

First impression: Suzuki Kizashi

“Does the world really need another family sedan?” During a visit from Suzuki, this was the opening line of the execs’ presentation—not a question we asked them.

The marketing rationale follows the assumption that the potential Kizashi buyer wouldn’t want a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord—that was their parents’ car. And that the “Euro-inspired” handling, compact size, “interior design,” and optional AWD will also appeal to a new generation of buyers. Volume expectations are modest, according to Suzuki. Pricing spans roughly between $20,000 and $27,000.

The Kizashi is a pure Suzuki design that doesn’t trace its roots to GM or Daewoo. It was designed to be sold in world markets and adapts the D-segment size standard, which means it straddles a Corolla and Camry in terms of dimensions.

We briefly drove a high end Kizashi with 18-inch wheels and all the bells and whistles. Bottom line: We were not impressed. The 2.4-liter engine mated to the CVT isn’t the most cultured powertrain out there. The ride is rather stiff, and the steering, in our judgment, has very little European inspiration, if at all. The interior is nothing special, but the cabin has a pleasing appearance and decent seats.

We’ll have more details on the Kizashi in the coming months when we put it through our battery of tests on our track and publish a full review.

The Kizashi will join the Subaru Legacy and Ford Fusion as the third AWD mainstream family sedan. It goes on sale by the end of 2009.

—Gabe Shenhar

Tokyo preview: Toyota / Subaru FT-86 sports car

Today, Toyota took the wraps off the long-rumored sports car it’s building with cooperation with Subaru. The FT-86 concept will be formally unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 24th.
 
The FT-86 is engineered and styled by Toyota, but it uses a Subaru horizontally-opposed engine for a lower center of gravity and will be built by Subaru. (Toyota owns 17 percent of Subaru.)
 
The sports car will be rear-wheel drive and seat four. The engine will produce between 200 and 250 horsepower and use a six-speed manual gearbox. (No word on an automatic, yet.) Subaru’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 170 hp in the Impreza, and between 265- and 305 hp in the turbocharged WRX and WRX STi, respectively. Toyota says the engine will be “at least” 2.0 liters. Subaru builds both turbocharged and non-turbo versions of a 2.0-liter engine overseas.
 
The FT-86 will be 163-inches long, 69 inches wide, and just shy of 50 inches tall -- about the size of a Nissan 370Z, with a slightly longer wheelbase of 101 in.
 
Toyota announced it would also unveil a new Prius plug-in for the Japanese market at the upcoming show. Larger batteries will improve the car’s fuel economy and enable an electric-only range of up to 12 miles at low speeds. But the gas engine will help propel the car under most circumstances, similarly to the current production Prius. Toyota claims the batteries can be charged in three hours on 100-volt current and half that on 200 volts.
 
—Eric Evarts

Suzuki unveils Kizashi midsized sedan

Suzuki unveiled its new top-of-the line Kizashi midsized sedan, in Los Angeles today. The Kizashi will use a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing, as well as balance-shafts for smoothness. It will be mated to a choice of a paddle-shifted CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. An electronically actuated all-wheel-drive system will be optional.

In size, the Kizashi is 183 inches long, with a 107-inch wheelbase, and 72 inches wide. That makes it about the size of the Hyundai Sonata.

Safety features will include standard electronic stability control and side-curtain air bags, along with optional rear side air bags. Suzuki claims the Kisashi meets all upcoming crash safety standards for 2014, including a side-into-pole crash test and a 50 mph rear offset test.

Uplevel trim lines will include a sunroof, heated leather seats, and a 10-speaker, 425-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo, and dual-zone climate control. Keyless entry and starting will be standard.

The company did not release pricing. When it goes on sale, we’ll put it to the test against other midsized sedans in its price range.

—Eric Evarts

Suzuki SX4t: Sport compact muscle car

You may pine for the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Shelby GT 500KR, but this may be future of pony cars.

The SX4t is small, it’s squat, and it’s based on an economy car. When viewed from across a parking lot, it looks a lot like a regular Suzuki SX4. Once I saw it in motion, the lowered stance, distinct noise from the wastegate-dumpin’ boost, and the carbon-fiber hood made me take a second look at the SX4t Concept. And after a few laps around Pocono racetrack, I came to the realization that vehicles like this will most likely be the next-generation of pony cars. Bold statement, I know, but hear me out.

I drove the SX4t at the last International Motor Press Association (IMPA) Test Days, an annual event for journalists in the New York metro area, where members assemble at one venue and sample press cars from a wide variety of manufacturers. For many freelance and local journalists, it’s an opportunity to get into cars they may not be able to drive until months later. And even for us at Consumer Reports, there are cars we may not have at our test track for months because they aren’t yet for sale, or may never be. Such is the case with SX4t.

Track time with the SX4t
When we tested the SX4 in December 2007 (road test and ratings available to online subscribers), we said it had good handling and great visibility as a little all-wheel-drive runabout. But, the ride was stiff and the 143-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was underpowered. In fact, the SX4 with a four-speed automatic was one of the slowest cars we had recently tested.

Suzuki worked with an outside group, Road Race Motorsports, and came up with a bit more power for the car. A turbocharger with seven pounds of boost pumped power up to 221 hp and 208 lb-ft of torque, sizeable increases for this small car. New springs, performance brake pads, a five-speed manual transmission, 17-inch wheels with performance tires, and some “go-fast-looking” details rounded out the package.

Running through the curves, turns, and chicane on the Pocono road course is where this little rocket shined. The upright seating position and windscreen made it a snap to hit apexes. And there is a different type of fun when tossing a small car around a track than piloting an uber-horsepower GT around the same course. There was a bit of bounce from the shock absorbers that are a bit soft and not matched well with the stiffer springs. But the little SX4t was really fun to drive. And I wasn’t just the only fan. Consumer Reports Sr. Automotive Engineer Jake Fisher and resident hot shoe thought it was one of the most enjoyable cars at the event.

So, what makes it (and its ilk) the next pony car? Economics. The cost of gasoline and rising car prices, compounded by the other rising costs in life, mean that there isn’t money for young enthusiasts to buy a Camaro, Challenger, or Mustang, if they are even interested in them. A point I am reminded of as we are testing these nostalgic muscle cars. (See our muscle car preview video.) Remember, the Boomers of today lusting after these retro-cars were the teenagers and twenty-somethings of the 1960s. Today’s Gen Y was weaned on compact imports.

That demographic today isn’t spending $30,000 or more on fuel-swilling car that is largely impractical. Their lower earning power and PlayStation pedigree means they need an affordable, reliable, safe, and fuel-thrifty car that is still fun. Big horsepower is exciting, but cars like the SX4t concept, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and the Scion tC are where the money from young enthusiasts will probably be going.

What cars do you think Gen Y and Millenials will lust after in their middle age?

—Jon Linkov

Crash test - IIHS rates small and compact cars

Only two out of eight small cars in the latest tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provide good side crash protection, once again reinforcing the need for consumers to carefully review the safety equipment and safety ratings for models under consideration for purchase.

In this group, the 2009 Suzuki SX4 was the best performer, getting good ratings for front-and side-crash protection. The Toyota Matrix, and its twin Pontiac Vibe, also got good ratings for side-crash protection. The Chevrolet HHR earned good frontal-crash protection and acceptable performance in side crashes.

At the other end of the spectrum, the oldest model in this group, Chrysler PT Cruiser was the worst performer in the side test, earning the lowest rating of poor for protection in side crashes. The Hyundai Elantra and Saturn Astra earn the second lowest rating of marginal.

Small and compact cars
The December IIHS crash-test group is listed below in rank order, with the specific air bag configuration tested and applicable model years listed.

Suzuki SX4
Front - Good; Side - Good
Front and rear head curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Front and side: 2008-2009 models

Toyota Matrix (and Pontiac Vibe)
Side - Good
Front and rear head curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Side: 2009 models

Chevrolet HHR
Front - Good; Side - Acceptable
Front and rear head curtain air bags
Front: 2006-2009 models, side: 2009 models

Ford Focus
Side - Acceptable
Front and rear head-curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
2008-09 models

Mini Cooper
Side - Acceptable
Front and rear head-curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Side: 2008-09 models manufactured after July 2008

Saturn Astra
Front - Good; Side - Marginal
Front and rear head curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Front and side: 2008-09 models

Hyundai Elantra
Side - Marginal
Front and rear head-curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Side: 2007-09 models

Chrysler PT Cruiser
Front - Good; Side - Poor
Front combination head and torso airbags and driver inflatable knee bolster
Front: 2006-09 models, side: 2008-09 models

—Desiree Calamari

2009 Suzuki SX4 to have standard GPS

Suzuki has announced that it will offer in-car navigation as a standard feature on the 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sport sedan and front-drive SX4 Crossover hatchback models. This is the first time a manufacturer is including integrated GPS navigation in an entry-level vehicle in the United States.

The navigation system is based on the Garmin Nuvi 700 series portable navigation device (PND). The Suzuki version, called T.R.I.P (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information, and Play) will offer a 4.3-inch touch-screen display with preloaded maps and millions of points of interest (POI), such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and gas stations. Suzuki has customized the POI database by adding recommended destinations such as music venues, surf spots, and other activity-focused attractions.

Buyers will be able to upgrade to a more premium navigation system, adding Bluetooth capability and Microsoft Network service—which offers real-time traffic, weather, and gas prices. Suzuki will launch a community Web site to share and download destinations and recommendations among other SX4 owners.

The system will be integrated into the audio system, which automatically lowers the volume of the radio or CD when the navigation system is giving a verbal instruction. Additionally, the Microsoft antenna is integrated into the vehicle’s antenna to continuously receive new data with the premium version.

The Garmin device can be removed from the dash-board docking station, and Suzuki advises that it could be replaced/upgraded in the future by the car owner with another similar Garmin unit. The Garmin Nuvi 700 series has performed well in our ratings (available to online subscribers) of portable devices.

Suzuki decided to add this system after hearing feedback from current SX4 owners that navigation is the most desired feature in their next vehicle. In-car navigation systems from the factory can cost $1500-$2000, or be a part of an even more expensive technology package.

Suzuki has not yet released pricing for the 2009 SX4 line, but says it will have a base price of under $16,000, signaling a potential price increase. The SX4 Sport starts at $14,270 and the SX4 Crossover at $14,770, plus $625 in destination charges. For comparison purposes, you can buy a portable Garmin Nuvi 700 series device for around $600, so with a possible increase in base price, you may be paying for the system, after all. (Suzuki will not announce pricing until closer to on-sale date this summer.)

The docking station concept is an exciting one, as it could allow users to choose the level of GPS they want and potentially upgrade it in the future, allowing for new features to be brought to the car. It is conceivable that docks could become the navigation equivalent of iPod connectors, allowing consumers to choose the device and upgrade as desired. Of course, this would require the adherence to standards. With Garmin accounting for half the U.S. market, it is a possibility. Toyota is experimenting with a dock application in the 4Runner SUV. Although Toyota offers a DVD-based navigation system on the 4Runner, the Urban Runner model includes a removable TomTom portable navigation device.

Clearly, consumer interest in GPS-enabled devices is on the rise, and we expect to see more creative solutions in the future.

What solutions would you like to see? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

—Liza Barth

Midsized SUV crash test results - Nissan Murano Top Safety Pick

Nine out of 10 SUVs in the latest tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provide good frontal crash protection. However, the ratings in the side crash tests are mixed, once again reinforcing the need for consumers to carefully review the safety equipment and safety ratings for models under consideration for purchase. (These tests and over 200 others can be viewed in the Consumer Reports crash test video player.)

In this group, the 2009 Nissan Murano was the best performer, getting good ratings for front-, side-, and rear-crash protection. The Murano earned the Top Safety Pick designation, joining a growing list of midsized SUVs to earn that accolade. (However, read "Nissan recalls SUVs for air bag fix.")

At the other end of the spectrum, the Jeep Liberty, four-door Jeep Wrangler, and Kia Sorento are the worst performers in the side test. The Liberty, its mechanical sibling Dodge Nitro, and Wrangler earn the second lowest rating of marginal for protection in side crashes. The Sorento earns the lowest rating of poor.

In 2001 only half of the midsized models that were tested earned good ratings in the IIHS frontal offset test. In the latest evaluations, only the Hummer H3 falls short, and it earns an acceptable rating. The H3 is one of only two midsized SUV designs the Institute has recently tested that doesn't earn a good rating in the frontal test. (The other is the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, and related GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7X).

As manufacturers introduce improved designs, the Institute sees more SUVs qualifying for Top Safety Pick by earning good ratings in all three tests and having electronic stability control (ESC).

"Performance of some of these models in the side test was surprising," said Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan in a statement. "SUVs should have an inherent advantage in such crashes because drivers and passengers ride higher up than in cars. People often think they're safer in an SUV, but many cars perform much better in our side test than some of the SUVs in this group."

Midsized, four-door SUVs
The February crash-test group is listed below in rank order, with the specific air bag configuration tested and applicable model years listed.

Nissan Murano
Front - Good; Side - Good
Front and rear head curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Front and side: 2009 models

Mazda CX-7
Front - Good; Side - Good
Front and rear head curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Front and side: 2007-08 models

Mazda CX-9
Front - Good; Side - Good
Head-curtain air bags for all three rows and front torso air bags
Front and side: 2007-08 models

Mitsubishi Endeavor
Front - Good; Side - Good
Front and rear head-curtain air bags and front torso air bags.
Front: 2004-08 models, side: 2007-08 models

Suzuki XL7
Front - Good; Side - Acceptable; Rear - Marginal
Head-curtain air bags for all three rows
Front: 2008 models, side: 2007-08 models

Hummer H3
Front - Acceptable; Side - Acceptable
Front and rear head-curtain air bags.
Front and side: 2006-08 models. (Head-curtain air bags optional in 2006-2007)

Jeep Wrangler
Front - Good; Side - Marginal
Without optional side air bags
Front and side: 2007-08 models

Jeep Liberty & Dodge Nitro
Front - Good; Side - Marginal
Front and rear head-curtain air bags
Front and side: 2008 Liberty models and 2007-08 Nitro models

Kia Sorento
Front - Good; Side - Poor
Front and rear head-curtain air bags
Front: 2007-08 models, side: 2003-08 models

See how these SUVs perform in the crash test videos.

—Jeff Bartlett

Chicago - Show me the green

The Chicago Auto Show seems to fall in a tough place on the calendar, that is, after the Los Angeles and Detroit shows where combined 60-80 vehicles may have been unveiled. Each event has a typical theme: LA is usually on the leading-edge of the Green movement and high fashion; Detroit tends to combine American muscle, technology innovation, and memorable design; Chicago is often a blend of truck news and also-rans (minor updates and decidedly unsexy models).

Disappointingly, the pattern holds true this year. The show itself isn't to blame, being a hapless victim of timing and circumstance. I place the blame on the manufacturers. Hear me out...

Reflecting back on the announcements after one last tour of the show floor, there were more than a fair share of mild updates and rebadged models. These may be all important to their respective companies, but not fodder for fueling consumer (or diehard automotive) passions.

Trucks did rule here in Chicago, with several interesting announcements although little that rocked my automotive world. The Chevrolet Traverse looks great. The Ford Works computer system is quite impressive. The GMC Sierra is welcomed to the hybrid revolution. The GMC Denali XT concept is, well, different.

What I wanted to see was inventive, thrifty trucks and SUVs. Rather than just targeting full-throttle, off-road assault monsters, I was looking forward to more vehicles that could commune in nature in a reasonably environmentally responsible way.

Turns out Detroit was the show for that, with the Ford Escape Plug-in, Hummer HX, Jeep Renegade (shown above), Land Rover LRX, Saturn Vue Plug-in, and Toyota A-BAT concepts. No question the Hummer H3T rocks in its own conquer-the-Earth way, but the HX concept from Detroit alongside it rocks harder. Fit it with a clean diesel engine and consider it the brand's savior.

The show season isn't over until New York next month. Just hope we don't have to wait until the next Detroit show to be tantalized with vehicles that combine fun and "green" in the same exciting package.

Meanwhile, I need to reread the Suzuki Equator materials to learn more about how it has an "exclusive" grille.

—Jeff Bartlett

Read our complete coverage of the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.

Small SUVs and SUV alternatives tests and videos

For our test group in the December 2007 issue we drove vehicles in the very popular small SUV category. These vehicles perform adequately, but can’t compete with the top performers in this segment: the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.

The full road tests from the magazine have been posted at ConsumerReports.org, along with videos from our auto staff experts. These videos highlight our tests of each vehicle, plus our experts demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of each model.

"Small SUVs" features the Ford Escape, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, and Saturn Vue. We also took a look at two SUV alternatives: the Kia Rondo and Suzuki SX4. Watch the videos.

—Liza Barth