Suzuki Kizashi – Geneva launch

Suzuki are to launch the Kizashi in Europe at the Geneva Motor Show in March

What’s the Suzuki Kizashi, I hear you ask? Well, it’s Suzuki’s attempt at making a D Segment Car (think Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia) and so far it’s only been available in Japan and North America. But that’s about to change with a European launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

In fact, the Suzuki Kizashi is more than just an attempt at a Mondeo/Insignia rivalling saloon from Suzuki. By all accounts it’s a very credible effort and, although not likely to be a big seller, it will give buyers an individual option in this crowded sector. It’s well-equipped with the standard 4WD, a decent suspension setup, good build quality, decent looks  and goodies such as leather trim as standard.

In Japan and the US the Kizashi comes as standard with a 2.4 litre petrol four-pot delivering 185bhp and it looks as if Europe is going to get the same one-engine option. The Kizashi comes as standard with 4WD and you can specify a CVT ‘box if you want to drive without enjoying the ‘Drive’. Performance is around 8 seconds to 60mph and 36mpg. There is talk of a bigger V6 and even a hybrid, although these won’t be on offer when the Kizashi launches at Geneva.

Also potentially in the mix at some point – and probably much needed for Europe – is a diesel option. We have no inside line on this but it does seem a strong possibility that Suzuki could use VW’s diesel engines to create a diesel version of the Kizashi for Europe following a recent tie-up between Suzuki and VW. VW took a 20% stake in Suzuki as a way in to the Indian market and perhaps Suzuki will capitalise on that relationship to provide a diesel lump for the Kizashi in Europe.

The Suzuki Kizashi sells in Japan for around £18k, so it would seem that would be a reasonable guesstimate for the Euro version. But we’ll know more by Geneva. However, there is as yet no indication that we’ll get the Kizashi in the UK.

Perhaps we’ll have to wait until Suzuki have coaxed a diesel engine out of VW to make it a viable in the UK.

By Cars UK