Suzuki made what appears to be an odd choice when it came to deciding which version of the Kizashi it would put on sale in the UK. There are several on sale in other markets, but there was no question of importing them all, since this country's yearly allocation amounted to only 500 units. What Suzuki did was nominate the top-spec Sport version - with a 176bhp 2.4-litre petrol engine, four-wheel drive and a CVT automatic gearbox - as the one that UK customers would be offered.It would have been a different story if, say, we were talking about five thousand Kizashis rather than five hundred. In that case there would have been a wider range, and the 2.4 4x4 CVT would almost certainly have been a low-volume halo model if indeed it had been chosen at all. But with such small numbers to deal with, Suzuki wanted to show that it could be different in a spectacularly competitive sector of the market.Fair enough. And well done for putting a car with such a complex drivetrain on the market for under £22,000. (At the a year ago, Suzuki thought the price would be around £24,000, and I believe a lot of work went on behind the scenes to bring it down so far.) The thing is, I don't believe that either the four-wheel drive or the CVT actually help the car.They add weight to, respectively, the rear and front, and one effect of this is apparent to varying extents. On smooth tarmac near Chester, where I first experienced the Kizashi last year, it both rides and handles very well, but on more challenging roads in my part of the world it was very unhappy on every bump, dip and crest, to the point where it became very tiring to drive.The difference was so marked that I asked Suzuki if the suspension had been altered during the intervening twelve months. Apparently it hasn't. The only change was that the test car was fitted with winter tyres, but this is simply not a tyre issue.Another result of the weight - and partly of the engine, which needs to be revved hard if you want to get the best out of it (maximum power isn't produced until 6000rpm) - is not dependent on road surface. During this test fuel consumption wasn't better than 30mpg, and since the official combined figure is only 34mpg I don't think I can be accused of driving in an unusually uneconomical manner. What with this and a CO2 rating of 191g/km, which obliges you to pay £245 per year in Vehicle Excise duty, the Kizashi will be a particularly expensive car to run.A front-wheel drive manual with the same engine would use less fuel, cost less to tax and be much better to drive on challenging roads (it's already noticeably better on smooth ones, as I found when I drove one on the Chester event). Judging by the UK price of this version, it would probably be possible to sell it for just under £20,000 too. All of which makes it, I think, a much more appealing car, but unfortunately one you won't be able to buy in this country.The actual operation of the CVT is fine, though if you're going to drive sportily you'd be best to make use of the six manual ratio holds which can be selected using either the gearlever or the paddleshifts on either side of the steering wheel. Although there's something philosophically objectionable about buying a continuously variable transmission and preventing it from varying continuously, the sound effects under strong acceleration are easier on the ear this way.For gentler driving, automatic selection is best, as it also is when you're cruising. The sixth ratio hold is outstandingly higher than the fifth, and if you're locked into at 60mph you can forget about any kind of acceleration, no matter how hard you press the throttle pedal.Personally (though you may not share this opinion) I like the look of the Kizashi, but I'm not keen on the way the very large pillars hamper visibility. The door mirrors make things even worse - a hundred yards from my house there's a steep downhill right-hander with a hefty stone wall on the inside, and every time I drove the Kizashi round it I had to creep round at little more than walking pace for fear of clattering into an oncoming person or vehicle which the driver's side mirror might have prevented me from seeing.The interior is quite attractively styled, though made from less than premium-quality materials, and there's plenty of room for adult passengers. The boot is suitably large, with a capacity of 461 litres, but the sill, top edge and tapering sides make loading things into it more of a trial than it should be.
Engine
2393cc, 4 cylinders
Power
176bhp
Transmission
CVT
Fuel/CO2
34.0mpg / 191g/km
Acceleration
0-62mph: 8.8 seconds
Top speed
127mph
Price
£21,995
Details correct at publication date