I have just entered my house after Test driving a Kizashi, nope ripping a Maruti Kizashi. Unlike most magazines, I will try to put down just the vital points in layman's language instead of giving the technical Testdriving details and review.
The First Impression
The mascular looks of the Maruti Kizashi take away most people's heart unlike the smaller sibling SX4 which it so closely resembles in India and elsewhere. Suzuki has changed the car a lot from the original concept it unveiled to make it more usable. Infact I liked the grown up look on the Kizashi unlike on the SX4. Maruti Suzuki has decided to follow other makers and give the cars a corporate look. The imposing chrome grille is the first of its kind chrome grille that I really liked. The rear is non-suzuki ish too with designer lamps. Nothing special here though apart from projector lamps which I thought wer Xenon at first.
The dual exhaust finish at the rear looks awesome from a distance but at closer look, we can see the exhausts ill fitted with silver accents in the bumper. But it is these exhaust which help the car give a throaty roar which demands respect. Love the sound!!!
The finer details
The Vitara engine was not smooth as expected (this was a new car and so roughness is expected) and neither was the gearshift the best in the business. It got stuck between 3rd and 4th on numerous occassions. The short gearshift is also nice to hold. The low profile rubber did let the shocks through but aided handling. Braking is mediocre at best. I liked the Handling and Cornering aspect better than some competing cars. Acceleration is not sudden but once the car is on the move, all the 165 horses move those big wheels (18-inchers??). I flipped it on the lanes and the car didnt budge my confidence at all. Awesome then.
I can safely say that I tried but could not relate the Kizashi to any other brand and it looks distinctive for a maruti.
I touched a top speed of 140 but my friend touched 180. I did a 0-100 in about 9 seconds but lost a vital half in the beginning at launch since I am not used to driving it. This I am saying purely based on seat of the pants experience. No, I did not do a Fuel efficiency average test and so I cannot answer your question 'kitna deti hai'. :P It is a petrol though so yes, the 2400 cc petrol engine will sip.
Living with the car
The plastic and interior quality are similar to that of a Vitara. I can say the quality is better than most Suzuki's you've seen. Seat comfort is excellent. I was fumbling to find a good driving position though. Also the headroom was not as generous as the legroom due to a slanting A-pillar which gives the car a nice low slung stance. The puddle lights and leg space illumination is a nice touch and looks beautiful too. But why different colours? Once can also access the boot throug the rear arm rest like many other cars in its segment.
The handbrake did not fall into the hand easily and the steering wheel is not nice to hold either . But steering wheel has rake and reach. Dead peadal is also standard. The car already had a Kinley mineral water bottle in the door so yes they can hold bottles and are not just for show. I had to pull the doors hard to close and that's a bad sign.
Luxuries
Cruise control is standard. So are Stereo buttons on the steering wheel.
Climate control is standard too.
Stereo doesnt sound good for the price segment. USB is present but no aux. The stereo seems to be a 6-speaker system with front door tweeters. Red lighting brings sportiness to the interiors.
The car I drove had leather upholstery and aluminium insers in the dash.
The light and viper stalks are American styled and not suited for India ala GM and Ford.
Interior is airy. Boot can be accessed from the rear seat arm rest.
Keyless operation is standard on all models.
Conclusion
The overall quality of the car is much better than most Suzuki's but the build is still Japanese Suzuki. The model I test drove was a CBU but lets expect more refined engines and better build as cars are indegenized for our fuel and lifestyle.
The First Impression
The mascular looks of the Maruti Kizashi take away most people's heart unlike the smaller sibling SX4 which it so closely resembles in India and elsewhere. Suzuki has changed the car a lot from the original concept it unveiled to make it more usable. Infact I liked the grown up look on the Kizashi unlike on the SX4. Maruti Suzuki has decided to follow other makers and give the cars a corporate look. The imposing chrome grille is the first of its kind chrome grille that I really liked. The rear is non-suzuki ish too with designer lamps. Nothing special here though apart from projector lamps which I thought wer Xenon at first.
The dual exhaust finish at the rear looks awesome from a distance but at closer look, we can see the exhausts ill fitted with silver accents in the bumper. But it is these exhaust which help the car give a throaty roar which demands respect. Love the sound!!!
The finer details
The Vitara engine was not smooth as expected (this was a new car and so roughness is expected) and neither was the gearshift the best in the business. It got stuck between 3rd and 4th on numerous occassions. The short gearshift is also nice to hold. The low profile rubber did let the shocks through but aided handling. Braking is mediocre at best. I liked the Handling and Cornering aspect better than some competing cars. Acceleration is not sudden but once the car is on the move, all the 165 horses move those big wheels (18-inchers??). I flipped it on the lanes and the car didnt budge my confidence at all. Awesome then.
I can safely say that I tried but could not relate the Kizashi to any other brand and it looks distinctive for a maruti.
I touched a top speed of 140 but my friend touched 180. I did a 0-100 in about 9 seconds but lost a vital half in the beginning at launch since I am not used to driving it. This I am saying purely based on seat of the pants experience. No, I did not do a Fuel efficiency average test and so I cannot answer your question 'kitna deti hai'. :P It is a petrol though so yes, the 2400 cc petrol engine will sip.
Living with the car
The plastic and interior quality are similar to that of a Vitara. I can say the quality is better than most Suzuki's you've seen. Seat comfort is excellent. I was fumbling to find a good driving position though. Also the headroom was not as generous as the legroom due to a slanting A-pillar which gives the car a nice low slung stance. The puddle lights and leg space illumination is a nice touch and looks beautiful too. But why different colours? Once can also access the boot throug the rear arm rest like many other cars in its segment.
The handbrake did not fall into the hand easily and the steering wheel is not nice to hold either . But steering wheel has rake and reach. Dead peadal is also standard. The car already had a Kinley mineral water bottle in the door so yes they can hold bottles and are not just for show. I had to pull the doors hard to close and that's a bad sign.
Luxuries
Cruise control is standard. So are Stereo buttons on the steering wheel.
Climate control is standard too.
Stereo doesnt sound good for the price segment. USB is present but no aux. The stereo seems to be a 6-speaker system with front door tweeters. Red lighting brings sportiness to the interiors.
The car I drove had leather upholstery and aluminium insers in the dash.
The light and viper stalks are American styled and not suited for India ala GM and Ford.
Interior is airy. Boot can be accessed from the rear seat arm rest.
Keyless operation is standard on all models.
Conclusion
The overall quality of the car is much better than most Suzuki's but the build is still Japanese Suzuki. The model I test drove was a CBU but lets expect more refined engines and better build as cars are indegenized for our fuel and lifestyle.
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