Sporty Kizashi let down by CVT-only gearbox

Jil McIntosh for the Toronto Star

2011 Suzuki Kizashi.

Jil McIntosh

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

If you’ve never heard of the Suzuki Kizashi, you’re not alone. The company hasn’t been in the mid-size sedan market since 2006, when it offered the Verona, a rebadged version of the Korean-built Chevrolet Epica. It now returns with the low-key introduction of its newest sedan, launched in Canada in March.

Suzuki is marketing it as a sports sedan, but unfortunately, it falls short on that. Overall, it’s a very nice car that’s spoiled by its transmission.

It uses a 2.4 L four-cylinder engine that produces 180 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque — not spectacular by sports-sedan benchmarks, but more than sufficient for the majority of drivers.

But the engine is hooked solely to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an automatic unit that uses pulleys and belts instead of gears. It’s certainly possible to produce a decent CVT, as companies such as Nissan have demonstrated, but this isn’t one of them: it moans and groans its way up and down the tachometer, just like the early rubber-band units that initially gave the CVT a bad name.

Much of the problem is that Suzuki is a relatively minor player in Canada, and so there is only one model available, a fully-loaded all-wheel-drive with CVT, at $29,995. In the larger U.S. market, it comes in 11 variations of front-wheel, all-wheel drive and trim levels, including three with a six-speed manual transmission that many American writers say turns it into a far sportier and fun driving experience (I’ve not had the chance to try it).

The best we can do in Canada is a set of paddle shifters on the steering wheel that toggle between pre-set points in the CVT’s range. That makes it a little better, but nowhere near enough to give BMW or Acura any sleepless nights.

The all-wheel system is driver-selectable via a button on the dash. Turn it off, and it’s strictly front-wheel-drive; turn it on, and it’s a system that will run in front-wheel under normal conditions, but transfer torque to the rear axle when needed, such as on slippery surfaces or during acceleration.

Suzuki definitely got the dynamics right. Kizashi is a well-buttoned-down machine, with a taut chassis, responsive handling, nice weight to the steering, and an overall impression of good balance. It feels more European than Japanese, especially in the smooth, flat way it handles hard curves.

It’s an odd size, falling halfway between most competitors’ compact and mid-size offerings: bigger than Honda Civic, smaller than Accord, as well as Toyota Corolla/Camry, Chevrolet Cobalt/Malibu, and so on. Cross-shopping it isn’t easy, as it spans a number of competitors.

The all-inclusive single trim offers a lot of bang for 30 thousand bucks: dual-zone climate control, killer Rockford-Fosgate stereo with USB input, three-stage heated leather chairs with 10-way power driver’s seat and memory, 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, keyless entry, Bluetooth (but be smart and drive, not talk), auto-dimming mirror, sunroof, electronic stability control, eight airbags (including side bags for front and rear seats), and rain-sensing wipers which, if you hate ’em as much as I do (they never work right in drizzle, no matter who makes them), can be switched to regular variable intermittent by the dealer. You can order add-on accessories, such as roof racks and/or a cargo net, but that’s all; factory options such as navigation are not available.

Outside, Kizashi isn’t a standout, but it is handsome, and the twin tailpipes look pretty cool; the tall trunk steals some visibility, and so the parking sensors are appreciated in parking lots. Inside, the sporty seats are well-bolstered and are very comfortable, and the instrument panel and centre stack are laid out intelligently for ease of use. It’s a well-done interior, by design, materials and fit-and-finish standards, its only jarring note a so-last-century dot-matrix readout on the stereo.

Front legroom is ample; space in the rear seats is relative to what you’re comparing. Those moving up from compacts will revel in the extra room for their knees, while mid-size buyers will ask the front-seat passengers if they wouldn’t mind moving their seats ahead a bit more.

Riding on an entirely new platform, with in-house design and development, Kizashi was meant to be a major coup for Suzuki; even the name is a translation for “something great is coming.”

Unfortunately, we’re still waiting; the fine handling and sweet interior prove no match for the growly boat anchor that resides at the other end of that gearshift lever. I’d like Suzuki to offer the six-speed, or even replace the CVT with a conventional automatic, to give us a chance to see what this puppy can really do

Freelance auto reviewer Jil McIntosh can be reached at

jil@ca.inter.net

2011 Suzuki Kizashi

PRICE: $29,995

ENGINE: 2.4 L four-cylinder

POWER: 180 hp/170 lb.-ft.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: city 9.3 (30 mpg), hwy 6.8 (42 mpg), as-tested 10.6 (27 mpg)

COMPETITION: Acura CSX, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Magentis, Mazda6, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Altima, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta, Volvo S40

WHAT’S BEST: Sport-sedan handling, nice interior, long list of features

WHAT’S WORST: Transmission ruins everything

WHAT’S INTERESTING: All-wheel system that can be shut off if desire

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