Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Review & Pictures

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Review Synopsis: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi price tag was between Rs.16.53 – 17.53 Lakh. It officially launched in India in Feb 2011.​

Maruti Suzuki is the leading car manufacturer from last several years in India and plans to retain the position in future too; however, the company has been largely playing around only with compact value for money hatchbacks. Now this is the first time they are trying their hands on D-Segment with the sporty sedan called Kizashi. After a few past failures in high-end price range – Can Maruti prove itself successful this time? Continue the reading to find out.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Looks and Design



On first look at the Kizashi, the first word you will utter to describe it is sporty. From front view, the Kizashi resembles somewhat to smaller SX4, but the designers have made apparent efforts to add that additional sporty appeal exactly which the SX4 lacks. The grill is typical Maruti honey comb which has Suzuki logo neatly embedded with it, and the fog lamps are also traditionally circular in shape. Although the better part is, the Kizashi is equipped with projector headlamps that will be adequate enough to provide the illumination during night drives. Move onto the side and you can find the nice aerodynamic lines flowing up to the rear. Just like all sporty sedans, the Kizashi is also low slung and with a ground clearance of only 155mm, you will have to be extra attentive while traversing over bad roads. We traveled through some poor roads and the car did not scrape the bottom which sure is a welcome indication.

The length of vehicle is 4650mm and this is clearly seen once you move to the sideways. Astonishingly, the rear is where the car looks like a real killer. Thanks to those stylish stainless steel dual exhausts. The high mounted stop lamp at rear on the boot though looks a bit odd and ill fit, but the tail lamps are quite distinctive and unique. Outside rear view mirrors provide a nice and clean view of the road behind and they are electrically adjustable as well as foldable too but miss the usual integrated side indicators. Kizashi gets the disc brakes on all four wheels and 215/65 section Yokohama DB decibel E70 tyres as standard across both the variants to serve the delicious 17 inch 12 spoke alloy wheels on both the variants, without signs of any cost cutting. In fact, the spare wheel is also an alloy. Furthermore, this car has a keyless entry feature. That means, all you need to have the keys in your pocket, come close to the car and the doors will automatically unlock. Especially nice for women with too many shopping bags in both the hands. However, suppose the electronics in the car fail or your remote’s battery goes down, you get an integrated key within the remote which can be quite handy and can be used just like our conventional keys. Now regarding the Kizashi’s over all build quality – as usual Maruti Suzuki cars, don’t expect the solid tank like build quality of the Germans but its average for the purpose, so no complaints.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Interiors and Comfort



Like previously mentioned, the doors can be unlocked without much fuss and they open absolutely wide enabling an easy ingress and egress inspite of the car being low slung. Just shut the doors and immediately the cabin turns into a peaceful place to stay in. The car gets only beige interiors as standard and yes, they do look nice. The front seats offer a well under thigh support, meaning that the long journeys should be comfortable. The driver side also has electrically adjustable Lumbar jack support, and front seats are electrically adjustable in ten different ways, along with three memory functions. Perfect to store the seat preferences of your choice. Front legroom is fabulous and even tall passengers can accommodate comfortably. The steering wheel can be adjusted for height and also reach, thus, with so many adjustments available, finding a perfect driving position is very easy. The large windscreen also provides an excellent view of the road ahead but the long dashboard and bonnet will be a problem for short-height drivers. Plus, the dashboard reflection is also very minimal and something not much to worry about. The steering wheel feels nice to hold and is leather wrapped, so is the gear knob. The steering wheel has audio controls, cruise control and also paddle shift (Available on AT). The instrument cluster looks nice and gives the required premium sense. It has MID displaying many useful points like Fuel consumption, Distance to empty, Average speed, Gear position, Door ajar warning, outside temperature etc. The odometer comes with two trip meters but they need to be set only manually though. The light and indicator stalks are typical European style which means you get the indicator stalks in the left and wiper stalks in the right, this needs some getting used to but availability of the lane change indicators means that a slight flick will cause the indicator to flash for only 3 times and automatically turn off again.

The center console appears well integrated with the ICE controls and dual-zone climate control. All the buttons are perfectly placed and built, and they easily fall into the hands of driver too. You get plenty of storage spaces in the form of door pockets, cup holders, space beneath the center armrest and a pretty decent glove box (without chill-box). You get illuminated vanity mirrors for both the passenger and driver side, cabin illumination is also good with front reading lamps and a rear cabin lamp. The leather accentuated door trims are nice to touch and feel. The front doors get one touch auto up and down along with anti-pinch as a safety feature. The driver side gets joystick type knob for adjusting the ORVM’S along with auto-folding button and power window controls for all doors. Talking about the ICE, Kizashi has USB and Aux-in connectivity. It has four door speakers, two tweeters and a central speaker placed in the dashboard. Music quality is decent but has the real bass effect but still, audiophiles might require an upgrade. On the rear seats – the legroom is average but with a tall person sitting at the front, it becomes a bit of problem. We feel the main reason due to this is the well cushioned front seats. But for average sized adults this space should be more than adequate. Under thigh support is also fairly nice and should keep you comfortable in those long trips. The centre too has headrests in the rear seat, but the huge bump on the floor could drastically hinder their comfort. However, the centre armrest is soft when folded upside. Just pull one lever in the centre armrest and the cup holders come sliding outside from within the armrest, cool isn’t it? And also, one special advantage about this armrest is that it provides an access to the boot - remove the plastic cover behind the armrest and you can keep in your laptop or other expensive items inside quickly without effort of getting down to open the trunk.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Engine and Gearbox



Open the hood and you will notice the powerful machine working inside. The engine is 2400cc putting out a blistering 178PS @6500RPM and maximum torque of 230Nm@ 4000RPM. The engine is also complimented by a slick 6-speed automatic CVT transmission which feels convenient to use. You don’t need any keys to start the engine wither, have the keys in your pocket and just push the button, the engine comes to life. Put the gear lever to the D position and you are good to go. Also, the cabin insulation is proper so that you don’t feel a bit of noise inside the cabin when the car is in idle position. The initial response from the engine is a bit slow which may become a bit tough for quick overtakes but once you move to the paddle shift, the enthusiast inside will be quite satisfied. The engine noise creeps inside the cabin though at higher speeds once you start revving the engine hard. Also we have been told that a 2.4L diesel engine will be available in Kizashi most likely from next year onwards.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Performance and Safety



The Kizashi is one blistering performer especially in the highways. With 178PS of power available under your feet, you only needto plonk the accelerator to soon bid good bye to all other vehicles on road. The Kizashi is seriously swift and 0 -1 00kmph comes in under mere 9 seconds. Even at upon toching true top-speeds, the engine begged to go on further without signs of running out of breath. The steering wheel feels well weighted at all speeds and doesn’t give that float kind of feeling to the ride. Cornering though is not Kizashi’s forte; anything above 120kmph is really scary due to the imminent presence of body roll even though ESP does its part a little. Don expect a well planted ride at higher speeds like the Germans, the ride is a bit bumpy at high speeds, but the Kizashi is not weak footed either thanks to wider and better Yokohama tyres. Braking in the car is also really good which complements the powerful engine totally well. The disc brake on all four wheels along with ABS+EBD gives the necessary bite to the braking and brings the car to a halt at ease. Rest of the safety features comes in the form of dual front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, ESP, Hill assist and Immobilizer with security alarm. Traction control could have been provided as an additional safety feature with so much of power being transferred to the front wheels.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Fuel Efficiency and Verdict



The premium luxury sedans are not so very fuel efficient and Kizashi is no different amongst the league. At least, expect eight kilometres per litre in the city and approximately 12 kmpl on the highways. Over all, the Suzuki Kizashi is carving a niche for itself and creating a slightly different segment altogether with a mediocre pricing, this car is better when compared to the likes of Jetta, Laura, Altis and Civic but definitely does not reaches to the level of Honda Accords’ territory. Maruti has launched the Kizashi after much consideration, and undoubtedly, where it has a few negatives – the positives like brilliant after sales network, comparatively pocket-friendly maintenance emerges out on itself but if that’s mainly what your priority is (overlooking the brand image factor), the car is worth considering product. We only wish that company soon manufactures it locally which will eventually bring the costs down to a significant extent.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Likes, Dislikes and Ratings



What we like in Maruti Kizashi?

• Brilliant Design

• Driving Pleasure

• Reliability factor

• Best After-Sales Network

What we dislike in Maruti Kizashi?

• Average rear legroom

• Limited colour choices

• Lacks some required features

• Could have been more affordable

The Automotive India Star Ratings

• Design and Quality:
  
  (8.5/10)

• Comfort Levels:
  
  (7/10)

• Performance:
  
  (9/10)

• Ride Quality:
  
  (8/10)

• Handling:
  
  (8.5/10)

• Fuel Efficiency:
  
  (6/10)

• Safety:
  
  (7/10)

• After Sales & Service:
  
  (10/10)

• Value for Money:
  
  (7.5/10)

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Price and Specifications



Price (Ex.Showroom, New Delhi):

• MT: Rs. 16,50,000
• CVT: Rs. 17,50,000

Engine:

• Type: 2.4 VVT
• Cylinders: 4
• Displacement: 2393cc
• Max.Power: 175.5 BHP @ 6500RPM
• Max.Torque: 230NM @ 4000RPM

Transmission:

• 5 Speed Manual
• CVT (Paddle Shift)

Suspension:

• Front: McPherson Struts
• Rear: Multi-link

Brakes:

• Front: Ventilated Discs
• Rear: Discs

Wheels/Tire Size:

• 215/55 R17 Alloy Wheels

Dimensions:

• Length: 4650mm
• Width: 1820mm
• Height: 1490mm
• Wheelbase: 2700mm
• Ground Clearance: 155mm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 63 Liters
• Boot Size: 461 Liters
• Kerb Weight: 1500 kgs

Colors:

• Silver
• White
• Black

Note: Our road test car was Kizashi CVT. Specs mentioned of same.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Pictures

 

[350Z]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Tested.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[AMG]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

@ cool

When did you take up Akash's job?

 

[∂נℓυν]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

This car looks so good, i have no words for it's beauty, but we must accept it's failing sales, trust me guys, i have not seen a single MS Kizashi on roads since it's launch, only seen it twice at shopping mall, and all this because of it's heavy price.

 

[Umang]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

great work team TAI and thanks for reviewing my favourite car!! i have also not seen any kizashi on roads till now and only reason for it i feel is very high price!! even if MSIL can have launched it @ 12 lakhs it will have become sure hit and dont know why they arent locally producing it here..

 

[350Z]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

@ cool

When did you take up Akash's job?

From now onwards, cooldhaya will perform the road tests. Now let's move to back to Kizashi topic.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[mukeshus]

Re: Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Road Test Review

That was an excellent review dhaya.
Keep up the good work.

And to be honest the gear lever could have been better with no black leather that is covering it.
It could have been a fake wood type design.
And dhaya & where were the keys placed, i have heard that Kizashi has got Push start button.
And what is that black color on door handles, is it something like finger print recognition?