Overview & Reviews

The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi's two upper trim levels, GTS and SLS, have been renamed Sport GTS and Sport SLS this year. The name change reflects the addition of cosmetic, aerodynamic and suspension enhancements.

• Available all-wheel drive
• Great value.
• European-style interior
• Inspired handling
• Responsive continuously variable transmission (CVT)

• Less rear legroom than rivals
• Limited dealer network.
• No V6 or turbo engine option

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 20.00

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  Excellent Car - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By realitycheck1 - February 2 - 5:55 pm

  I bought a white Kizashi 2 months ago and I could not be happier. This car has the most fluid steering I have ever felt in a regular mid sized sedan. It has a very expensive feel to it in how it drives and the interior quality is excellent. Very quiet. I average 27 MPG around town and Ive got 32 MPG on the highway. No problems as of yet, but of course the car is still brand new so I dont expect any. I love how few people own these and I get inquires all the time about it. Fantastic car.

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  Lots of Fun .... BUT - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By rpbsp - March 5 - 3:48 pm

  Bought my Kizashi 6 months ago and have 14,000 miles on it. Fun to drive, sleek appearance and great gas mileage. However, the longer you live with it, the more it shows its weak design points. Two major complaints. 1. the paint is paper thin-chips if you look at it the wrong way. 2.windshield washers are useless for winter driving. they freeze after 1 squirt and that first squirt doesnt even hit the windshield. The car could be considered unsafe to drive in messy winter roads ... zero visibility.

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  Is this the best value car you can buy? - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By edbearnz - July 10 - 1:07 pm

  We recently purchased our second new car, (we’ve had many second hand cars over the years), having had to sell our 12 year-old Nissan Pulsar SLX due to me breaking my back in a car accident last year. The seating position of the Pulsar was no longer tenable for me and I had to get a vehicle with a higher, more ergonomically correct seat. We bought the Pulsar new in 1999 and it had been a pleasure to own and was well specced for the time with ABS, drivers air-bag, four-wheel disc brakes, air-conditioning, factory alloys and the engine was chain-drive DOHC with VVT. It was the cheapest car to own wed ever had and I was sad to see it go. After briefly considering second hand cars, I was conscious that had I been driving a vehicle with traction control, I would not have crashed, spinning out on oil, so when looking at later models with this feature I decided to go with another new car. My requirements centered around my physical needs, but I wanted several other things. The car had to have the latest in technology as I felt it was a waste of time buying older technology that was already outdated and due to be replaced. I wanted fuel economy that was at least as good as the 1600cc Nissan Pulsar auto wed just sold and the car had to be value for money. We wanted an automatic so manual cars were not considered. This ruled out the otherwise excellent Ford Fiesta Econetic as it was only available in manual form. So too, the Toyota Rav4 diesel, the petrol being too thirsty. It became apparent early on that the small cars of today are excellent vehicles and all were superior in power and economy, ride and handling and of course features by comparison to our 12 year old Pulsar, with the Honda City the best over all, but the Swift being cheaper equalled the ride and comfort factor emphasising to me just why it is NZs best selling small car. Also in the early running was the Honda Insight hybrid, which I liked but the passenger seat was uncomfortable and my wife didnt like the rear view through the mirror, the split window was disconcerting to her. So despite the lowest running costs, even over the Fiesta once RUCs, were counted, (Road User Charges - New Zealand has a separate charge for mileage on diesel vehicles on a $ per Kilometer basis, and Diesel fuel is not taxed at the pump. Depending on size and type of vehicle you pay a particular charge per Kilometer), the Insight dropped off the list. I looked at SUVs but despite the great performance and economy of the new generation diesels, with the Hyundai ix35 being the best of them, I didnt need the size and expense. On a $ per km figure including RUCs they were going to cost the same as the medium sized petrol cars to run. So that left me to look at the medium car market as an alternative to buying a small car. The Suzuki SX4i AWD is unique and a great wee SUV with comfort, features and power, but let itself down on wind and engine noise. A shame because otherwise Id have bought it! It was amazing to realise that the new cars with 2.4lt engines could equal the Pulsar for fuel economy while being a lot bigger and a lot more powerful! I compared the Ford Mondeo Titanium Hatch diesel, the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord Euro, Hyundai i45, VW Passat and the Suzuki Kizashi Ltd. and Sport. The Camry was the first to go as it was dearer and less economical and while the ride and seating were comfortable it was very plain-Jane. It was also a run-out model, due to be replaced with an all new one. The VW was too dear as was the Honda Accord. The Hyundai was my early favourite for technology, style, economy, features and seemed good value. It was perfect in driving position and nearly took the prize. Until I tried the Kizashi... What can I say? I run out of superlatives to describe this car! All the neighbours are jealous, all our friends love it, especially the colour and my wife doesnt want to get out of it. The heated seats and dual-zone climate air were the clincher for her, as was the colour and tints which set the car off beautifully! My back is happy and we look forward to many years of service from what has to be the best mid-sized car on the road today!

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  kizashi experience - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By hraez - February 28 - 4:26 am

  Just purchased a 2011 Kizashi SE, I have to say that for the money there is absolutely nothing that comes close to this car, I test drove the KIA Optima, Buick Regal, Volvo C30, Mini Clubman, even the Mazda CX7 and I thought the value offered by the Kizashi couldnt be matched. I encourage anyone looking for a midsized or sport sedan to do yourself a favor and test drive the Kizashi, due to poor marketing efforts by Suzuki the Kizashi is not known and is not selling very well which gives the buyer good leverage when negotiating a deal, I got mine for $3600 less than the sticker price and I also got 0% financing for 60 months.

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  Wish Suzuki was still making this car - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By Conrad Usner - January 20 - 10:59 am

  Buy this car if you have a chance for a good one.... Ive had this car for 5 years, with not one, mechanical issue.... Never had to utilize the warranty for anything.... Only thinking of selling car because the 5 year bumper to bumper warranty I purchased runs out in December, 2016.... Couple that with the unfortunate fact that Suzuki no longer produces automobiles for the U.S. market, the dealer network is close to non existent.... (Closest dealer left is 1 1/2 hours drive away.) Parts will still be readily available until 2025 so says Suzuki Inc., for the DYI driver though...

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  Kizashi vs Jetta - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By sabkosalam - December 13 - 12:03 am

  I have an 06 jetta and just got my Kizashi. Its only natural for me to compare the two. I have fallen in love with the Kizashi so I only want to mention the things I didnt like or am not used to. Car is extremely beautiful but too low, Id be scared to drive on serious bumps/snow. Doors dont lock automatically when you start driving. All four windows are not on one touch auto like jetta (I am spoiled by this jetta feature). Center armrest doesnt extend forward like jetta. Floor Mats are too black, can see dirt. Harsh ride in the GTS sport trim that we got. Has bump steer because of strong suspension. Front passenger seat cant be moved up and down like the Jetta.

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  Terrible paint and warranty - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By homer1041 - November 17 - 1:46 pm

  I bought a 2011 around this time last year. From a mechanical and fun to drive standpoint, its great, but the painted metal surfaces are rusting and Suzuki is denying it as a defect, claiming instead that its an environmental. I havent owned many cars that rusted, let alone with only 6000 miles on them. Needless to say, my good will towards the company is lost and now it will become a legal matter. Its ashame really, as I did whole lot of research before picking this car.....so I really wanted it. Now Im not so sure.....and who really knows the extent of the rust....it could be encompass the entirely of the unibody. Beware as this isnt an isolated issue, just the responses vary.

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  Completly suprised - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By tlc64 - May 16 - 7:56 pm

  Always been a Honda guy but the more we use this little Kizashi the more we like it. Smooth and quiet and gets better with miles. Reminds me of what Honda used to be when they beat everybody else with the little details. Never dreamed i would ever buy a Suzuki but i did and it sure works great for us.

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  2nd review after 4 months with car - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By sabkosalam - February 7 - 11:57 am

  There is no way youll find a better car for this price. It feels 10k more when you get inside. Nice materials inside. I just wish the GTS manual had leather available as an option. The cloth seats are good material too though. To this day, car is turning heads and people seem to look for which car it is. If I take away the Suzuki badges from the car exterior, people will think Im filthy rich. The guy at the car wash literally sat in it for a good 2 minutes checking the car out. Candidly speaking, I am glad the car is not selling very well. Otherwise itll just become another Sonata, people are already bored with its looks.

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  2011 GTS impulse buy / AWD w. navigation - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By KizDan - September 19 - 2:00 am

  We took our 2008 SX4 to the local dealership (Ellis Suzuki) for the 15,000 mile checkup. While we were waiting we saw the silver GTS and fell in love. Took it for a drive and came home with it. I hate impulse buys, but Ive not had any regrets with this purchase. I always wanted navigation, and this GTS had it installed. Stereo is wonderful, although I was surprised it only held one cd. Used the IPOD connection, and it sounded wonderful. Bluetooth worked with Iphone just great. I could go on and on. Oh, I could have gotten a 2010 for a lot less, but I really liked the changes in body styling on the 2011.