Sum Up

Sum Up

Sum Up

On the shrinking list of sport-utes with true off-road chops, the Grand Vitara is at or near the top. It does pretty well on-road too, with decent handling and excellent visibility. It also has a relatively low step-in height for a vehicle that can tackle pretty much anything you throw at it and an acceptable 3000-pound tow rating. It certainly lacks the on-road refinement of road-biased crossovers and comes up short in terms of interior quality and design when compared to those same vehicles, but when looked at next to the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot it stacks up well, with a roomier front seat and less bouncy ride than the Patriot and a much lower price of entry than the Wrangler.

It's unfortunate that the majority of U.S. consumers have no idea that the Kizashi even exists. Its chassis and steering are as good as or better than anything in its class. Its exterior styling is a bit derivative but it's still quite handsome. Inside, the quality, style, comfort, and user-friendliness are easily on par with the Volkswagen Jetta and Hyundai Sonata. Like our Four Seasons Kizashi, this Sport GTS model is equipped with all-wheel-drive and as such, can only be had with the continuously variable transmission. The CVT is a bit of a drag, literally, as it makes for fairly sluggish low-end acceleration and does nothing to further this car's Sport moniker. If I were building my own Kizashi, I'd likely choose the Sport for its slightly stiffer suspension and lower ride height, skip the CVT and the AWD, and go with the manual transmission. Shifting for yourself is the only way to fully appreciate the Kizashi's excellent chassis, and Suzuki's 5-speed box is light, smooth, and a pleasure to use.

Suzuki hoped that a mid-size pickup would appeal to its wide base of motorcycle, ATV, and marine customers, but the Equator has barely registered a blip on the sales charts since its debut for the 2009 model year. Still, without the resources to conceive and create a truck of its own, Suzuki picked a solid donor in the Nissan Frontier. Like the Frontier, the Equator is built in Tennessee and offers a choice of four- and six-cylinder dual-overhead-cam engines, but the Suzuki's are covered by a longer factory warranty (seven years/100,000 miles). Unfortunately, our favorite Frontier powertrain -- the V-6 with a six-speed manual gearbox -- isn't available in the Equator. In fact, the only stick shift is a five-speed bolted to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, an engine offered exclusively in extended-cab models -- which, by the way, feature old-school flip-up jump seats that are best suited for people built like (and with the dexterity of) female gymnasts. Equator crew cabs come with practical back seats and the powerful V-6, and optional features include heated leather front seats, a sunroof, and a roof rack. Japanese-badged versions of American-branded or -built pickups haven't fared all that well in recent years (think Isuzu i290/i370 and Mitsubishi Raider), and so far it appears that very few of Suzuki's loyal power-sports customers have taken the plunge on a new Equator. With the recent demise of the Ram Dakota and the Ford Ranger, however, the Equator might get a new lease on life.

The burly Grand Vitara combines off-road ability -- long a Suzuki hallmark -- with surprising refinement. A ladder-frame-reinforced unibody and optional four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case ensure mudding credibility (although the full-size spare tire will be restricted to the Limited trim level in early 2012), and the independent suspension makes on-road handling more carlike. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 still have smoother engines and ride quality, but the Grand Vitara beats them off-road, where it is overshadowed perhaps only by some Jeep products. This generation of the Grand Vitara began life with a 2.7-liter V-6, which was later swapped for a General Motors-sourced 3.2-liter V-6. That engine was dropped for 2011, though, because of a "heightened interest in on-road efficiency," according to Suzuki. For 2012, a more rugged trim level -- the Ultimate Adventure Edition -- will wear sharp smoked-chrome wheels, sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals, and foglamps as well as water-resistant seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Grand Vitara is a legitimate choice in the popular cute-ute category, and its high content (including a standard navigation system with Bluetooth), numerous standard safety features, low price, and strong warranty make it a bargain, too.

It's not your typical flagship, but the Kizashi, which was brand-new for 2010, comfortably fits that role for Suzuki, and it successfully erases bad memories of the mid-size Suzukis that preceded it. Along with the SX4 family, the Kizashi gives Suzuki a solid -- if small -- lineup of refreshingly fun-to-drive cars to accompany its rugged off-road vehicles and rocketlike motorcycles. The Kizashi was originally slated to receive V-6 and hybrid powertrains from business partner GM, but that deal fell through and Suzuki entered a corporate marriage with Volkswagen to provide turbocharged and hybrid engines for the Kizashi. It looks like the VW partnership is over, too, however, so the model will likely soldier on indefinitely with the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder. That engine is fine, but horsepower and technology junkies probably won't be satisfied with it. Buyers who want all-wheel drive, power seats, or a sunroof must forgo the slick, standard six-speed manual in favor of the CVT. Four trim levels run the gamut from the well-equipped, under-$20,000 S model to the Sport SLS flagship, which can be filled with leather, navigation, and a powerful audio system that will stream tunes from your iPod via a Bluetooth connection. The Sport prefix on GTS and SLS models means the cars include a spoiler, eighteen-inch wheels, a body kit, and other appearance upgrades. The Kizashi is the pride of Suzuki's car lineup, and the company has been promoting it quite heavily, so keep an eye out for sales promotions to sweeten the deal even more.

The compact SX4 is the smallest Suzuki car you can buy in America, even though its maker is the top seller of microcars in the world. (The closest thing to a brand-new microcar in our market, by the way, is the Scion iQ.) The SX4 has been around since the 2007 model year, but it's still a solid product. In 2010, it got a more powerful engine and improved transmissions; the SX4 SportBack model, essentially an SX4 Crossover with the roof rack removed and a body kit, was added that same year. Traditional sedan body styles are part of the SX4 family, too, including the fancier, body-kitted Sport SE. The Crossover HAS a handy four-wheel-drive system; all other models make do with front-wheel drive only. The surprisingly nice interior can be dressed up with options such as Bluetooth, automatic climate control, heated seats, and a Garmin-sourced navigation system, which has been upgraded for 2012. Like Suzuki's respected motorcycles, the nimble SX4 is fun to drive enthusiastically, and although it's not as quick as those crotch rockets, the SX4 is much more powerful than most of its rivals, such as the Honda Fit and the Scion xD. Suzuki planned to release a subcompact, the Swift, to slot below the SX4 in the U.S. market, but the company's recent split from General Motors and tumultuous marriage with Volkswagen mean that the lauded Swift might never reach North American shores. Bummer.

The Tokyo Motor Show just isn't the Tokyo Motor Show without a handful of oddly shaped concept cars and unusual vehicle names. Leave it to Suzuki to provide both in one fell swoop.

The Suzuki Kizashi, a smallish mid-size sedan from an automaker most Americans are barely aware of, is the very definition of an underdog. We nearly laughed out loud a year and a half ago when Suzuki reps spoke of the Kizashi as an Automobile of the Year contender. It turns out Suzuki had the last laugh. The Kizashi, although it did not earn an award at our annual All-Stars test, was easily the biggest surprise of the group for its impressive refinement and stunningly good driving dynamics. "The Kizashi was by far the best-handling front-wheel-drive car in the test, excepting the Volkswagen GTI," proclaimed West Coast editor Jason Cammisa. We were intrigued enough that we decided to spend an entire year with a Kizashi to see if it really has what it takes to compete day in and day out with the big dogs in its segment.

At board meetings, on test tracks, and in design studios, decisions are being made today that will influence what you drive tomorrow. Automakers are hard at work creating the next generation of automobiles -- cars that are faster, sexier, more efficient -- while trying to keep their development secret. Like you, we are nosy as hell. Unlike you, we have a vast network of snoops, gossips, and disgruntled former employees who have helped us uncover the information we present here. Our annual Sneak Preview feature contains the industry's future products -- as far out as 2019 -- that are worth saving your milk money for.

As more and more attention is lavished on new all-electric vehicles, there are still plenty of manufacturers aiming to cut carbon emissions with hybrid versions of their existing cars. At the New York auto show, Suzuki will dip its toe into the world of hybrids with the EcoCharge concept, a hybrid version of the Kizashi sedan.

We're big fans of the Suzuki Kizashi, admiring its smart styling, practicality, and engaging handling dynamics. The one area we'd address is acceleration, which is competent but hardly awe-inspiring, thanks to a 2.4-liter inline-four offering 185 horsepower (180 with continuously variable transmissions) and 170 pound-feet of torque. Suzuki will cater to our speed-freak side with a turbocharged Kizashi capable of up to 300 horsepower, debuting at the New York auto show.

Months In Fleet: 12
Miles to date: 32,328

Suzuki froze plans on importing the Swift to North America late last year, but the model continues to live and thrive in other corners of the world. Although the car has a reputation for being a frisky, fun subcompact offering, it appears the Swift S-Concept, which will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, may crank up the heat and create a truly hot hatch.

Months in fleet: 11
Miles to date: 30,750

In December, the total U.S. auto market was up 11 percent, which also happens to be the percentage increase for the year overall. Actually, though, the final month of 2010 was even stronger than the year-over-year comparison suggests. Although the full-year result for 2010 was roughly 11.6 million vehicles, the annualized sales rate every month during the fourth quarter was better than 12 million units, so the pace definitely picked up as we came down the back stretch. The annualized selling rate for December was 12.6 million units, the fastest clip of the year.

We're nine months into our Suzuki Kizashi's yearlong test, but it took only a few hundred miles to figure out which automakers Suzuki is trying to emulate, with driving dynamics inspired by Mazda, an interior worthy of a Volkswagen, and Hyundai-like value (dual-zone climate control, passive entry, and keyless ignition are standard equipment). "With Mazda looking to move upmarket and Volkswagen now building watered-down cars for American buyers, there seems to be a niche that Suzuki can fill for buyers who want something outside of the mainstream," notes associate editor Eric Tingwall.

Suzuki won't be the first auto maker named when you ask people to name a pickup truck. It is a restyled Nissan Frontier, the company's midsized truck. The Suzuki features great styling and a huge list of standard features. The Equator is a comfortable vehicle, even if it lacks some of the more common luxury appointments. For the drive, the Equator will not disappoint, with responsive brakes, responsive steering, and suspension that is up to the task for on road or off. With the V-6 engine, this midsize truck is capable of carrying over 1000lbs and a towing capacity over 6000lbs. Suzuki offers a sport package that covers the bottom of the trucks vitals with skid plates, offers up a dana 44 locking rear axle, and dual range 4 wheel drive.

The Grand Vitara is one of the few true small SUV's still available. It attempts to drive on that fine edge of off road ability and on road comfort. The older model did this on a body on frame chassis that was more truck like in construction. The new model is a unibody as in a car, but including a ladder frame and full 4 wheel drive. These features can make it a good selection for both daily driving around town or the occasion departure from the road. The Grand Vitara is available in both rear and all wheel drive. Multi range 4 wheel drive is also available. Seating is adequate for 5 people and a nice list of standard features is included.

The Kizashi, Suzuki's entry into the midsize sedan segment. It intends to offer a sporty driving dynamic as well as offering a good value or bang for the buck status that is lacking in many of the cars in this category. Due to its lower price, this may appeal to many perspective buyers who are put off by or simply unable to afford, the high price of entry into this category. For your money, you will still get some premium features. A dual zone climate control system, multi function steering wheel, and keyless ignition are all standard. On the higher trim levels power driver's seat and leather interior are available as well. The Kizashi maintains a sporty look, good driving dynamics, and a better overall interior quality that any Suzuki models in the past. The lack of a V-6 option keeps it from competing with the top end of the midsize sedan market, but it will still appeal to many who don't need the extra power.

The SX4 Crossover, launched in 2007 is Suzuki's compact crossover. This is the cheapest vehicle to drive all four wheels, no small feat given the high prices that four or all wheel drive normally demands. It is a bargain compact SUV for those who either need all wheel drive to get off road or for those who live in climates where all wheel drive makes getting around town a needed feature. The all wheel drive system the SX4 uses is quite robust as well. Allowing the driver to select from 3 different operating presets. They can choose full time front wheel drive, part time all wheel drive, or full time 4 wheel drive. In the higher levels of trim, a Garmin GPS also comes standard. Combined, these features offer a degree more versatility than the sedan body style is able to.

Suzuki's SX4, which seems to offer a model for every need continues to fill more and more entry level spots. The vehicle itself is based on the SX4 crossover, with the sport being the sedan variety. A mild overhaul was performed in 2010 offering mildly changed styling and a new 2.0 liter engine. Perhaps the most important were the new transmission choices, bringing it up to par with others in the segment and adding a significant perceived boost in performance. The SX4 is based on the philosophy of offering more and charging less. One of the high points of the SX4 has been its cabin. This is one of the roomiest in its class.

The SX4 was launched by Suzuki in 2007. It was their small crossover platform which was later transformed into a sedan option as well as the addition of the Sportback option. This was their hatchback option and essentially transformed the SX4 into its wagon variant. The range has been very successful due mainly to the design idea of offering more for the money than the competition. A task easier said than done, but one that Suzuki has managed to make a reality in the SX4 line.