2010 Suzuki Kizashi

What was I expecting when the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi arrived for my two-week-long test drive? Well, not much, I'm embarrassed to say. I lecture my kids all the time on the importance of staying open-minded and forming your own opinions, so I'm ashamed to admit that I was harboring a lackluster view about Suzuki as a brand in general. With the introduction of the Kizashi, my hope is that my mind won't be the only one changed about the brand.

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The Kizashi is a surprise indeed and has the ability to fill a niche of affordable-without-feeling-cheap smaller midsize sedans. The base Kizashi starts at $18,999. My test car, the SE trim level, cost $21,780.

This might be the only car I've driven with a continuously variable automatic transmission that didn't drive me crazy. It had plenty of zippy power, and the CVT didn't rev up too much and cause obnoxious interior noise. As a matter of fact, an average driver getting into this car wouldn't even notice anything different about the transmission, and I consider that to be a success of great measure. Add to that optional all-wheel drive and you've got yourself a great car for small families.

EXTERIOR

I have to confess to being a little reluctant to drive this car to a first date. Not that I really care what a stranger thinks about the car I drive, but I'm more concerned with how the car I drive makes me feel. Decidedly, while driving to a first date, I want to feel confident and sexy. I wouldn't think that driving a Suzuki would make me feel that way, but after a few more dates with the same fellow, he confessed that I looked extra adorable in the Kizashi. Can I keep it a little longer? I think a color other than "did-we-forget-to-paint-the-metal?" silver would also make a big impact on the aesthetic appeal.

Climbing in and out of the Kizashi for my little ones was a breeze thanks to its low step-in height. The trunk release, however, was a pain to figure out. There's a release button of the key fob, but it was touchy and didn't seem to work all the time. There's also a release button on the lower left side of the instrument panel, but that took me more than a week to find. This is a perfect example as to why you should actually read your car's owner's manual when you buy it. There's tons of trunk space in the Kizashi — enough room to hold three sets of golf clubs for our first golf lesson of the season.

The Kizashi has a 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. With an EPA-estimated 23/30 mpg city/highway, we got quite a few trips to and from the golf course on just one tank of regular gas.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair-Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some-Groove-On

INTERIOR

While the interior fit and finish of the 2010 Kizashi still reads a bit "cheap," there are some details that are better thought out. For example, the fabric upholstery has a wood grain finish that makes it more interesting than other midsize sedans on the market. Leather seating upholstery with butt warmers is also available.