Suzuki launched their Kizashi sedan to critical acclaim in early 2010. I had one as a press fleet car, and it was a perfectly nice alternative to a Volkswagen Jetta. In fact, if you would have put me behind the wheel blindfolded, I’d have probably guessed it was a 2010 VW Jetta. Until I actually started driving it, because as good as the Kizashi is, it still needs some serious refinement. Steering is disturbingly light at speeds below 40 miles per hour, but gets reasonable once you come up to speed. The engine puts out 185 horsepower, but doesn’t feel anywhere near that powerful thanks to a heavy flywheel and oddly tall gearing. Dial in some steering feel, use a flywheel made of a material other than depleted uranium and tighten the spacing of the six speed manual gearbox, and the Kizashi would be a truly impressive effort.

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