The Name

Kizashi! There's something about recent Japanese car names — or at least names from Japanese car companies — that inspire us to bellow them. It started with Toyota: Venza! Now it's Suzuki: Kizashi! This name also sounds like a motorcycle, which is appropriate from the makers of the outrageous sport bike: Hayabusa! See, there's another one. Apparently some English speakers don't like the name Kizashi, which Suzuki says is a Japanese word meaning "something great is coming." I support the name choice because it's unabashedly Japanese, unlike Suzuki's discontinued Forenza and Verona, which evoked Italy. The Verona lasted only from 2004-06. I think I know why: Verona! Just doesn't work. Exterior & Styling

At 183.1 inches long, the Kizashi is almost 6 inches shorter than the Hyundai Sonata and almost 8 inches shorter than the Fusion and Accord. Motorists never hailed me to shout "Kizashi!" as they drove past, but one guy in an old Mitsubishi Diamante parked to inspect the car and photograph it with his phone. It's different enough to distinguish it from other midsize sedans, without being downright bizarre, and its styling was well-received overall. Our car's Vivid Red paint and 18-inch alloy wheels supported Suzuki's positioning of this model as a sport sedan. How sporty it really is depends on what version you get.