Even with its 18-inch sport wheels and low-profile tires, my Kizashi rode quite comfortably. I felt more pavement disruptions when I had three passengers on board. In some cars it's the opposite. The car handled competently, and I can imagine it being sportier and more entertaining with the manual and front-wheel drive, but it didn't come across in this version — or at least in this weather. In general I liked the electric power steering, mainly because it snaps back to center definitively after a turn; many electric systems don't. There was also no detectable torque steer. The downside is it could use more power assist. The wheel feels too heavy. Again, this is a sporty approach, but it just didn't match the character of my heavier test car.
Suzuki SX4 in the Market
If my experience driving around Chicago is any indicator, there's quite a
market for small, sporty-looking hatchbacks. Most of them are heavily modified
used cars, and against this benchmark the S ...
On-Pavement Driving
Government data show that most rollover
accidents for multi-purpose vehicles are
caused when a driver loses control of the
vehicle and leaves the paved portion of the
roadway striking a ditch, cur ...
Going & Stopping
For a V-6 with paltry mileage, the Grand Vitara's acceleration is merely
adequate. Our friends at MotorWeek clocked a comparably equipped 4WD Grand
Vitara automatic's 0-60 mph time at 9.0 seconds. ...