Suzuki Kizashi Coming to Germany this October

The Suzuki Kizashi mid-size sedan, already on sale in Japan and the U.S., will come to Germany this fall, the Japanese company has announced. The completely new medium-size sedan is scheduled to arrive at dealerships across the country in October this year.

The five-seater, four-door saloon will challenge models like the Volkswagen Passat, Opel Insignia, Citroen C5 or the Toyota Avensis. But unlike these main rivals, the Kizashi won’t be offered with a diesel option. At least not when the sales start. The only available engine at launch will be a 2.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 178 horsepower and 169.6 lb-ft. of torque (230 Nm). The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual gearbox, a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) being offered as optional.

The Kizashi has been tested both at Germany’s Nurburgring and on the rural roads of England, says Suzuki, ensuring it offers the mix of sportiness and comfort Europeans require of a car. For the future, Suzuki has plans to offer a hybrid version, using a petrol and an electric engine. A diesel variant may also be introduced later, with the help of Suzuki’s partner, the VW Group. Pricing will be announced close to the launch date.

The 4.65 meter-long Kizashi went on sale in the United States on July 30, 2009 and in Japan on October 21, 2009. The car is front-wheel drive but Suzuki offers (optionally) a four-wheel drive system, based on the i-AWD system used by the SX4. The driver has the option to turn off 4WD and activate front-wheel drive to save fuel. In the U.S., the cheapest model, the Kizashi S, costs USD18,999 without tax, title or destination charges.