Overall rating:

The Suzuki Kizashi is a hard one to fathom. Underneath some rather questionable suspension tuning there is a talented chassis, while the neat exterior and interior design help it stand out from the crowd. But it's 100 per cent held back by the petrol engine and CVT combination - a diesel engine with a manual gearbox could make it the sales success it deserves to be.

Key Facts

Model tested: Suzuki Kizashi
Pricing: £21,995
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed CVT, four-wheel drive
Body style: four-door saloon
Rivals: Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Avensis
CO₂ emissions: 191g/km
Combined economy: 34.0mpg
Top speed: 127mph
0-62mph: 8.8 seconds
Power: 178hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 230Nm at 4,000rpm

Inside & Out:

It looks good actually, with many people we encountered shocked that such a vehicle was made by Suzuki. There's plenty to take in on the Kizashi though, from the sharply styled dual exhausts to the aggressive front grille. There's a slightly American tinge to the silhouette as well.

Inside it's more of a mixed bag, with decent quality materials (save for the hard dash top) and neatly designed switchgear. There are hints of the smaller Swift in here, though that's no bad thing, and it is packed with standard equipment. However, taller occupants may find the electric driver's seat doesn't adjust low enough and the rear of the cabin slightly cramped. Still, at least the 461-litre boot makes it practical enough.

Ride & Handling:

It's firm - slightly too firm to be honest. On motorways you can feel every change in road surface, and broken roads are noticeable in the considerable kickback through the steering wheel. Strangely there's more body movement than expected on twisting roads as well, though the Kizashi turns in sharply and grips gamely. However, its rivals strike a better ride and handling balance.

But it has four-wheel drive (if you press the button) and regardless of mode selected there is plenty of grip. If only the steering had more feel - it offers little in the way of warning that the front wheels are about to relinquish their attachment to the tarmac.

Engine & Transmission:

Quite who this car is aimed at is a bit of a mystery - the 2.4-litre petrol engine and CVT gearbox is the only drivetrain combination available. When rivals offer efficient diesels and slick-shifting manuals the Kizashi is immediately on an uphill struggle in the market place - especially for cost-conscious company car buyers.

That hill gets even steeper when you settle behind the wheel, where the 178hp engine proves willing enough, but is hamstrung by the CVT gearbox. Accelerate hard and there is lots of revving, accompanied by plenty of noise but little in the way of forward thrust as the transmission tries to keep the engine spinning at somewhere around 5,000rpm. It certainly doesn't feel as fast as the figures suggest, and driven like this fuel economy takes a tumble - we struggled to better 30mpg even when trying to be as efficient as possible. Control the 'gears' yourself with the paddles behind the wheel and things improve slightly, the stepped ratios going some way to compensating, but the Kizashi is crying out for a decent manual gearbox.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Economy is the biggest stumbling block, as, while CVT gearboxes work in theory, in practice driving them efficiently is more frustrating than it's worth. We certainly wouldn't expect to see anywhere close to the official 34.0mpg. No matter, the 191g/km CO₂ figure puts paid to the Suzuki being any use as a company vehicle, and will cost private owners £250 in annual road tax.

At least there is plenty of kit included for the £21,995 asking price, the Kizashi featuring heated electric leather seats, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. But resale values aren't likely to be very impressive, especially as taxation is likely to increase on cars like this.