The Fast Lane Car

Video review: The 2011 Suzuki SX4 goes where it was never intended to tread

The 2011 Suzuki SX4 is one of the smallest all wheel drive cars you can purchase in the United States.

Think of the 2011 Suzuki SX4 as the smallest of the new breed of Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUV's). Perhaps more importantly the car has a somewhat unique drive-train in that the driver can select from three different modes for the all wheel drive system.

These is a a) two wheel drive mode b) all wheel drive mode or c) all wheel drive with a locked differential mode.

Basically each mode provides more and more traction when the road gets slippery. And that's really what the 2011 Suzuki SX4 is designed for...a slippery and perhaps snowy road.

But as you know the Suzuki SX4 is also one of the new breed of crossover cars so we suspect that some new owners will take diminutive SX4 off-road.

Review: the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi is a fun-to-drive, sporty sedan, but a name change would do wonders

Now in its second model year as Suzuki’s most expensive vehicle, the Kizashi is a value-priced sedan trying to find a niche in the crowded mid-sized segment. Its name in Japanese means “something great is coming.”

What’s great about the Kizashi is that Suzuki is offering the vehicle in the near-luxury category with a top-of-the-line price ($25,000) that’s still about $5,000 less than the average price of a new car in the United States.

Suzuki attracted a buzz when the car debuted a year as a cheap (but not cheaply built) alternative to an Audi 4. With a few exterior changes and amended sport packages, the second edition remains the same good value as the 2010 version.

Video Review: Two 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitaras take on the Rocky Mountains and each other

Most modern crossover vehicles (CUVs) are not really designed to go off-road...at least not much beyond a dirt road.

But that's certainly not the case with the Suzuki Grand Vitara which still retains the classic SUV body architecture.

In fact, most small CUV are built just like cars and would (and could not) handle the rocks, roads or steep inclines of the Rocky Mountains.

AWD Asian sedan shootout: Suzuki Kizashi vs. Subaru Legacy

It was bound to happen. Subaru finally has some competition. Aside from the STI vs. Mitsubishi EVO, Subaru is rarely challenged head on.

Suzuki is the only automaker who builds two competitors for two of Subaru’s models. Okay, so Subaru has an optional 6-cylinder and beefier options for their Legacy. In fact the Legacy starts off with the advantage of having an optional manual WITH all wheel drive (AWD) in their 4-cylinder, larger proportions and more aftermarket goodies.

Weekly Drive 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS: Love at first touch

So what do you suppose some car designers consider the most important part of a car?

Would you guess it is:

- the engine

- the styling

- the suspension and handling

- perhaps the all of the features that are included with the car

- or could it be the car's performance.

Review 2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack: a fun car with plenty of room for my big booty

A few years back, an obnoxious woman was nearly screaming at the mpg the Suzuki SX4 had listed on their display at the Denver Auto Show. Rather than make her look more foolish than she already sounded, I pointed out that the SX4 Crossover was actually a thrifty SUV. She rubbed the sides of her massive mouth (to remove the remains of a mini doughnut) and huffed at my polite observation.

“Well, maybe they should build a regular economy car!”

Review 2010 Suzuki Sx4 Sportback: one of the best economy cars on the road.

Now in its fourth year since replacing the Aerio, the Suzuki SX4 has gained a steadily increasing following as an unheralded competitor to the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent and Scion xD. But the compact car now features 16 stylings, including the new sportiest family edition, the Sx4 Sportback.

Review 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara: the smallest truck in the U.S. remains its old, friendly self

Just about the same machine since 2006 – this is to say, that the Grand Vitara is still the same “nice” machine. Yes indeed, the 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara’s main change is its portable navigation system and some minor trim changes. The rest of the Suzuki remains its old, friendly self.

The 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara is rather basic compared with its peers.

Review 2010 Suzuki Kizashi: a well-designed, efficient car that more buyers should consider

After a few concept test runs, the Suzuki Kizashi debuted last December in the Japanese carmaker’s attempt to “deliver the sophistication and driving experience of a premium sport sedan for the price of a modest midsize car.”

With the exception of the choice, definition and pronunciation of its name (KEY-ZAH-SEEE), the 2010 sedan is an unqualified success.

Often manufacturers’ claims are suspect. But Suzuki touts the Kizashi with the following, and all are hard to dispute:

Review 2010 Suzuki Kizashi: Is something good really coming?

I like Suzuki.

For me, they represent an ever evolving automaker (who makes killer motorcycles) that has some big dreams. Stars in their eyes they have; focusing on an expanding future is their determined mantra. Around the world, Suzuki is well respected for high quality machines. America has yet to accept that point of view.

Say it with me: Key-xash-che – it means, “something good is coming.”