Verdict: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GT

We all learn at an early age you get what you pay for. That knockoff action figure at the dollar store just doesn't pack the same karate-chop action as the one on the TV commercials. And it's tough keeping up with friends on your $100 Toys "R" Us mountain bike when it weighs as much as your Labrador retriever and the wheels won't stay round. A few samples from our Kizashi's logbook: "Feel like a premium piece. Has the high-value/fun-to-drive bones that made the Civic famous." "Impressive for its price." "It's hard to believe this car only costs $24,000." Yes, our Kizashi tester wowed us with its value. For an as-tested price of $23,484, we got a spacious midsize sedan equipped with dual-zone climate control; a 10-way power driver's seat with memory settings; a tilting/telescoping leather-wrapped, button-laden, multifunction steering wheel; a 425-watt, 10-speaker audio system; Bluetooth connectivity; foglamps; eight airbags; and 18-inch wheels. Not bad.

"What really sells it for me and my heavy foot is that one can drive the Kizashi at full throttle all the time without doing super-illegal speeds," Vance scribbled. "The engine has just enough power to wind out on every hole shot, freeway ramp, or lane merge, and yet, doing so rarely puts you above the posted speed limit. Lots of fun."

That fun character, combined with practicality (the Kizashi averaged 24.8 mpg during its stay), earned strong praise from executive editor Ed Loh. "For scooting around town and riding commuter traffic, the Kizashi is perfect," Loh noted. "The manual gearbox is good (not great), but sporty enough to encourage heel-toe shifting and other shenanigans. I enjoy wringing out the four-banger, and it makes me even happier to see mpg in the mid-to-high 20s when doing so."

For as much as we loved driving the Kizashi, there was still room for some improvement. A blown fuse at 15,000 miles rendered the stereo and power mirrors completely non-operable, but the fuse was replaced at no cost under warranty. Service costs for our year and nearly 20,000 miles rang in at a total of $128.69 for two oil changes, tire rotations, and general inspections. Two no-cost recall services were also performed -- one to replace a dashboard compartment hinge, and the other to replace a defective drive belt pulley tensioner.

All said, we were sad to see our Kizashi go after its yearlong tenure in the fleet. It might be easy to replace it with a more expensive vehicle, but it won't be as easy to find one with more charm. Associate online editor Nate Martinez summed up our final impressions. "Suzuki should be proud. The Kizashi is roomy and modern inside, has a handsome exterior, rides smooth, grips decently well, and returns respectable fuel economy. It's a shame Suzuki isn't selling more of these."

"The more I drive the Kizashi, the more I like it. Especially when you consider that our well-appointed tester stickers for under $23,000, about what you'd spend for a similar Jetta. Of course, the Jetta now has a torsion-beam rear end -- fine for most, but the Kizashi is the better handler."
Jonny Lieberman

Body Side Molding Accents ($125), Floor Mats ($125) Drive belt pulley tensioner replacement, lower compartment box door hinge

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