Overall, I give the interior high marks, marred only by the fact that the two interior fuse panels--one above the driver's kick panel, the other behind the glove box--are very much inaccessible, especially in the dark. I learned this when my computer's inverter popped the fuse.

The Kizashi included two other amenities unexpected in this price class. First, the dual-zone climate control. Second, heading back out-side, the 18-inch alloy wheels with upgraded 235/45-18 tires.

As for the gas station test, the car garnered compliments, with most admirers thinking it looked European and cost in excess of $30,000. In that respect, Suzuki's attempt to benchmark the Kizashi against cars in classes above it has succeeded in much the same way Ford has done so with the new Focus.

Yet Suzuki faces an interesting dilemma with the Kizashi, and I don't just mean the car's difficult name (it's pronounced "Kee-zah-shee"). The Suzuki brand is more clearly associated with its SUVs, motorcycles, and ATVs. And with fewer than 300 dealers from coast to coast, you may have to travel a bit to test drive the Kizashi.

It's worth the effort. Get behind the wheel, and you'll discover that the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi is a highly compelling combination of styling, features, and performance. Go beyond your preconceived notions about Suzuki, and you will be rewarded with an economical and very well designed mid-sized family four-door cleverly disguised as a pricey Euro-style sport sedan.

Sidebar

In addition to its front-wheel-drive versions, Suzuki offers the Kizashi with its next-generation i-AWD system, a rare option in its class. It certainly helps give the Kizashi some Audi-like chops when conditions deteriorate. Activated by the driver, the system is designed for inclement weather rather than off-roading. It sends power to the rear wheels immediately upon acceleration. Torque split--up to 50:50 front/rear--remains dependent on several factors, including wheel slippage, throttle, and steering input. The system worked seamlessly --as it should--when I tested it in several low-friction situations during almost biblical rains this winter in Southern California.

In my test car, the i-AWD system was mated to what Suzuki calls a performance-tuned CVT. Like many CVTs, it often felt that it was in the wrong "gear," causing the engine to rev higher and resulting in an unrefined driving experience. Although Suzuki claims the calibration for the CVT was validated on Germany's Autobahn, Switzerland's Alpine hairpins, the cobblestone roads of rural England, and the legendary Nürburgring, I say, opt for the six-speed manual transmission. It increases the Kizashi's sporting quotient tenfold.