Suzuki: Motoring Excellence Award For Kizashi

LAVERTON, AUSTRALIA – December 9, 2010: The Suzuki Kizashi has been named the supreme winner of the New Zealand Auto Association’s 2010 Motoring Excellence Awards.

Not only did the Kizashi take out top honors in the medium size car class, it was judged number one in the annual award, regarded as one of the most important in the New Zealand motor industry.

Sixty new model vehicles were assessed by an independent team of local motoring writers during a five-day test program within the Taupo region. Seventeen brands of cars were evaluated in the latest award, which is in its fifth year.

Beating a class field of rivals that included the Subaru Outback 2.5, Subaru Legacy 2.5 Sport Wagon, Hyundai i45 2.4 Elite, Volkswagen Passat CC TDi, Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSi DSG and Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Kizashi impressed the expert panel of judges.

The Automobile Association says the results are intended to assist New Zealand motorists with their car purchases, with voting criteria including design, performance, dynamics, practicality, execution, value for money and safety.

“Kizashi is Suzuki’s first entrant into the medium segment class which has a number of very strong competitors,” said Tak Hayasaki, Managing Director for Suzuki New Zealand.

“We knew the Kizashi was a great all round car but to have the AA Motoring Excellence Award judges confirm this is a highly special result.

“Suzuki especially values the outcome of the Automobile Association award because the results are determined by a panel of judges rather than the assessment by just one journalist,” said Hayasaki.

The judges said the Kizashi was “a very good affordable vehicle”.

They praised the car’s refinement, quietness and comfort and said dynamically it was easily the best in the medium car class.

They were also impressed by “the astonishing attention to detail both inside and out”.

Mr Hayasaki said the company was honored to win the award.

“New Zealand’s motoring judges are regarded as some of the toughest critics in the world, making the Kizashi’s win all the more meritorious,” he said.