Suzuki has a hit with the Kizashi Sport. This nimble-inspired variant features various body revisions, including chrome-accented front fascia, lower grille, body side extensions, trunk-mounted rear spoiler, and unique 18-inch alloy wheels. The sport-minded attitude is also seen in various interior differences, namely the seats (Sport SLS provides leather seats with contrasting-color stitching), gearshift boot, parking brake boot, and perforated leather steering wheel. Athletic trim designations are the Sport GTS and Sport SLS. Kizashi Sport is an absolute handling gem thanks to a sport-tuned suspension, lighter wheels, and a slightly lower (0.39 inch) ride height.

Powering both Kizashi and Kizashi Sport is a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder. But when mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the horsepower is 185 at 6500 rpm versus 180 horsepower at 6000 rpm with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The engine’s torque is 170 pounds-feet at 4000 rpm whether mated to the CVT or the 6-speed manual transmission. As a 2011 midsize sedan, the Kizashi and Kizashi Sport already meet federal government standards for side barrier and side pole crash tests that become effective in 2014. The Kizashi Sport SLS with 6-speed manual transmission collects estimated mpg of 20 city/29 highway and has a MSRP of $24,699.