Maruti has officially entered the premium luxury saloon segment with the launch of the Kizashi. The luxury sports saloon carries an introductory price tag of Rs 16.5lakh for the manual variant, while the CVT is available at Rs 17.5lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Kizashi is much more than just a bigger, larger version of an SX4. It promises more driving pleasure and performance compared to its rivals. With the Kizashi, Suzuki is trying to move up the luxury car ladder in India. Manufactured at Suzuki’s Sagara plant in Japan, the Kizashi will be sold in India as a Completely Built-up Unit (CBU).

Bookings of the Kizashi have already commenced and can be booked for an initial amount of Rs 50,000 with deliveries starting from March 2011.

Under the hood lies the same 4-cylinder, 16 valve 2.4litre DOHC motor that powers the Grand Vitara. However, the improved 2393cc VVT motor now churns out 176bhp while developing 23.4kgm of max torque.

In the styling department, Suzuki has used familiar cues to establish the identity of the Kizashi, and the headlights and grille have a familiar look to them. The treatment of the grilles is actually very similar to the Swift’s and as a result, the Kizashi’s nose looks familiar. However, the cars’ overall stance is very sporty and compact.

The design of the interiors and the general build quality are a big step up for Suzuki. The bold design really stands out and there are plenty of well built high-quality bits used in the cabin. Some plastic bits though are not up to the standards of the class and detract from the overall feel of the cabin.

Suzuki has made its intentions clear with the Kizashi – the car maker is looking to place the car somewhere in between the Civic and the Accord. But at this price point, will customers opt for a Suzuki in place of a Honda, Toyota, Skoda or a VW, only time will tell.

Read Kizashi first drive report here.

Watch Kizashi Video review here.