THE answer’s yes. The question – will Suzuki’s mid-size, 2.4 litre saloon, already a hit at home in Japan, appeal to British buyers?

Suzuki GB is carrying out an evaluation of the Kizashi Sport, already sold in America and Australia as well as in European markets including Switzerland and Norway where it is available with all-wheel drive.

Kizashi – which in Japanese means a sign of great things to come – represents a new direction for the company and has been developed as its global flagship model.

I found the car, probably on sale here late this year, a solid yet lively contender that moves the Suzuki brand up the scale without abandoning its emphasis on small, sporty cars and four-wheel-drive SUVs.

The 2011 Sport aimed at the UK features modifications that include a more muscular front fascia and lower grille, body side sill extensions, sports suspension with 10mm lower ride height, lower body side mouldings with chrome accents; custom lightweight 18in alloy wheels; sports steering wheel and contrasting stitching to the leather seats, gear shift boot and parking brake boot.

Driving the Kizashi on Sussex roads, I found that it comfortably accommodates up to five people and their luggage.

Exterior dimensions are length 4,650mm, width 1,820mm and height 1,470mm, making it one of the most compact D-segment cars.

The spacious interior offers plenty of leg and shoulder room, even for rear seat passengers.

The interior design gives an upmarket feel, reflected in features that include a bold centre console and premium grade controls and seats.

The main instrumentation takes the form of two cylindrically shaped meters with an information display between them which logs instant fuel usage, average fuel usage, distance to empty and average speed. It also incorporates a low fuel caution and battery replacement warning for the remote key fob.

The Kizashi’s seats were designed with comfort in mind. They combine generous dimensions with support from a newly developed urethane material.

Although the Kizashi is a saloon, it offers a level of utility that will more than satisfy those downsizing. The boot has a generous capacity of 461 litres and a 60:40-split-folding rear seatback with ski-bag hatch.

Handily positioned spaces for smaller items include an illuminated glove box, a double-layer compartment under the centre-console armrest, and an instrument-panel centre box ideal for an iPod and housing the USB port and power socket.

In combined cycle driving, it has a combined fuel consumption of 35.8mpg with CO2 emissions of 183g/km.

If the price is right, we could see a lot more of the Kizashi.