Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport AWD

[Autos_Editor]

Now in its third year, Suzuki's mid-size sedan still offers a unique alternative in a crowded segment.

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[JohnM]

This car has gotten great review after great review.  The CVT issue is taken out of the debate by the manual mode which is an ideal solution. 

I don't like the fact AWD is mandatory as this adds unnecessary fuel burning weight and complexity.  However, this is a strong sales point for many people.

6.8 L/100 km on the highway seems quite high for a midsize vehicle with CVT which should turn around 2000 while cruising.   That and the AWD seem to be the only issues with this car.

I have a soft spot for Suzukis as they have proved very reliable over 100s of thousands of km for me.  They come across as very honest vehicles.

And in terms of value for money, since these are selling like houses in Fukushima, there are tremendous deals to be had.

It seems most dealers have demos on the market for $19.9k to $21.9k.  Simply killer for a drivers vehicle of this quality with that kind of content.

Cheers,
John M.

[richink]

I've got two digs against this car.

Damned CVT's - Maybe it's just North American marketing? Give me a 6 speed manual, please and thanks.

Low production, spotty dealers - long term service nightmares even for the simplest of things. Agreed that Suzuki's are proven tough as nails, but it doesn't help when you have to spend megabucks just to get a set of brake rotors.

Otherwise, it looks as if it's as about as inoffensive as youi can get with styling, comfy interior, great chassis and handling, good power, good fuel economy and a hell of a good sound system.

[theonlydt]

Losing the manual was a bad move in my opinion - the manual was decently fun. The whole fwd/awd thing... if awd were available I'd take it - there's enough poor weather here where the extra starting traction or on hills would be useful.

I think the car looks amazing and it's a cracker to drive. It's the last generation Subaru Legacy (smaller, lighter, nimble), but with a better interior!

Suzuki are currently over-priced, under marketed and falling out of the market unfortunately. The SX4 is a good car, but is starting to show its age and more importantly its price as an AWD vehicle is now above that of an entry level Impreza. They should bring over the FWD Euro spec Swift with a larger engine, mild update to the SX4 with a price drop, drop the price of the Kizashi and consider offering a wagon (would sell better in Europe and awd wagons are rare new here) and bring out a brand new Grand Vitara that's competitive (you know you can only get it with this 2.4 and a 4 speed auto now?!).

Well, that or Suzuki just needs to leave the market, which would be a shame.

[Mike]

...but it doesn't help when you have to spend megabucks just to get a set of brake rotors.

We put new rotors and pads on our SX4 this summer after only 45 000KM.....wholly sheet were those pricy for the size of the car!

[nlm]

Suzuki needed to market their lineup, especially this vehicle more. But that requires big bucks and high risk of still not really impacting market share.

Too bad about the loss of the manual but I can see why if they had flat sales to begin with.

[Karumba]

I didn't think the CVT in this vehicle was that bad at all - certainly not enough to be a deal killer. As far as CVT's go I can't say whether this one is good/bad/average as I've only experienced one other CVT ... the lancer, and not any of the nissans/subs and whatever other ones out there.  The kizashi while there is some drone and initial accel slowness, it's not that bad. And certainly not anywhere as bad as the lancer with its loud buzzy cheapish sounding engine that just doesn't match with a CVT.

I think for people looking for some fun in the drive and don't do stoplight takeoffs, this car is really ideal.  There just isn't any car in this segment that gives this kind of fun.  This is like a grown-up, bigger mazda3 without any of its cheapness shortcomings.  With it's almost premium interior and sporting drive it feels like a 1st gen tsx (minus the willing powertrain).  It's too bad no one knows about this car and no one will want to buy one used ... hence likely a significant drop in resale value.

[Thinking Out Loud]

This is a vehicle that could use some serious rental car fleet sales....it would benefit them tremendously in making the vehicle more readily available if people wanted to 'try one on' for a week, and also increase the vehicle visibility generally.

Suzuki should openly embrance the moniker 'daily rental special'.  Likely cheaper than advertising and more likely to attract those that are impressed with it after a retnal.

As to the dealer network....

[Brigitte]

Mike, if you need help taking pictures of vehicles, just say so.  I'll give you a hand.   

[Jaeger]

Good review.  This certainly is something of a unique offering in the midsize segement, though its particular blend of attributes hasn't resonated well with buyers in this segement.

I think the smallish overall dimensions are likely a problem for a broader range of buyers.  Almost anything it is likely to be cross-shopped against will feel more spacious inside - not an insignificant consideration if the primary intended use is that of a family sedan.

At $32k it is nudging up against the V6 and turbo entries of its competitors, where its one-choice-only normally aspirated 4 is seriously outgunned.

It does have the AWD trump card - I'm surprised that doesn't seem to have more appeal to buyers.  But I guess those that want AWD in their family conveyance purchase a CUV.

The CVT remains a deal-breaker for me.  And no - offering a manual mode does not by any means "solve" the fun-destroying effect of a golf cart transmission.  If it did, I'd likely be driving a Maxima now.

Jaeger

[Mike]

Mike, if you need help taking pictures of vehicles, just say so.  I'll give you a hand.   

yeah...ran out of time taking these pictures.  Next weeks Wrangler's pictures are much better

[Jaeger]

With it's almost premium interior and sporting drive it feels like a 1st gen tsx (minus the willing powertrain). 

That's a pretty big minus.  Slap this engine and transmission into a 1st gen. TSX and you completely change the nature of the car.  And not in a good way.

Jaeger

[Karumba]

Well, it does cost less than a tsx. Let's just say this car will appeal more to the people who prioritizes neutral handling/driving feel over power.

[Jaeger]

Well, it does cost less than a tsx. Let's just say this car will appeal more to the people who prioritizes neutral handling/driving feel over power.

It's not just "power".  It's even primarily about power.  Few would describe the first gen TSX as a "powerful" car.  You had it right the first time when you described it as a "willing" powertrain.  What helped define that car as one of the more fun to drive sporty compact cars was its free-revving engine and damned-near-perfect manual transmission.  It was responsive, eager, even playful.  Your attempt to describe the Kizashi as a TSX "minus the willing drivetrain" is kind of like saying "It's just like a TSX except for being quite fundamentally different from the TSX."  Unless, of course, you don't regard engine and transmission as being fundamental aspects of the driving experience.

Jaeger

[SaskSpecV]

Few would describe the first gen TSX as a "powerful" car.  You had it right the first time when you described it as a "willing" powertrain.  What helped define that car as one of the more fun to drive sporty compact cars was its free-revving engine and damned-near-perfect manual transmission. 
Jaeger

I haven't driven loads of cars with manual trannys, but the TSX (2004 MY) was without a doubt the best I've ever driven. SHort throws, perfect feedback, gears just "click" into place.  I'd love to compare it with a Miata, RX-8, or S2000 MT.  The Spec V - and even G35 - MTs were somewhat crude in comparison.

As for the Kizashi, love the looks, size, and standard features.  Hate the (now mandatory) CVT, as well as the "dealership" around here - I don't know if they even sell new Suzukis any more.  All you can see are used cars on the lot.  Of course the manual Kizashis didn't sell well - it's hard to sell one when the dealer refuses to stock any!  It also doesn't help that the Kizashi only comes in 4 colours (as of 2011 MY at least, and only 2 were available with the MT).

[Mike]

Few would describe the first gen TSX as a "powerful" car.  You had it right the first time when you described it as a "willing" powertrain.  What helped define that car as one of the more fun to drive sporty compact cars was its free-revving engine and damned-near-perfect manual transmission. 
Jaeger

I haven't driven loads of cars with manual trannys, but the TSX (2004 MY) was without a doubt the best I've ever driven. SHort throws, perfect feedback, gears just "click" into place.  I'd love to compare it with a Miata, RX-8, or S2000 MT.  The Spec V - and even G35 - MTs were somewhat crude in comparison.

As for the Kizashi, love the looks, size, and standard features.  Hate the (now mandatory) CVT, as well as the "dealership" around here - I don't know if they even sell new Suzukis any more.  All you can see are used cars on the lot.  Of course the manual Kizashis didn't sell well - it's hard to sell one when the dealer refuses to stock any!  It also doesn't help that the Kizashi only comes in 4 colours (as of 2011 MY at least, and only 2 were available with the MT).

I believe it is still 4 colours only with red being the only 'colour'

[5 Wheel Drive]

It's too bad about the transmission.  I guess they dropped the manual because nobody bought them.  Hard to believe this car has been out for 3 years.  I'm pretty sure the first time I saw one on the road was only in the last 6 months or so.  Every review I've read about the Kizashi was pretty positive.  It's really too bad more people didn't give this car a look when they were shopping.

[Karumba]

It's not just "power".  It's even primarily about power.  Few would describe the first gen TSX as a "powerful" car.  You had it right the first time when you described it as a "willing" powertrain. 

With all the talk about power in the threads over the past week or so, I was arguing the fact that there's waaay too much emphasis on power when the damn cars aren't even remotely exciting to drive.  Yes, the TSX is hardly a powerful car; it makes up for it with communicative steering and a composed chassis.  The Kizashi is the same case here, although its powertrain might not please ones who flog their engines. In everyday commuting, the Kizashi's powertrain is more than adequate. And even with its CVT'ness it is still wayyy more fun to drive than other cars in the same segment.

We can talk engines/CVT all day long; but drive the kizashi with the sonata/accord/camry back to back and I'm positive most will say the kizashi will stand out as the most fun to drive.  Hell, it's more fun to drive than some of these so called sport sedans out there right now.

[Fobroader]

1st gen TSX was a decent car with a horrid engine. Since it was about the same price as a G35 back then I drove it just to see how it was. I hated it, maybe because Im not used to weed eater Honda engines that you have to spin to 8000RPM to merge into traffic, but I couldnt imagine driving a car I owned in the same matter. Nice interior, good looking car, decent price and the gearbox was great.This Kizashis biggest problem is that it is invisible, Ive never seen a commercial for it on tv or heard one on the radio....how about some advertising Suzuki???

[Jaeger]

Few would describe the first gen TSX as a "powerful" car.  You had it right the first time when you described it as a "willing" powertrain.  What helped define that car as one of the more fun to drive sporty compact cars was its free-revving engine and damned-near-perfect manual transmission. 
Jaeger

I haven't driven loads of cars with manual trannys, but the TSX (2004 MY) was without a doubt the best I've ever driven. SHort throws, perfect feedback, gears just "click" into place.  I'd love to compare it with a Miata, RX-8, or S2000 MT.  The Spec V - and even G35 - MTs were somewhat crude in comparison.

Yep - it's right up there with the very best.  I wouldn't trade that for a CVT if you paid me. 

Jaeger