Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport AWD

[Hammy]

Or I can wait until next fall and the same ones will probably still be there with bigger discounts. The salesman was taken aback when I said I was intersted in looking at a kizashi!

[Mike]

Or I can wait until next fall and the same ones will probably still be there with bigger discounts. The salesman was taken aback when I said I was intersted in looking at a kizashi!

 

[johngenx]

At most Suzuki dealerships, they're just surprised to see ANY customers, and then you come in and ask for a product that barely outsells the Bugatti Veyron?

Surprised the guy didn't fall over dead from shock...

[Jaeger]

At most Suzuki dealerships, they're just surprised to see ANY customers, and then you come in and ask for a product that barely outsells the Bugatti Veyron?
Surprised the guy didn't fall over dead from shock...

 

Jaeger

[SaskSpecV]

At most Suzuki dealerships, they're just surprised to see ANY customers, and then you come in and ask for a product that barely outsells the Bugatti Veyron?

Surprised the guy didn't fall over dead from shock...

This raises the issue - if you were Suzuki, how would YOU sell the Kizashi?  By all accounts, it's a very good vehicle, well-appointed, pricing is decent (if not a super value, at least decently close to the competition).  But it only sold 700 units last year!  How does Suzuki fix this, on the limited budget they have?  More marketing?  But that doesn't guarantee sales either, and costs a lot of money. Redesign the car? Again, tough for them to do with little cash.  Lower price / bigger incentives?  Improve their dealer network - but how do you do that in the short term?  Or is this vehicle just doomed?

I have to admit, part of the reason I was interested in the Kizashi (besides the apparently sporty handling, excellent interior/features, and right size for me) is because it would be relatively exclusive (actually, drop the "relatively".  It would be exceptionally exclusive here in Saskatoon!).  Of course, this exclusivity comes at the price of (or should I say, is due to) a horrible dealer network and incredibly poor resale value.  I guess a carbon grey MT Elantra Touring with 17" rims will have to be exclusive enough for me!

[Fobroader]

They should have tried to make it a comptetitor to the Subaru Impreza/Legacy. Stick a turbo, leather guts and other niceties in a highline model, Legacy comptetitor. Harder suspension, Brembos, rear LSD and some Cusco front buckets, WRX comptetitor. The base model should be aimed straight at the base Impreza market, I mean what can the base impreza do that a Kizashi cant?? Oh....and change the name, not all of us watch Hentai and understand japanese.

[JohnM]

I have had 3 Suzukis and they've proven to be reliable, efficient and honest cars.  Low long term cost of ownership for sure.  The Kizashi is interesting as it represents an attractive step up to a sporty sedan.

So I broke down while driving by the dealership and rented one for a day.

First impressions were solid and very well finished in a tight looking package.  Low noise levels and very comfortable interior with excellent visibility for a sedan.  The best side mirrors I've ever experienced.

I've never driven a CVT and this has been the fly in the ointment for the journalists who did the early reviews of this car.  I was prepared for weird but also looking forward to very low cruising RPM.  Turned out to be 2000 at 100km.  Very good but not breathtaking. 

This car had only 2k on it and might be a later version but I simply can't see what the objection to the CVT is or was.  It did not get loud on acceleration and it did not give a disconnected feeling.  The gf's Fit 5 speed automatic droans far, far more than this.  I'd take this CVT to a conventional auto box anytime although a standard is still first choice.  The manual mode on the Suzuki should render the CVT issue moot and it is great for engine braking.  The CVT was invisible in normal driving and under the whip felt like a large torque converter.  That is not a negative comment!

I don't push machinery and the roads had slush, sand and some ice on them.  I took several sharp and sweeping corners and the car stayed flat and controllable.  Very nice and tidy.  Ride was firm but comfortable and the mega electric adjustable seats were very comfortable.  Cockpit was a very nice place to be with more options than I would ever be able to master.

In terms of straight line performance, it was far more than anyone needs and I'm sure it would continue pulling strongly and smoothly to far beyond what would be considered illegal in most countries.  Some people want more though.  You know who you are.

The Kizashi is about 300 pounds heavier than the Impreza which would be the only other sporty sedan with awd under $30k.  Consequently mileage is not going to be a strong point.  I could see my easy driving approach getting 7.5 - 7.8L/100km lifetime in this car but 9 would probably be more representative.  My 250 km saw about 8.8 in mild winter conditions with little city and the occasional short burst.

I really liked the Kizashi but fuel efficiency and lack of a hatch put it in a category which no longer applies to me.  Great vehicle though and pretty competitively priced new with really incredible deals on demos which might mean really good deals on standing new stock.

This only works if it is reliable and I'm very sure it would be given previous Suzuki experience.  Love the Jetta and Golf/AUDI/BMW but repair paranoia kills that.  If I were looking in this area, I'd probably pop for a 1 year old Kizashi but to each his own.  Really enjoyed it.

Cheers,
John M.