217 messages,
Last post on Apr 12, 2013 at 10:32 AM
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Suzuki Kizashi Forum.
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Suzuki Kizashi, Car Comparisons, Sedan
#37 of 217 Something great is coming...
by iluvmysephia1
Apr 06, 2010 (12:49 am)
to a theater near you. Random thoughts on the new 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport.
Check out all of the engineering that goes in to this new Suzuki. There is nothing else like the Kizashi in this category of car on the road today! Why might that be?
Well, let's talk about it. For starters show me another car in the segment that has: aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings, forged connecting rods, forged crankshaft, a timing chain (not a belt), balance shafts, hydraulic valve lifters and coil-over ignition. There are none.
Trust me, the above information means this car will be a great performer and is better engineered than anything in its category and price level. The prices are going to start around 19k, and go up to 25k for a totally loaded version complete with AWD! To get anything even close to this car you will have to spend at least 10k to 20K more than you will with Kizashi.
Suzuki tends to put it's money where you can't see it, unlike other brands that sell a fancy interior on a crusty old driveframe. Multi-link fully independent suspension too, no piddly semi-trailing arms or torsion beams to be found on this car.
Combine all those features with the AWD option and there's plenty to differentiate this car from Honda's, Toyota's, VW's and Subaru's, etc. Great job, Suzuki!
Apr 10, 2010 (5:34 pm)
am I the only licensed driver in these United States of America that wants to buy one of these 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport's?
I'm startin' ta get a hankerin' for the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport in white. Suzuki calls this white 'Radiant White'. I see their point.
#39 of 217 Re: Hey.... [iluvmysephia1]
by m6user
Apr 10, 2010 (5:35 pm)
Well, 13 other people bought them and posted reviews to the right. Maybe them and you are the whole market for this car.
Apr 10, 2010 (6:33 pm)
I'm starting to wonder if you're not right!
Heck, the Kizashi Sport, due out in August 2010 as a 2011 Suzuki model, offers a 10-way adustable driver's seat, safety-passed through the year 2014, a 185-hp 2.4L 4 cylin. motor with a 6-speed transmission, foglights, leather-gripped steering wheel and gearknob, side body cladding, side moulding, sunroof, 425-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo, cloth seating(very comfortable BTW-I test drove one at a Henderson, NV, dealer, very comfortable seating) and climate control for the front and back. All for $23,795!
The car drives like a dream. I kid you not m6user, you should test drive one. I don't see what's going to keep me away from a Suzuki dealer. Getting turned down for a loan would do it, yes.
The car seems to have firmly implanted itself underneath my skin. When we do get up to NE Nevada the closest dealer will be where steve (your host here) resides, Boise, ID. It will be they that must cow-tow to my every purchasing desire or I'll be forced to stay with my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS.
Darn.
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS is indeed gorgeous and also drives like a dream. Why am I looking at the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport, then?
Apr 10, 2010 (7:03 pm)
I found my 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS 6-speed in Platinum Metallic Silver for only $21,998! Here's a picture from this undisclosed dealership's website of the actual Kizashi I would run in and trade our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS for.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS in Platinum Metallic Silver (awesome shade for this car)
This is a 6-speed manual Kizashi GTS, just the model I want. It is at the best-selling Suzuki dealer in the U.S. I won't mention the dealership's name as I am not allowed by Edmunds, but I will say that I am trying to get a job that is within 212 miles of this dealership. Think Cornhusker's and you'll be honing yourself in to where I might be moving to to live and work.
#42 of 217 Re: Oohh... [iluvmysephia1]
by m6user
Apr 10, 2010 (8:35 pm)
You've been in the forums for a long time and you don't know it's perfectly alright to mention a dealers name? They just don't want salesmans names or phone numbers. Dealer names and locations are not only allowed but encouraged but it your're working a deal and think it best not to say, that's fine too.
#43 of 217 Re: Hey.... [iluvmysephia1]
by gregg_vw
Apr 11, 2010 (8:34 am)
The Kizashi is a good car, but will have a tough road ahead. Suzuki doesn't have many dealerships, relatively speaking. Few Suzuki models are sold here. The Kizashi will be going up against not only good products already well established, but models like the 2011 Kia Optima, which some will find better looking, not to mention its greater hp and mpg for about the same money. It is also apparently a good handler for a front driver, like the Kizashi. Then there is the 2011 Buick Regal. This process will go on and on. Suzuki will not stem this tide, with just one model offering just one powertrain. But a small number will certainly find the Kizashi to be the ticket for them.
#44 of 217 Re: Hey.... [gregg_vw]
by stapletondoc
Apr 11, 2010 (3:44 pm)
I cannot believe that I am about to defend Suzuki. Suzuki has never been mainstream in the US like Honda, VW, Ford, Toyota, Buick, and even Kia. And that's ok. Suzuki is a much bigger venture worldwide than most Americans realize. All this fretting about a limited dealership network is more or less American Suzuki's decision---they bought out many underperforming, less desirable dealerships. No doubt the Kizashi will be tweaked and refined in coming years. However, Kizashi is very nice like it is now. I think it a bit premature to pronounce American Suzuki as lackluster. It is just getting warmed up. The best thing Suzuki ever did was to sever ties with GM. GM was slowly suffocating American Suzuki with the ubiquitous GM policy of rebadging everything. Suzuki is going to introduce its incredibly popular Swift (next generation) this year or the next in the US. Im sure other models will follow as time goes on. After having driven Fords, GMC trucks, VWs, Saabs, and Mercedes, I am now unashamedly proud to say i drive a Suzuki Kizashi. I encourage everyone, including all those vocal skeptics out there, at least to go test drive a Kizashi. It shocked the heck out of me..and probably will surprise you as well.
#45 of 217 Re: Hey.... [stapletondoc]
by gregg_vw
Apr 11, 2010 (6:06 pm)
All your points are well-taken. I have been to India many times. Suzuki absolutely dominates there, as well as in other places. But for whatever reason (lack of product is certainly one), they have not been able to gain a foothold here in the US. The very good Kizashi is unlikely to change that. It does get good reviews and comes in mid-pack or better in the comparison tests that have been done to date. It is a good choice for anyone who wants some "sport" with their mid-sizer. But its advertised "best in class" hp was bested in a matter of weeks by Hyundai, and it is already behind in the in-car technology race. It is one good model, and there is nothing else in the Suzuki pipeline right now, other than plans to bring the next generation Swift here. But when the new Swift arrives, the market here will already be flooded with that size car from Ford, Chevrolet, Mazda, Nissan, Chrysler-Fiat, etc., 2011 and 2012 models that are completely new and promising much.
The Equator (a Nissan) is unlikely to do anything in the marketplace. The Grand Vitara is not selling much. The only other models are from the SX4 family, one of which I have, and I like it a lot. But if I were shopping today, I'd be less likely to pick one up, given new competition that was not there in 2008. SX4 sales have almost collapsed, and they were hardly hot two years ago.
The VW connection should help, once some sharing gets underway. A little cross-pollination from one of the fastest growing companies worldwide will not hurt at all. Meanwhile, I still may buy a Kizashi. But it will be closely compared with several 2011 models first.
#46 of 217 Re: Hey.... [gregg_vw]
by stapletondoc
Apr 11, 2010 (8:12 pm)
I completely understand and agree with the points you have made. I owned a 2009 SX4 AWD touring crossover for 9 months (was not a fan of its automatic transmission)...now have a 2010 Kizashi SLS AWD. I guess I am just hoping with somewhat baited breath that perceptions about Suzuki will change over time and that US will see what value can found in Suzuki. If only Suzuki would be extremely aggressive with advertising, brand recognition, etc.