Suzuki Kizashi

Any first hand reviews of the Kizashi? I like oddball cars (orphans). Just wondering what the general consensus of this one is.

Thanks

I have never driven one but sitting in one and being up close it seems like a very well built vehicle. I hope this helps...

Never driven one, but they got excellent reviews when they came out. Should have been the car that saved Suzuki, if they weren't so hopelessly mismanaged.

I seem to recall Motor Trend being all over these when they came out. They could not say enough good things about them and even took one from Tokyo to LA the long way around.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new-cars/2011-180-kizashi-sport-sls/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/kizashi/19341/page1/

I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

My buddy bought one new. Seems nice in person and he's hasn't reported any issues with it. I think they're nice looking cars.

A friend of mine has (had?) one before he picked up a Golf R. I've never seen a Suzuki hustled around a race track as well as that car handled it. A set of sticky tires and brake pads would have likely given my S2000 a run for its money everywhere but the corner exits.

FWIW, they were also available with a six speed manual, but good luck finding one.

When I was working at a VW/Suzuki dealer I ended up totaling one that had a steering rack go bad ($4.5k for the rack with at least a week lead time) and cvt transmission belt slipped badly enough to through a CEL anytime you got over 35 ($6-7k for transmission, no rebuild kits available through Suzuki) so I guess keep that in mind.

Otherwise not a terrible vehicle, just expect disposal once something breaks lol.

I had a very brief stint behind the wheel once. Suzuki was doing a promotional thing at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix the one year I was in attendance where they had a sort of auto x course set up a few blocks away that they were bussing anyone to who wanted to test drive a Kizashi back to back with certain competitors.

I remember it surpassing my expectations, seemed solid and well put together inside. Contrary to promises that were made, I was not allowed to "rip it as hard as I wanted" (their words as well as mine) and had the Suzuki rep screaming at me from the back seat after squeeling the tires through the first corner. But it did handle reasonably well from what I recall with OK, if not great, feedback to boot. Much better than, say, a Camry.

The manual cars I remember being decent. I don't find any CVT car to fall into "decent" category. They were mid sized, but handled better. The one issue I had was the only engine option making under 200hp

My mom has had one since new, I don't mind driving it but have never driven it in anger. She has never had any problems with it. This is their third suzuki, I am not sure what they 2ill so when it is time for a new one haha.

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

I'm patiently awaiting Suzuki motorcycles to fold completely......I don't know how they even are still in business at this point.

WOW Really Paul? wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

I'm patiently awaiting Suzuki motorcycles to fold completely......I don't know how they even are still in business at this point.

Me either. There was an episode of Modern Marvels or How They Are Made that showed Suzuki motorcycle engines were still hand assembled.

spitfirebill wrote:

WOW Really Paul? wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

I'm patiently awaiting Suzuki motorcycles to fold completely......I don't know how they even are still in business at this point.

Me either. There was an episode of Modern Marvels or How They Are Made that showed Suzuki motorcycle engines were still hand assembled.

Come to florida and look at the squids on a1a. Thats how.

Furious_E wrote: I had a very brief stint behind the wheel once. Suzuki was doing a promotional thing at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix the one year I was in attendance where they had a sort of auto x course set up a few blocks away that they were bussing anyone to who wanted to test drive a Kizashi back to back with certain competitors. I remember it surpassing my expectations, seemed solid and well put together inside. Contrary to promises that were made, I was not allowed to "rip it as hard as I wanted" (their words as well as mine) and had the Suzuki rep screaming at me from the back seat after squeeling the tires through the first corner. But it did handle reasonably well from what I recall with OK, if not great, feedback to boot. Much better than, say, a Camry.

Yeah, that was my fault. I was one of the first to take it for a spin and I applied the full brunt of my Solo II knowledge to that course. The instructor was not happy and a little green. They asked people to slow down after that.

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

+1 and I'm confused that Suzuki went down and somehow Mitsu is still hanging on.

HappyAndy wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

+1 and I'm confused that Suzuki went down and somehow Mitsu is still hanging on.

I'll trade mitsu for Zuki myself.

WOW Really Paul? wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote: I am really sad Suzuki (Cars/trucks) left the American market.

I'm patiently awaiting Suzuki motorcycles to fold completely......I don't know how they even are still in business at this point.

'Busa and GSXR, that's how. They also share a lot of resources with Kawasaki, in fact, some of the off road models are basically identical.

I know this is going off topic from the purpose of this thread, but it kind of makes me sad to to see Suzuki cycles fading away. Sure, Honda and Yamaha are leagues ahead in build quality, but Suzuki's always seem to make up for it in personality. The old cliche about Jap bikes lacking soul doesn't hold up with 'Zuks.

Squiddies will never surrender the Gixxer.

HappyAndy wrote: 'Busa and GSXR, that's how. They also share a lot of resources with Kawasaki, in fact, some of the off road models are basically identical. I know this is going off topic from the purpose of this thread, but it kind of makes me sad to to see Suzuki cycles fading away. Sure, Honda and Yamaha are leagues ahead in build quality, but Suzuki's always seem to make up for it in personality. The old cliche about Jap bikes lacking soul doesn't hold up with 'Zuks.

There is virtually nothing truthful in what you said.

In reply to Zomby Woof:

So are you saying that they don't sell all the gixxers and 'busas that they can build? Or that Suzuki build quality is on par with Honda and Yamaha? Or that most Suzuki's are enjoyable to ride,sometimes despite themselves? Or that Suzuki isn't struggling? (At least in the American market)

OK, I relent, the 4t off road models aren't badge engineered with Kawasaki anymore, I think.

Back on topic; I really like Suzuki cars and SUVs, excluding the Daewoo built stuff, they remind of old Datsun's (in a good way). I've never owned or worked on a Kizashi, but I'd be willing to try one.

I said virtually.

Yes, they do sell a lot of GSXR's, because they're an awesome bike. Build quality? You said leagues better. That's ridiculous, so I need not defend it any further, but... while I would say Yamaha's are typically better built than the other two, Suzukis are well built, and Honda sure ain't what it used to be. Struggling? They're not even in the market. A market they abandoned a long time ago because Americans aren't interested in the cars they build. They never struggled, they made a business decision. As for Suzuki/Kawi, I think that ended 6 or 7 years ago. So as you can see, I'm right once again

I drove a turbo Kizashi that Suzuki had prepared. This was just before they left our market, too, so who knows what could have happened.

Suzuki was an awesome car company. They created the "Cute ute" market but kept theirs offroad capable. They had the super light DOHC 4cyl Swift GT with a ridiculous redline. the Esteem's were better built options in the compact market (but suffered from rust severely) over the other offerings.

Daewookis were an embarassment for everyone.