KuroNekko wrote:I also think the manual is faster. I have never driven the CVT, but I have read reviews on the Kizashi in which the writer drove both and one even said the manual "feels like it has 50 more horsepower" than the CVT. That's huge.
I think the 0 to 60 times are also significantly faster for the man trans not to mention it also technically has 5 more horsepower than the CVT model.
I don't consider my manual Kizashi slow. It's not as fast in acceleration as the Mazda3 I had, but this car is heavier and more refined. I take off in traffic just fine and the only time it feels sluggish is accelerating from 5th or 6th gear on the freeway, especially if revs are too low (which is really with any car that is normally aspirated).
Basically the plus side to a manual Kizashi is the faster acceleration.
The plus side to the CVT model is the availability of the AWD which apparently is quite awesome.
I guess asking for a manual transmission plus AWD was too much to ask from Suzuki although Subaru would be knocking on the door.
