Ok, if you've seen my other thread you'll know I'm looking for a GTS with a 6MT but will settle for a CVT GTS/SLS for the right price. I know some of you know for sure, but I've been confused with minor differences between trim levels of different model years. Correct me if I'm wrong, but..
S- offered with manual or CVT in all model years except CVT only in 2013, AWD option, with or without standard factory radio, no leather anything and manual seat adjustment.
SE- CVT only for all model years, standard stereo, (no RF) Leather wrapped steering wheel, AWD option, mostly cloth seats, but some model years have a "leather edition"?
GTS- Comes with CVT or 6MT, (except 2013 which is CVT only) RF stereo, AWD option for CVT, power seats/moonroof dropped for 2012 model year, added back for 2013 along with option for leather seats?
SLS- Top of the line, leather/power everything, AWD option, auto headlights, moonroof, RF Stereo or Kenwood/RF/Garmin unit, CVT only except for a handful of 2011 models that had the 6MT
Do I have all this right? I know the SE/GTS with leather and the SLS with a 6MT appear to be anomalies, but they seem to be out there in small numbers from what I can tell..
Help me understand the differences between S, SE, GTS, SLS
You have the gist of it.
S - The one thing you got wrong was that in 2013, the ONLY manual you can get was the S. They dropped the manual trans for the GTS and SLS in MY2013.
GTS - I don't know if leather was an option for 2013. My brochure from 2012 does not state that the GTS offers leather seats. It would not make sense since it would be a selling point for people to get the SLS instead. My understanding is that other than the SLS, only the SE offered leather as an optional package.
SLS - Yes, some manual trans SLS exist, but they are very rare.
Basically, here's what it boils down to:
1) Most manual Kizashis on sale are the base S trim (based on my searches).
2) All SE are CVT. Manual never offered for SE trim.
3) AWD only offered with CVT. You can get CVT with FWD too.
4) Navigation only found in SLS trim. If you have nav, you don't get streaming audio (at least according to 2012 brochure).
5) Parking sensors, rear back-up camera, power passenger seat, XM radio are all exclusive to the SLS.
S - The one thing you got wrong was that in 2013, the ONLY manual you can get was the S. They dropped the manual trans for the GTS and SLS in MY2013.
GTS - I don't know if leather was an option for 2013. My brochure from 2012 does not state that the GTS offers leather seats. It would not make sense since it would be a selling point for people to get the SLS instead. My understanding is that other than the SLS, only the SE offered leather as an optional package.
SLS - Yes, some manual trans SLS exist, but they are very rare.
Basically, here's what it boils down to:
1) Most manual Kizashis on sale are the base S trim (based on my searches).
2) All SE are CVT. Manual never offered for SE trim.
3) AWD only offered with CVT. You can get CVT with FWD too.
4) Navigation only found in SLS trim. If you have nav, you don't get streaming audio (at least according to 2012 brochure).
5) Parking sensors, rear back-up camera, power passenger seat, XM radio are all exclusive to the SLS.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Yeah, there seems to be a little randomness to Suzuki's trim levels. Today I looked at a 2013 GTS locally that had leather seats, and even asked if they were sure it was a GTS. I take their word for it since they are actually a Suzuki dealer that is still selling remaining stock and providing warranty service. I have also seen at least one other car listed as "GTS" on Autotrader that had leather seats..and it was also a 2013 MY.
Seems to me that if you want a GTS that has a 6MT, Power seats, moonroof and sport body kit/wheels...2011 is the only option. A 2013 GTS with leather seats is basically just an SLS missing a couple of extra options. (moonroof, auto headlights, nav, etc..) The 2011 SLS with the 6MT is apparently too rare to even bother tracking down..
Seems to me that if you want a GTS that has a 6MT, Power seats, moonroof and sport body kit/wheels...2011 is the only option. A 2013 GTS with leather seats is basically just an SLS missing a couple of extra options. (moonroof, auto headlights, nav, etc..) The 2011 SLS with the 6MT is apparently too rare to even bother tracking down..
The 2011 SLS with the 6MT is apparently too rare to even bother tracking down..
Truer words were never spoken. I spent a couple of months in late 2010 trying to get one. I even contacted Suzuki themselves (the west coast distributor) and couldn't find one other than in the midwest. I 'settled' on the GTS. And when talking to the guy from Suzuki I was lucky I got that. As only two 6m's were coming into the west coast at that time. One going to Washington state, and the other to LA.
Truer words were never spoken. I spent a couple of months in late 2010 trying to get one. I even contacted Suzuki themselves (the west coast distributor) and couldn't find one other than in the midwest. I 'settled' on the GTS. And when talking to the guy from Suzuki I was lucky I got that. As only two 6m's were coming into the west coast at that time. One going to Washington state, and the other to LA.
The GTS with the 6MT is also pretty rare even if you expand your search to include 2010 models along with 2011-12. Seems to me that buying a 2012 GTS (with no power seats/moonroof) with the CVT is basically just getting you an SE with an upgraded stereo system and fancier bodywork. I really like that the 2013 GTS has the leather interior available, (don't care about the moonroof) but the zero possibility of a 6MT in that model year (and much higher starting price vs a used 2011-2012) is kind of a deal breaker for me.
Suzuki is the only company that I'm aware of that makes a car with four trim levels, (and the top 2 have "sport" monikers) and the base model potentially having the best performance. Every feature added (AWD system, power heated seats etc..) increases the weight, yet the drivetrains available are the same throughout the lineup. An S model with the 6MT with a simple lowering kit and some lower profile tires would probably be slightly quicker off the line and better handling than the more expensive "Sport GTS"... and especially so if that GTS has a CVT.
Suzuki is the only company that I'm aware of that makes a car with four trim levels, (and the top 2 have "sport" monikers) and the base model potentially having the best performance. Every feature added (AWD system, power heated seats etc..) increases the weight, yet the drivetrains available are the same throughout the lineup. An S model with the 6MT with a simple lowering kit and some lower profile tires would probably be slightly quicker off the line and better handling than the more expensive "Sport GTS"... and especially so if that GTS has a CVT.
I considered getting an S model because they are much easier to find with the 6MT, and things like the ride height, (I use a truck for off-roading) wheels, stereo/nav can be rectified through the aftermarket. One thing though...am I correct that the S doesn't have cruise control? That would be the deal breaker for me down here with looooooong stretches of highway.WESHOOT2 wrote:The S is 10mm taller underneath (matters if you drive on unpaved roads often).