Still like my 2010 Kizashi

[KIZAWDinKC]

So here we are in April of 2017. I have had my Kizashi GTS AWD since 2010 that i bought brand new. Still drive it.
Just got back from work travel where I drove a 2017 Buick LaCrosse for a rental. Nice car, leather seats. Didn't care for it. If I were to test drive that same LaCrosse today, I would pass on it and keep my 2010 Kizashi.

Got back to the airport today and still preferred my 2010 Kizashi. I've driven other rental cars, 2014-2016s chevys and toyotas, always came back to the airport liking my kizashi better. It fits like a glove. Handles great. The steering is neither too light nor too stiff. Great stereo. And AWD. Can't beat it. And I also own a LS3 corvette, but like the Kizashi for different reasons aside from my corvette.

The Kizashi was a great car. Too bad Suzuki discontinued. Good brand, good engine, reliable cars. If they had stayed in business, I would have looked into buying a truck (Equator) from them. I think Suzuki made a good engine. My kiz engine sounds and drives just as good as the day I bought it.

2017, still liking the Kizashi, even though mine is roughed up a bit after all of these years of owning it as a daily driver.

[Woodie]

Nice writeup, pretty much what I think every time I get into mine. What are we going to do when they have to be replaced?

Suzuki Equator was a Nissan Frontier with a different grill and badges, built in Smyrna Tennessee. Probably a good car, but not a Suzuki in any way. Wikipedia says they only sold 6,000, might be a good car to buy and preserve.

[Knightstruth]

I am looking soon to move on from my kiz but it has nothing to do with the car and more to do with I don't want to hunt down parts if needed when the car ages. Excellent car and one of kind. Fun to drive, but also road compliant and doesn't punish the driver (mercedes cla looking at you). Car has aged well too as it doesn't look old either driving around. I really wish there was a kiz sequel and that we could purchase an updated model because I would definitely be interested.

[Ronzuki]

Got back to the airport today and still preferred my 2010 Kizashi. I've driven other rental cars, 2014-2016s chevys and toyotas, always came back to the airport liking my kizashi better. It fits like a glove. Handles great. The steering is neither too light nor too stiff. Great stereo. And AWD. Can't beat it.

2017, still liking the Kizashi, even though mine is roughed up a bit after all of these years of owning it as a daily driver.

Couldn't agree more. Feel the same every single time I get back from a trip...happy to be back in the K.

[redmed]

I am looking soon to move on from my kiz but it has nothing to do with the car and more to do with I don't want to hunt down parts if needed when the car ages. Excellent car and one of kind. Fun to drive, but also road compliant and doesn't punish the driver (mercedes cla looking at you). Car has aged well too as it doesn't look old either driving around. I really wish there was a kiz sequel and that we could purchase an updated model because I would definitely be interested.

I feel the same way about my KIz but figure that I'm going to drive it as long and as far as I can. When a part fails that I can't find a replacement for, that's when I get another car. I enjoy the Kiz experience 2 much.

[WESHOOT2]

I, too, am the 'Kizashi quandary', as I'm already on my second, but afraid to test parts availability with a third.

I don't know what I want next.

[KuroNekko]

Yeah, replacing the Kizashi with something similarly satisfying will be hard. For similar dynamics with AWD, I think one needs to go to luxury like Infiniti, Audi, BMW, etc. The biggest difference would be the power, I think. While many family midsizes are good, they aren't designed with the same intentions that Suzuki had with the Kizashi. The Kizashi was an ambitious attempt to offer a sports sedan-like vehicle in the price and form of a family sedan. Cars like the Malibu, Fusion, Camry, etc. aren't designed like that. While I would say the Mazda6 is the closest, it's not offered with AWD like the Kizashi was. Basically, nearly 10 years later, there isn't really a car out there like the Kizashi unless you wanted to get into brands like Infiniti, Audi, and Lexus with their entry-level models.

I know for me, moving on from the Kizashi would either require a replacement with a luxury brand model to get that same level of satisfaction or getting something very different like an SUV or hybrid so the driving dynamics and purpose are so different, they aren't similar enough for comparison.

I do worry about parts drying up but the Kizashi has proved to be very reliable. In the 5 years I owned it, the only real issue I had was the rear shocks going out which was fully covered by the warranty. I think rather than reliability concerns, it's accidents that pose the greatest risk. Even running over some debris and damaging something may create a headache in trying to find replacement parts. The recent post of the guy looking for an inner tie rod was a stark reminder.

I plan to keep this car for a long time given I also really like it and even after 5 years, I don't feel a bit tired of owning it. I'm currently preparing the Kizashi for the cross-country drive it will be doing in the next few weeks. Given the mechanicals are in good order, I've spent the last few days detailing it, finally having the time to do a wash, clay bar, polish, and wax.

[CoryJTurner]

Back in 2010, I read an article in car and driver called Tokyo to New York, the hard way. Ever since I read that article I wanted one of these. being in new england winter is a big part of what vehicle you buy, i commute about 70 miles per day. having the right car that will get you to work rain or shine or snow for that matter matters. In 2012, I met a guy who is selling his 2000 Audi, A 6 quattro , flawless condition only 68,000 miles and he wanted $6000 for it. I loved every mile that I put on it. I could drive in weather that trucks and SUVs would stay home for. But the old girl just passed 210,000 miles. And it was time to retire her. I knew what kind of car I wanted to replace it with. so I started searching. I found my 2012 Kizashi GTS with 76k miles for $8000. Jumped on it and have loved driving it. It has great driving dynamics, a heavy steering feel. It feels planted to the pavement. It really is a lot of fun. The only thing I truly miss about my Audi, are the heated leather seats. As a guy who is always loved German cars and sort of shyed away from a lot of Japanese. I'll say this. this Suzuki feels more German than Japanese it feels like an upscale Jetta or a slightly downscale A4, and that's a good thing. Cheers to all of my new Suzuki fam

[KuroNekko]

Back in 2010, I read an article in car and driver called Tokyo to New York, the hard way. Ever since I read that article I wanted one of these. being in new england winter is a big part of what vehicle you buy, i commute about 70 miles per day. having the right car that will get you to work rain or shine or snow for that matter matters. In 2012, I met a guy who is selling his 2000 Audi, A 6 quattro , flawless condition only 68,000 miles and he wanted $6000 for it. I loved every mile that I put on it. I could drive in weather that trucks and SUVs would stay home for. But the old girl just passed 210,000 miles. And it was time to retire her. I knew what kind of car I wanted to replace it with. so I started searching. I found my 2012 Kizashi GTS with 76k miles for $8000. Jumped on it and have loved driving it. It has great driving dynamics, a heavy steering feel. It feels planted to the pavement. It really is a lot of fun. The only thing I truly miss about my Audi, are the heated leather seats. As a guy who is always loved German cars and sort of shyed away from a lot of Japanese. I'll say this. this Suzuki feels more German than Japanese it feels like an upscale Jetta or a slightly downscale A4, and that's a good thing. Cheers to all of my new Suzuki fam

Yeah, the Kizashi sure does feel more upscale and planted than many other Japanese cars of its size and smaller. It doesn't feel like an economy car.
As for that article, it's actually Motor Trend's "Tokyo to LA: The Hard Way" and not only was it a written article, it was a video series too. In case you've never seen them, here's the first one.

[CoryJTurner]

Thanks, never saw the video, just remember the long hours on the toilet reading the multi issue story!