Knightstruth wrote:Josefludwig wrote:Been driving civics 2008..2011. for 6 years and just got used 2011 kiz and love it way better
Congrats on the car. The Kizashi is more compariable IMO to a base model entry level luxo-sports sedan. Today's mid-size sedans are last years full size sedans so the Kizashi really doesn't compete with these. The Acura ILX, Audi A3, and that Mercedes one are the modern take of the Kiz. A great point about the Kiz is that it is so rare.
I've always considered the Suzuki Kizashi as a budget Acura TSX, especially as a FWD manual. The driving dynamics and comparable base powerplant made them seem pretty similar to me. Suzuki also stated that the TSX was something they carefully studied given they wanted the Kizashi to be more than a family sedan and closer to an entry-level sports sedan.
As for the ILX, A3, and the CLA, they are a bit too small to compare to the Kizashi. The Kizashi was about the size of vehicles like the TSX and BMW 3 Series for the same model years. I even just watched a review video in which they favorably compared the Kizashi's rear legroom to that of a BMW 3 Series. Where the Kizashi compares to the smaller entry-level luxury brands is the power but even then, the comparisons get hard given the newer models are turbocharged for the most part. The Kizashi's engine is also a generation older.
The Kizashi was also rare in that it offered AWD. While there are cars like the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Impreza that were AWD competitors, the Kizashi's upscale aspirations can really be seen when comparing the cars. I drove a 2011 Subaru Impreza Premium late last year. It was the top-spec trim for a manual transmission Impreza. Trust me, my 2011 Kizashi is a lot more refined than a 2011 Impreza. While a Legacy would come closer to the refinement level, it's far less interesting to drive than a Kizashi or Impreza.
At the time, and even today, I think Suzuki offered something rather unique with the Kizashi. It's just too bad many weren't interested to even check it out.