Is it the CVT or a regulator setting that causes the lag?

[gaww]

The Kizashi is my first automatic, even my rock crawler has a manual.

If you don't want to be shown up as an idiot, then don't make ridiculous blanket statements like "Automatics never have and never will have the the launch capabilities of a manual". I don't rewrite everything you say, only the stupid stuff - unless everything you say is stupid, which is possible.

Back OT, I am now wondering of there is some programming for "break in" in the computer for 5000 miles, because once I passed that, it's like a whole different car now.

I have about 29,000 on mine, and I still have to be very careful with making a right turn on red or at a stop sign (after making a stop) as to how much room I have with respect to oncoming traffic. I have found no difference between starting in auto mode or in manual select mode - the lag is still there and is dangerous if ignored.

I have driven a rented Nissa Sentra (which I believe has the same make/model CVT), and with less hp, I did not notice a lag. Did not notice good handling or overall acceleration either - but no lag.

I would have gotten a manual AWD if they had offered it in the US. If you could see my steep driveway in WNC covered in snow, you would know why I will only own an AWD.

It also is important on the roads here - there are very few flat and straight ones. That is why we give cars with Florida plates a lot of room up here in the winter - lol.

[Blackbelt]

I have driven the manual, and there is no "lag". I am not surprised.
The computer limits the initial torque until approx 20MPH, until everything is moving. This is strictly to preserve the CVT, primarily the belt. My AWD Caliber does exactly the same thing, since it has the same JATCO CVT as the Kizzy does. If you were able to reprogram the ECM/TCM to over ride this, your CVT would fail prematurely. It just can't handle that much torque/weight.
Remember too, that it isn't the horsepower that gives you the acceleration, it's the torque. The extra 5HP the manual 2.4 has is pretty much meaningless. But the torque multiplication and the revving ability of the 6 speed manual makes a huge difference in off the line acceleration. Not only is the torque not limited, the engine reaches into the meat of it's torque curve quicker with the low first gear in the manual.
My Kizzy is actually quicker off the line than my Caliber is, noticeably so. It has 172HP to the Kizzys 180, but almost identical torque. I can only assume the Dodge is even more conservative than Suzuki with the torque mapping.