Hey guys I'm new to the Kizashi but not to Suzuki by any means. I had a mid 13 second turbo Aerio I tuned on e85 and built myself. I sold her after I got a Mini Cooper S (supercharged model) and saw that my Aerio was at it's capacity. Well that was about 8 months ago and I still got the Mini, my fiancé and I just had our son late December. I live in Missouri so we see snow and lots of it throughout the winter so when settling on another car AWD was a must, as well as leather interior and a sunroof. I never really considered a Kizashi until I came across it on a few car review sites while searching for bargain awd vehicles. The Kizashi looks great and appears to have a lot of options at low prices. I am really only interested in an Auto gts or sls model. I have a Suzuki dealer searching for one for me but I want to know what are some weak points and things to check on picking up a used kizashi around 20,000 miles? Which year should I stick to, I was thinking 2012-2013. And is really want it loaded with the Rockford system and navi unit, I don't need the paddle shifters but it's fine if it's on there. I also want the park assist and reverse camera ect. Any info on the car from true owners would be wonderful.
One last thing, how is the forecast looking for repairing them out of warranty in 5-6 years? Will that be possible?
I forgot to mention this will be my fiancés car mainly. I'll use it in the winter some but this is our family car.
And is it possible to get the auto over 200 hp fairly cheap? 1000$ or so?
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Looking to buy a kizashi awd
go with the SLS model as its loaded with everything you need - it only comes in automatic transmission which is a CVT transmission. Regarding the radio you need to decide what is more important to you - a nice radio with a nice sub or a not so nice sounding radio with navigation and back up camera... you can have one or the other but not both. I like to listen to my music a lot with a nice mix of lows and high that in my opinion only can be had with the Rockford Fosgate system. The car is amazing on the snow - you wont be disappointed.
If you want all the bells and whistles plus the leather, your only choice is the top-trim SLS. In 2011, the GTS and SLS were upgraded to Sport GTS and Sport SLS and got new styling that included a sport fascia, side sills, chrome trim, a rear deck spoiler, in addition to 18 inch lightweight wheels. There was also a 10mm drop in height. Many members prefer the more aggressive looks of the Sport models. I would suggest you look for a 2011 ~ 2013 Sport GTS or Sport SLS.
The SE was offered in a Leather Package, but does not have all the features including the moon roof or RF stereo.
Since you are going for an AWD model, you will have a CVT. Some CVTs are problematic so be aware of any problematic symptoms. There are a number of threads discussing them on this site.
Another issue that can affect all Kizashis is the rear shock bump stopper defect. A design flaw promoted corrosion that lead to the rear shocks failing prematurely. Suzuki has devised a countermeasure part and it has been installed on cars with the problem (like mine).
Other than those two issues, the Kizashi doesn't have many notable problems. AWD owners rave about the car's prowess in the snow. I have a FWD with a manual transmission so I can't personally comment on the Kizashi's AWD.
Aftermarket parts for the car are minuscule. About the only company that offered aftermarket performance parts is Road Race Motorsports. However, getting the Kizashi to over 200 HP isn't hard. There are intakes, exhausts, tuning chips, etc. offered for the car by RRM. The Kizashi already makes 180 HP for the CVT and 185 for the manual.
You sound like a car-savvy person given your background with the modded Aerio. In that case, the Kizashi should be a good fit. If you are the type that runs to the dealer for everything, then the Kizashi is not a good choice given the Suzuki bail-out and dwindling dealer network support and parts availability.
The Kizashi's spectacular safety rating should also be a good fit for your new little family. The car has some of the best crash test ratings of any car and scored the highest rating in the new IIHS small overlap frontal crash test that others did not fare well in.
As you probably already know, the Kizashi is a lot of car for the money. Circumstances around the car with Suzuki are dismal, but the car itself is rather good.
If you don't go with a Kizashi, I'd highly recommend a Subaru Legacy.
The SE was offered in a Leather Package, but does not have all the features including the moon roof or RF stereo.
Since you are going for an AWD model, you will have a CVT. Some CVTs are problematic so be aware of any problematic symptoms. There are a number of threads discussing them on this site.
Another issue that can affect all Kizashis is the rear shock bump stopper defect. A design flaw promoted corrosion that lead to the rear shocks failing prematurely. Suzuki has devised a countermeasure part and it has been installed on cars with the problem (like mine).
Other than those two issues, the Kizashi doesn't have many notable problems. AWD owners rave about the car's prowess in the snow. I have a FWD with a manual transmission so I can't personally comment on the Kizashi's AWD.
Aftermarket parts for the car are minuscule. About the only company that offered aftermarket performance parts is Road Race Motorsports. However, getting the Kizashi to over 200 HP isn't hard. There are intakes, exhausts, tuning chips, etc. offered for the car by RRM. The Kizashi already makes 180 HP for the CVT and 185 for the manual.
You sound like a car-savvy person given your background with the modded Aerio. In that case, the Kizashi should be a good fit. If you are the type that runs to the dealer for everything, then the Kizashi is not a good choice given the Suzuki bail-out and dwindling dealer network support and parts availability.
The Kizashi's spectacular safety rating should also be a good fit for your new little family. The car has some of the best crash test ratings of any car and scored the highest rating in the new IIHS small overlap frontal crash test that others did not fare well in.
As you probably already know, the Kizashi is a lot of car for the money. Circumstances around the car with Suzuki are dismal, but the car itself is rather good.
If you don't go with a Kizashi, I'd highly recommend a Subaru Legacy.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Interesting! Although I have a SE, it came with leather package, Rockford Fosgate system, 18” alloy wheels as well as headlamp washers and sunroof, but I don’t have sporty steering wheel (dots on the leather) and chrome side door moulding set and fog lamp accents (if I name it correctly)The SE was offered in a Leather Package, but does not have all the features including the moon roof or RF stereo.
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Spartan117
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 7:09 pm
Thank you everyone for the great posts, and yes woodie I remember you! Did you pick up a kizashi?!?
My biggest concerns with a kizashi purchase are repairs and part accessibility. If something breaks under warranty I want replacement parts to be at my dealer in a reasonable time. Not several months as I've been reading on cvt and struts. That's what scares me the most. And will finding oem all weather mats be really that hard?
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My biggest concerns with a kizashi purchase are repairs and part accessibility. If something breaks under warranty I want replacement parts to be at my dealer in a reasonable time. Not several months as I've been reading on cvt and struts. That's what scares me the most. And will finding oem all weather mats be really that hard?
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My description of the trims only applies to the US. Trims vary from country to country. For example, HIDs and headlight washers are not even available at all in the US or Canada but offered in other markets.amoows wrote:Interesting! Although I have a SE, it came with leather package, Rockford Fosgate system, 18” alloy wheels as well as headlamp washers and sunroof, but I don’t have sporty steering wheel (dots on the leather) and chrome side door moulding set and fog lamp accents (if I name it correctly)The SE was offered in a Leather Package, but does not have all the features including the moon roof or RF stereo.
I'm not sure where you heard months for parts. I had my rear shocks replaced a few months ago and they were ordered and at the dealer within 2 days. While the situation is not as good as popular cars like Hondas, Fords, Chevy, etc. it's not like we are in some 3rd world country waiting for medical supplies from a drop ship.Spartan117 wrote: My biggest concerns with a kizashi purchase are repairs and part accessibility. If something breaks under warranty I want replacement parts to be at my dealer in a reasonable time. Not several months as I've been reading on cvt and struts. That's what scares me the most. And will finding oem all weather mats be really that hard?
Also, popular generic parts can be easily ordered from sites like Rockauto.com or partsgeek.com.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
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Spartan117
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 7:09 pm
Just here on this forum I've been reading about people's repairs and saw one guy say it took him almost 3 months to have his new cvt in.
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I own a 2011 Sport-SLS...it has all the bells and whistles except for AWD. Here are some thoughts:
1. Like mentioned, if you want the Rockford Fosgate "sound", then go for a model without the Navi. In the 2011 model, the Kenwood Navi unit was wired in such a way that you lose a lot of the RF system's fidelity and power. On top of that, the unit is also not that great--a little cumbersome to use sometimes (basically you don't have any steering wheel controls for navigating the unit's menus--all you can do is change volume, presets, and "modes"), the Bluetooth often does not connect to your phone automatically and you have to go through a series of three different screens to connect manually, and unless you find yourself driving around in unfamiliar places a lot, the navigation system itself has questionable use. Not to mention that you basically can't manipulate the navi (things like finding addresses) while your driving. Oh and also, you lose the steering wheel phone controls.
Basically just have a read through the two RF-Navi threads and you'll get an idea of what you might be getting.
I also believe that in the 2013 model, they replaced the Kenwood navi unit with a different unit (manufacturer?), but with the caveat that they got rid of the RF speaker system in lieu of a standard speaker setup without sub. So you still end up getting crap sound with the newer navi unit. Either way, you can't win with the navigation option.
2. AWD version comes with only a CVT tranny.
3. Paddle shifters come standard with CVT tranny.
4. Depending on what you're used to driving up until this point, the CVT is going to be a strange driving experience initially. It doesn't behave like a regular auto, and will probably feel like it's slow compared to a regular auto, since you can't "floor it" on the CVT--you have to instead find the sweet spot where it'll react more favorably to acceleration attempts. If you try to floor it, it'll just seem like it's fighting you, and all you'll get is high RPM's without a lot of speed, until it finally settles in to the throttle. That being said, once you're at speed, it responds more favorably to acceleration attempts.
1. Like mentioned, if you want the Rockford Fosgate "sound", then go for a model without the Navi. In the 2011 model, the Kenwood Navi unit was wired in such a way that you lose a lot of the RF system's fidelity and power. On top of that, the unit is also not that great--a little cumbersome to use sometimes (basically you don't have any steering wheel controls for navigating the unit's menus--all you can do is change volume, presets, and "modes"), the Bluetooth often does not connect to your phone automatically and you have to go through a series of three different screens to connect manually, and unless you find yourself driving around in unfamiliar places a lot, the navigation system itself has questionable use. Not to mention that you basically can't manipulate the navi (things like finding addresses) while your driving. Oh and also, you lose the steering wheel phone controls.
Basically just have a read through the two RF-Navi threads and you'll get an idea of what you might be getting.
I also believe that in the 2013 model, they replaced the Kenwood navi unit with a different unit (manufacturer?), but with the caveat that they got rid of the RF speaker system in lieu of a standard speaker setup without sub. So you still end up getting crap sound with the newer navi unit. Either way, you can't win with the navigation option.
2. AWD version comes with only a CVT tranny.
3. Paddle shifters come standard with CVT tranny.
4. Depending on what you're used to driving up until this point, the CVT is going to be a strange driving experience initially. It doesn't behave like a regular auto, and will probably feel like it's slow compared to a regular auto, since you can't "floor it" on the CVT--you have to instead find the sweet spot where it'll react more favorably to acceleration attempts. If you try to floor it, it'll just seem like it's fighting you, and all you'll get is high RPM's without a lot of speed, until it finally settles in to the throttle. That being said, once you're at speed, it responds more favorably to acceleration attempts.
You don't really ever win with a car nav. It's cool and all, but they are really not worth the money, especially new. This is because they cost thousands more when the alternative is much cheaper and you probably already own it: your phone.
Car navs get outdated relatively quick and need updated maps that require money. On the contrary, smartphone app-based navs are updated more frequently and most are available for free. You also can use alternative apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.) unlike the car nav which only supports its own system.
To be honest, I don't even use my Garmin dash GPS ever since I got my iPhone. The iPhone is much more convenient and its nav audio syncs with the car's system via bluetooth and works very well.
Also, the Kizashi's stereo with the non-nav Rockford Fosgate sounds very good. I have it in my car and really think it's worth omitting the nav for given the iPhone does the same if not better. The RF stereo is one of my favorite things about the Kizashi.
Car navs get outdated relatively quick and need updated maps that require money. On the contrary, smartphone app-based navs are updated more frequently and most are available for free. You also can use alternative apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.) unlike the car nav which only supports its own system.
To be honest, I don't even use my Garmin dash GPS ever since I got my iPhone. The iPhone is much more convenient and its nav audio syncs with the car's system via bluetooth and works very well.
Also, the Kizashi's stereo with the non-nav Rockford Fosgate sounds very good. I have it in my car and really think it's worth omitting the nav for given the iPhone does the same if not better. The RF stereo is one of my favorite things about the Kizashi.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)