I'd say about a foot and a half of snow where it fell directly down in my area. Plow berms are 3 feet or so. Most roads are clear now, but some rural roads aren't plowed. I made the mistake of trying to drive down a road that wasn't plowed recently but it didn't look too deep at first. As I got further down the road, it was apparent that the road was never plowed during the storm as the snow got gradually deeper and deeper. I eventually got stuck before I could turn around due to a lack of ground clearance. With FWD and All Seasons only, I wasn't getting out without help. However, even if I had AWD and snow tires, I think I was doomed. It was more a clearance issue than grip. Fortunately, a Toyota Highlander V6 AWD packed with laid-back college kids came up behind me and helped me out. I always carry a tow strap so I attached my rear towing eyelet and hooked the strap to my car. The Highlander had a towing bar so that made things easy to attach the tow strap. The Highlander easily pulled me out all the way to the main road like the snow wasn't even there. I learned the limitations of my Kizashi the hard way but thankfully got help from a vehicle that was more than capable, even as a midsize CUV.
Quite frankly, I think the Kizashi is too low to make a great snow vehicle. Yes, I have FWD with only All Seasons, but the ground clearance simply isn't enough for roads that don't get plowed regularly or until much later. While it seems like common sense, the condition of my flex pipe shield is proof that design, and not only road conditions, is a concern. The snow pretty much ripped it out. It was already damaged years before from a snow-covered parking block (again, a clearance issue), but it's now hanging on the exhaust pipe a foot behind the flex joint. The thing is that though I got stuck, the snow wasn't something bad enough to stop my former Subaru Impreza which I have driven many times on deeper snow. Kizashis have the same ground clearance, regardless of AWD. The only difference between the models is the Kizashi vs. Kizashi Sport with the Sport models being 10mm lower. Typically, other brands give the AWD models higher ground clearance as seen with BMW models.
Basically, I think the Kizashi was designed for superb handling on dry roads and winter conditions aren't its forte by design. I have no doubt the AWD helps a lot but with the low ground clearance and the lack of a locking center differential (which many AWDs have, including the SX4), it shows even the AWD Kizashis aren't designed for more than a few inches on the road. While I'm willing to blame myself that I got stuck, I guess I overestimated the Kizashi's snow abilities given I've driven Subarus and Suzuki 4x4s in the past that would have romped right through that road and more importantly, not have damaged anything underneath.
Just a word of caution that the Kizashi Sport isn't too happy being in the deep stuff regardless of AWD and tires.
Snow-magedon 2016!?!?
...and is why, along w/ flat towing the Samurai, I have the Heep. Kiz is in the garage. I'll be able to traverse to work tomorrow in that, wouldn't attempt it in the Kiz unless by some miracle the township gets through here between now and then with the digging equipment.KuroNekko wrote: Quite frankly, I think the Kizashi is too low to make a great snow vehicle. Yes, I have FWD with only All Seasons, but the ground clearance simply isn't enough for roads that don't get plowed regularly or until much later.
Ron
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
)
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
) 1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)-
paininthenuts
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- Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 4:38 pm
I live on the east coast of the UK. I played golf this morning, and the weather was lovely.RedGeminiPA wrote:We got about 12" here in Altoona, PA. I spent about 2 hours snow blowing the driveway yesterday (it's pretty big). I decided to take my Kiz out last night for a grocery store run. Mine's FWD, so... it did ok. I think for the bad stuff I'll leave it at home and run the Subie.
Yep, I can confirm you would have been doomed...been there done that.KuroNekko wrote:I eventually got stuck before I could turn around due to a lack of ground clearance. However, even if I had AWD and snow tires, I think I was doomed. It was more a clearance issue than grip.
AAA pulled me out after waiting for 45 minutes. Everyone was stuck that night. I should have stayed home rather than go play.That is just awesome!KuroNekko wrote:Took this photo during the snow storm.
People in HSV would have built all sorts of snow sculptures with that in just hours. I remember the storm in 2011, which was just under 9 inches--there were over half a dozen igloos within walking distance of my house.
One guy even made an entire living room scene with snowmen sitting on couches with their feet up on the 'table' and watching TV. I guess that's what happens when you give a town full of engineers a bunch of snow and a day off from work, lol.