I was thinking about keeping the Kizzi for another 2 years but to be honest, I was affraid that if something goes wrong with it in the meantime, that I won't be able to find spare parts. So i decided to let it go and to remember it as the best and the most reliable vehicle I ever had...
Replacement for Suzuki is a car that is also very rare in Europe, even in Germany which is considered to be "a cars Land" in Europe. And to be honest, I have no idea why this car is so rare because it so well built and is sold in huge numbers outside the Europe, and that is Honda Civic X sedan. I got the good deal and bought a 2019 Civic with only 16000 miles on the clock, with MT and 1.5 Turbo engine that produces 180 bhp. I am very much impressed with the car, and even though it is different from Kizashi (bigger NA vs smaller turbo engine), the cars dimensions are very similar. However, Civic has a bit less weight and thanks to turbo engine that gives a good amount of tourque on lower end of the rpm, car feels more agile than Kizashi. Fuel consumption is also amazing and I can not belive that a turbo engine like this can easily reach the consumption of a diesel engine. Also Civic has a bit bigger trunk and slightly more leg room far passengers on the back, and also has much more safety features which is understandable because the car belongs to a newer generations of vehicles. So far I am mostly impressed with the engine and transmission combo, as well as chassis that seems to be so well put together because the car really like tight turns and twisty roads. It is stable as hell on higher speed but thanks to adjustable electrical steering, so easy to handle in the city. Civic is practical, safe, fun to ride, looks good, economical and almost rare as Kizashi in Europe. Once egain, I really can not understand why this car is not being sold much more in Europe, when in USA is one of the best selling cars ever....
2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport MT
I really like the back part of the Civic. Those tail lights look very unique and basically look like a C letter, which gives another special touch to the Civics design. However, the drivers feeling behind the wheel is where Honda is really briliant. It is very drivers oriented car and I find it to be proper substitution for Kizashi. The enterior may not be as plush and luxirous as in Kizashi, but the harmonie between engine, transmission and chassis makes up for it...
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing". H. Ford
Great choice! I've never owned a Civic but it's a solid choice and the MT shifter is said to be one of the very best you can get for a car of this class. I'm sure it's better than the Kizashi's shifter. I too toyed with the idea of a Civic as a replacement car years ago (Civic Si, which has a higher-output turbo version of your engine) but the reality is I need a larger vehicle with AWD and higher ground clearance. I do agree that the Kizashi had a more upscale interior than a Civic but I think the Civic is excellent in balancing practicality, economy, and fun-to-drive factor, especially with a MT.
It's odd the Civic is rare in Europe and interestingly, also rare in the very country it came from: Japan. The Civic was far more popular in Japan in the 80's and 90's but has since become very rare given the Japanese prefer micro-cars or MVPs as family cars now. I go to Japan often and now rarely see a Civic there despite my father had one in Japan when I was a toddler there in the early 80's. However, you are right that they are very popular in the United States. They are among the top 10 best selling vehicles in the US.
Congrats on the Civic and I hope you enjoy it like you did with the Kizashi!
It's odd the Civic is rare in Europe and interestingly, also rare in the very country it came from: Japan. The Civic was far more popular in Japan in the 80's and 90's but has since become very rare given the Japanese prefer micro-cars or MVPs as family cars now. I go to Japan often and now rarely see a Civic there despite my father had one in Japan when I was a toddler there in the early 80's. However, you are right that they are very popular in the United States. They are among the top 10 best selling vehicles in the US.
Congrats on the Civic and I hope you enjoy it like you did with the Kizashi!
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Thanks a lot.
Civic is with out doubt, a great car. Before owning a Kizashi, I had a Civic hatch 9 gen, and before that another Civic 8th gen so I can say I am a Civic fan, LOL. Civic 8 gen hatch was ultra interessting car that came on the market while I was still a teenager. I rememberm back in the days I was really impressed with its "out of this planet" looks and the car had amazing handling and space inside. However, it wasn't so perfect bacause it was a bit loud inside with not so great sound insulation and had semi independent rear suspension whcih made it bumpy on the bad roads. 9 Gen Civic hatchbask was similar in design and platform, but everything on Civic 9 gen was made a bit better and plushy comparing to 8th Gen in order to offer the similar but much more superior product. The car was quiter, more comfortable, more silent and more refined. However Civic 10 gen is a big leap forward in the design and functionality of Civic in comparison to all the other Civics before. I actually like it more than 11th gen. The car is longer, wider and lower than any other Civic before and comparing to 9yh gen, it has chassis which is over 50% more stiffer. That makes the car extremely stabil and fun in the bends and curves where thants to its low weight, always keeps the neutral handling. Now comparing to the Kizshi Honda defnitiely has much nicer stick shift with this shor throws and sporty klick klack sound. it makes it very fun to drive. I tried one Civic with CVT and didn't like it too much I drove manuals whole of my life and the power ow the car is much better controlled with manual gearbox when you know how to properly use it.
CIvic sedan is basically a substitute for Accord which is from 2016 not more beeing offered in Europe. And according to the Civis sedans dimension, it is a good one. Because the car is very light for its size (only 1.3 tonne), with its 1.5 Turbo engine I get the impression that I am driving 200 plus hp car. It goes up to speed so effortlessly and when beeing pushed hard after 4 rpm accelerates almost like a small sports car. What also amazes me is the cars consumption when beein driven normally, and this is most probaly due to to lower line of the car and great aerodinamics.
A few days ago I drove the car from Germany to Netherlands, 530 kilometers, everything on the highway. In germany I was driving mostly between 75 and 90 miles per hour, and in Netherlands a little bit slower because of the speed limits, between 60 and 70. And after the ride car showed me a avareage consumption of only 5,2 liters per 100 kilometers,which is in US 45 miles per gallon! The most amazing part is that I wasn't trying to beat any record or used the econ button, just drove the car normally as I would with my Kizashi.
What can i say? Car is really amazing on the gas, but from other side can easily put the smile on my face with such a great driving characteristics.
I tinted the back windows of the car to make it a bit cooler and nicer during the sommer and plan to add some subwoofer and amplifier in the trunk, to improve sound quality. Other than that I won't touch anything more. It is perfect as it is.
Civic is with out doubt, a great car. Before owning a Kizashi, I had a Civic hatch 9 gen, and before that another Civic 8th gen so I can say I am a Civic fan, LOL. Civic 8 gen hatch was ultra interessting car that came on the market while I was still a teenager. I rememberm back in the days I was really impressed with its "out of this planet" looks and the car had amazing handling and space inside. However, it wasn't so perfect bacause it was a bit loud inside with not so great sound insulation and had semi independent rear suspension whcih made it bumpy on the bad roads. 9 Gen Civic hatchbask was similar in design and platform, but everything on Civic 9 gen was made a bit better and plushy comparing to 8th Gen in order to offer the similar but much more superior product. The car was quiter, more comfortable, more silent and more refined. However Civic 10 gen is a big leap forward in the design and functionality of Civic in comparison to all the other Civics before. I actually like it more than 11th gen. The car is longer, wider and lower than any other Civic before and comparing to 9yh gen, it has chassis which is over 50% more stiffer. That makes the car extremely stabil and fun in the bends and curves where thants to its low weight, always keeps the neutral handling. Now comparing to the Kizshi Honda defnitiely has much nicer stick shift with this shor throws and sporty klick klack sound. it makes it very fun to drive. I tried one Civic with CVT and didn't like it too much I drove manuals whole of my life and the power ow the car is much better controlled with manual gearbox when you know how to properly use it.
CIvic sedan is basically a substitute for Accord which is from 2016 not more beeing offered in Europe. And according to the Civis sedans dimension, it is a good one. Because the car is very light for its size (only 1.3 tonne), with its 1.5 Turbo engine I get the impression that I am driving 200 plus hp car. It goes up to speed so effortlessly and when beeing pushed hard after 4 rpm accelerates almost like a small sports car. What also amazes me is the cars consumption when beein driven normally, and this is most probaly due to to lower line of the car and great aerodinamics.
A few days ago I drove the car from Germany to Netherlands, 530 kilometers, everything on the highway. In germany I was driving mostly between 75 and 90 miles per hour, and in Netherlands a little bit slower because of the speed limits, between 60 and 70. And after the ride car showed me a avareage consumption of only 5,2 liters per 100 kilometers,which is in US 45 miles per gallon! The most amazing part is that I wasn't trying to beat any record or used the econ button, just drove the car normally as I would with my Kizashi.
What can i say? Car is really amazing on the gas, but from other side can easily put the smile on my face with such a great driving characteristics.
I tinted the back windows of the car to make it a bit cooler and nicer during the sommer and plan to add some subwoofer and amplifier in the trunk, to improve sound quality. Other than that I won't touch anything more. It is perfect as it is.
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"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing". H. Ford
That's awesome that you're loving the Civic. I agree that it gets impressive fuel efficiency, even with a manual transmission. That's harder to achieve these days. If I mostly did highway driving, I'd be more interested in a newer manual vehicle with an ICE but I do mostly city driving now and in an area with higher fuel prices. This is the main reason I'm finally going to be moving on from a MT and getting a hybrid with the next car. I'll likely be seeing 2x the city fuel economy despite having a larger, heavier vehicle with AWD versus my FWD manual Kizashi.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
Yes, nothing can beat Hybrids these days when it comes the consumption in the city. However, the question is how expensive it is to change the batteries on a Hybrid when they come to an end of a lifespan, and this is major concern for someone who is buying used 5 or more years old car. Also, hybrids don't have many advatages when beeing driven quicker on highways, or maybe have more disadvantages because on higher speed only the petrol motor is working, you carey more weight because of batterie and you have a smaller tank which reduces the drive authonomy. But of course, for someone who drives often in a city or at least 50% of the time, hybrid is unbeateble choice. especially the new or slightly used cars....
I do make a lot of miles on highway and this is where my Civic, with its decent power and amazing aerodynmics that saves fuel, shows its advanteges. I was thinking about that I should have added few more thousands a bought myself an CRV, but from the other hand I do know that there is no way that CRV can be so fun to push in the curves like a Civic, and because of its height it can not sustain such a low consumption on higher speeds. Off course, CRV is more comfortabel car and has its advanteges, and I will eventually buy an SUV when I get older. There is still some youth in mee at the age of 36 left, and I still want to ride low and fast.
One thing is sure. It doens' matter how I like the Civic, I am allready missing my Kizasshi. It really is, indeed, amazing car.....
I do make a lot of miles on highway and this is where my Civic, with its decent power and amazing aerodynmics that saves fuel, shows its advanteges. I was thinking about that I should have added few more thousands a bought myself an CRV, but from the other hand I do know that there is no way that CRV can be so fun to push in the curves like a Civic, and because of its height it can not sustain such a low consumption on higher speeds. Off course, CRV is more comfortabel car and has its advanteges, and I will eventually buy an SUV when I get older. There is still some youth in mee at the age of 36 left, and I still want to ride low and fast.
One thing is sure. It doens' matter how I like the Civic, I am allready missing my Kizasshi. It really is, indeed, amazing car.....
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing". H. Ford
Yes, the feasibility and economics of hybrids is largely dependent on how one drives it. If one is mostly driving on highways and freeways in a region with cheaper gas prices like rural America, it makes less sense. However, for me in a city in California, it makes a lot of sense. Gas is currently about $4.50 a gallon in my region. I mostly drive city conditions thus the ROI would be much faster for me than someone else in a rural area with cheaper gas prices. I don't want an EV because I like to go on camping trips in rather remote areas and would rather wait out EVs until solid state batteries become a feasible reality.
As for the battery issue, I think it's often misunderstood. Most hybrids use a different chemistry than more volatile batteries in EVs and the NiMH batteries traditionally used in Toyota hybrids have an excellent track record for stability and longevity. These have been known to last 150,000 to 200,000 miles before the need for replacement. By that time, there are two very likely scenarios for most owners: they are ready to replace the car anyway or the fuel efficiency savings already paid for a replacement battery. Toyota offers a 10 yr/150,000 mile warranty on their hybrid batteries, which reflects the confidence of their longevity. I have a brother-in-law who used to work for a small business that replaced the batteries on older Toyota Priuses and he told me that Toyota's NiMH batteries have a very good track record thus he was replacing batteries on hybrids with significant mileage and out of warranty. While Toyota is now switching to Li-ion even in their upper-tier hybrids, some models are still offered with the tried-and-true NiMH batteries. The hybrid I intend to get uses these NiMH batteries in Toyota's system.
As for performance. hybrids are now at a point that they outperform their NA versions in power and acceleration. This is true of vehicles like the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid vs. their standard non-hybrid versions. The hybrids are faster in acceleration while also boosting efficiency thus range. The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid actually has about 100 miles more range than the non-hybrid CX-50 thus there are advantages in this regard despite the possibility of a smaller gas tank. The hybrids are also about 200lbs heavier thus not too significant in a CUV.
I do agree that a sedan or coupe makes the most sense for efficiency and driving dynamics while keeping the powertrain simple. I know that my next vehicle will not handle like my Kizashi. However, I'm now at a place where my priorities have shifted and I need a larger but more efficient vehicle. I've waited around for a number of years for more ideal vehicles to debut and I feel like it's finally come. I'm a bit curious to see what else pops up in the next few months but one vehicle seems to check all the boxes thus far. I just need to get my ass to the dealership for a test drive.
As for the battery issue, I think it's often misunderstood. Most hybrids use a different chemistry than more volatile batteries in EVs and the NiMH batteries traditionally used in Toyota hybrids have an excellent track record for stability and longevity. These have been known to last 150,000 to 200,000 miles before the need for replacement. By that time, there are two very likely scenarios for most owners: they are ready to replace the car anyway or the fuel efficiency savings already paid for a replacement battery. Toyota offers a 10 yr/150,000 mile warranty on their hybrid batteries, which reflects the confidence of their longevity. I have a brother-in-law who used to work for a small business that replaced the batteries on older Toyota Priuses and he told me that Toyota's NiMH batteries have a very good track record thus he was replacing batteries on hybrids with significant mileage and out of warranty. While Toyota is now switching to Li-ion even in their upper-tier hybrids, some models are still offered with the tried-and-true NiMH batteries. The hybrid I intend to get uses these NiMH batteries in Toyota's system.
As for performance. hybrids are now at a point that they outperform their NA versions in power and acceleration. This is true of vehicles like the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid vs. their standard non-hybrid versions. The hybrids are faster in acceleration while also boosting efficiency thus range. The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid actually has about 100 miles more range than the non-hybrid CX-50 thus there are advantages in this regard despite the possibility of a smaller gas tank. The hybrids are also about 200lbs heavier thus not too significant in a CUV.
I do agree that a sedan or coupe makes the most sense for efficiency and driving dynamics while keeping the powertrain simple. I know that my next vehicle will not handle like my Kizashi. However, I'm now at a place where my priorities have shifted and I need a larger but more efficient vehicle. I've waited around for a number of years for more ideal vehicles to debut and I feel like it's finally come. I'm a bit curious to see what else pops up in the next few months but one vehicle seems to check all the boxes thus far. I just need to get my ass to the dealership for a test drive.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)