Has anyone driven a Suzuki Kizashi?

[Jesda]

Seems like the most underrated car of the last ten years. You can grab one with under 20,000 miles for $11-$13k, a GTS equipped with a manual.

I've seen them at auto shows and liked the styling and found the interiors to be comfortable and well made, but I've yet to drive one.

[AZhitman]

Funny, I saw one in traffic last week and it caught my eye. Handsome car.

Good luck finding a used one for sale, though.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I haven't had a chance to drive one, but have always liked them. They seem to hit the sweet spot: fun, affordable, reliable, nice-looking, different, and available with enthusiast-focused options (like a clutch pedal). Sadly, the alternative to the clutch pedal was a CVT, so that may make finding a desirably equipped used model a little more difficult.

I don't even see very many on the road, for that matter. They're definitely under-appreciated and it's sad that Suzuki wasn't able to turn it into more of a success for the brand. Funny to me that the little SX4 (which is still a decent car) got tons of attention, but the Kizashi somehow got lost under the rug. Lost/forgotten/underappreciated isn't necessarily a bad thing for us (enthusiast/carbuyers) though. That's how I ended up in an LS8 for dirt cheap. No one even remembers that the car ever existed, and resale plummeted through the floor in a hurry. And when you consider that the whole Suzuki brand is pulling out of North America again, I imagine the Kizashi will become the go-to used option for anyone needing a cheap/fun/dependable daily driver.

I've lamented Suzuki's decision to abandon plans for an LY7-powered Sport option a few times. I will now take the opportunity to do so again. The 2.4 is certainly not bad...but that car with the 3.6 would have been amazing.

[alms24sebring]

Never even heard of it, not bad at all though.

[Rev_D21]

It's just a turd that's been polished for a few extra minutes. Modern cars styling does nothing for me.

[nissangirl74]

24 for sale in the US on AutoTrader. go buy one and then write a review.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... istanceASC

[Bubba1]

I've driven a few Suzuki's but not that one. The rule of thumb with them is the newer the better. the earlier models were rather unexceptional, but they've improved in recent years. I think the car is not bad, but there are other, better choices out there.

[asoomal]

Drove on so I could get a free gas card a couple of years ago.

Thing felt heavy and there were wayyy too many switches and knobs in the interior. Never had a chance to push it, salesman took me to a traffic jam -.-

They only had the AWD with CVT there

[MinisterofDOOM]

Thing felt heavy

Sadly, a quick google search confirms that this was not just your imagination. 3300lb is pretty beefy for a 4-cylinder midsizer. Also not what I have come to expect from Suzuki.

[gwoods]

I have not driven one. Read about it a bit in Road & Track they loved it. Helped or at least covered one being set up for top speed runs in salt flats. They had one as a long term car.

I think the final verdict was amazing handling in search of 50 hp.

[krash]

My sister's neighbor has a manual one in red. He freakin loves it.