The Lancer Mitsubishi should have built? The Kizashi?

[exaltd]

Yea, have to admit, the front does look like VW in photos. However, in real life, the front is very curved, where the VW is straight.

[Dire]

I've found some respect for the kizashi but its not sporty enough for me. And its more expensive than lancers so I'm not understanding all these comparisons (though might be a better deal than aspires or something? Idk I can't be bothered checking).
I'd get mum to check one out if she gets a new car soon. But thats doubtful.

[tjoz]

I saw some of these on a truck going home one day. They are nice, they are big too. Dwarf a Golf. Too tall for me though, lower its roof and would buy one. It looks similar to the Chevrolet Malibu, except for the rear, god knows what happened there. Designer must have fell asleep when it came to the rear (Malibu). The interior on the Malibu though is really nice. Big steering wheel though.

[ofey]

Thanks to PMR, I test drove this Kizashi last Friday. Here were my thoughts:


Re Kizashi:

Aesthetics:
Very nice interior. Almost European influenced. So the interior build quality is good. Plush leathery feel. Electric seats are a nice touch but really NOT that necessary. Passenger side dash rises a little too high. Though I'm sure that's for safety. Because of all the faux leather, cabin is well insulated which is better than Lancer. Though still it's a cheap looking design.

Exterior body shape is a little plumpish. Loads of air pocket areas Too many curves and no sharp lines takes away aggresiven look. Makes it look like Pillsbury Dough boy if you know what I mean. I found their C-Pillar abit restrictive to the rear view. Also noted the bottom grill and fog lamp grills don't match the top radiator grill. Looks abit strange as such. Makes the fog lamp look aftermarket.

Trunk space is generously deep but I hate the way they've mounted the Rockford Subwoofer. Looks cheap and nasty for what's supposed to be a posh car.

Performance:
Engine is very quiet from the cabin. Nothing like the Lancer's roar you hear in mine or even an Subi's Impreza RX . For reasons above Car is not very responsive on the throttle. Takes awhile for it to kick in. When you flick down on the paddle shifters in the Lancer, the car kicks you back. In this one, nothing really happens for awhile. Poor implementation of the sports shifter on a CVT I think. The pick up is thus slower.

As such, I think it's dreadfully underpowered despite being a 2.4L. I'd be keen to test drive the turbo-ed version and the 4WD version when they come out. I think the current FWD is not worth the price tag. Apparently the one I drove was top of the line at A$37K OTR which I think is overpriced. For that money, I suggest an Aspire. More car for the money.

Maneuverability is decent. Stock suspension is a little too soft. Road feel thus missing. May be a good thing to some but if you are a driver, it takes away the feel. High speed cornering does sway the car but this could be fixed by sway bars. I also noted that as one take curve bends at high speed, car does stay well planted to the ground so the control aspect is there.

Brakes are pretty good though. I did an Emergency stop. No shudder. Car stopped within reason.

Value?
At A$37K OTR, not worth it at all. If I was paying that much, I'd be looking at getting a MMCS in an Aspire!! You'd lose the electric seats, telescopic steering and sunroof but I can live without those. The MMCS more than makes up for it. Supposedly their entry is A$28K OTR but that takes away alot of features like smart key and dusk sensing head lights and auto wipers. I think I'll be looking elsewhere even at A$28K.

A one line summary?
Needs more balls... .

[Red EVOX]

The manual Kazashi is a much better performing car than the CVT equipped version (I have driven both) and as for the Aspire..... If only it came with a manual gearbox even as a option as i absolutly hate CVT transmissions and lost that fake woodgrain looking crap on the interior.

[aussie027]

I wonder if the 2.4L engine which has better power and Torque figures than the Lancers is in fact a Mitsubishi engine???

Their engines have been used by other car makers for years.

Mitsu engine usually have better P & T figures than those from other jap manufacturers apart from maybe some high end Honda engines of the same capacity.

The Kizashi has gotten some good reviews from the motoring press.

[Red EVOX]

The Kizashi's 2.4L engine is a mildly reworked version of the Vitara 4wd's engine.

Suzuki were originally going to be using GM engines but something happened and they pulled the pin at the last minute, so they then had to use there own 2.4L

[SAM-24A]

Its not a Mitsubishi engine. If I remember correctly the inlet & exhaust are the opposite ie: The exhaust is at the front of the engine rather than the rear as on our emgines.

Its still old mech technology which some car brands are still lagging behind in such as Toyota in their latest Corolla's.

Our engines are sourced from an Alliance (GEMA Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance) which was formed in 2002 between Chrysler/Dodge, Mitsubishi and Hyundai who pooled $1billion+ into a joint venture to mass produce 1.8, 2.0 & 2.4L engines which they now all share in their own vehicles.
The same engines also appear in the latest KIA's since Hyundai bought them out in 2005.

Regards: Sam

[sleeper]

$37000k, thats almost ralliart pricing?
no comparison imo

[ofey]

So you know the car I dissed as having no balls? It may only be a CVT version.

Suzuki Kizashi breaks 200 mph at Bonneville - sets land speed record



Ouch... .

[The X]

So you know the car I dissed as having no balls? It may only be a CVT version.

Ouch... .

Yeah but.... Suzuki have a big long slog to get their brand re-worked as something admirable. I see "Suzuki" and I just *suhdder*, they brand respect as much like the cheap brands like Kia, et al....

[Red EVOX]

Yeah but.... Suzuki have a big long slog to get their brand re-worked as something admirable. I see "Suzuki" and I just *suhdder*, they brand respect as much like the cheap brands like Kia, et al....

Alot of people say and think the same thing about Mitsubishi as well..... especially going by the recent survey here in Australia that rated mitsubishi very poorly as a brand recommended by owners to other people.

and before anyone jumps down my throat.... I currently own 2 mitsi's and worked for MMAL for over 10yrs, even still i wouldnt say im mitsubishi biased.

[Envoke]

My mum just bought a Kizashi Sport and i got to deliver it home from the dealer It is fun to drive but very similar to NA lancers, same sort of power but the engine noise is much more powerful. Sounds refined instead of the explosion that our lancers produce lol.

Hates hills as much as the lancer and you really need to give it a kick if you want to overtake or speed up, but soon as you hit 3k rpm you hear that sweet engine.

Here's some pictures of it









Summary:

Great car but it cant beat my 09 VR, cannot compare in looks and the lancer is definetly faster off the line despite the smaller engine. The Kizashi does weigh in at 1,600kg however.

[Ricksville]

I also had a look at the kizashi. Very simliar to drive to my VRX but the thing that swayed me was lack of headspace and price. The extra gear would have been nice in the VRX though