Kizashi Club

http://t.autos.msn.com/news/the-safest- ... ear-cars-1

There were a few surprises on this list!

Yeah, this article stems from the recent new IIHS crash test (25% offset frontal crash test) in which the Kizashi was only one of two "family midsize" sedans to get the highest "Good" rating. The only other car was the brand new Honda Accord. The Camry got a dismal "Poor". The Kizashi did better than all cars on the list save for the Accord, TL, and the S60 (The Acura TL and the Volvo S60 were considered "luxury" or "upscale", not "family midsizes" in the crash test categorization).

The article you linked had this written about the Kizashi:
"The Suzuki Kizashi had never received a Top Safety Pick from IIHS prior to the 2013 model. Ironically, the Kizashi earns the new Top Safety Pick+ rating as Suzuki prepares to leave the U.S. market."

Idiots. Despite getting the rating in 2013 let's just state what we Kizashi owners know: THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE CAR DESIGN SINCE INITIAL DEBUT IN 2009!!!
This means that a 2010 model is as safe as a 2013 because the engine, chassis/frame, and safety equipment are all the same. The Accord on the other hand, is a brand new model that got released in 2012.

Obviously the automotive "experts" are snoozing on the Kizashi much like most car buyers. People then go out and buy inferior cars for more money. Again, idiots!

I think I remember reading that the kizashi was actually built with the new safety standards in mind. Suzuki sort of released the kizashi in a mid generation relative to other car manufactures.

The advantage was that they knew about the upcoming safety standards. The downside was direct injection hadn't been adopted yet.

Moto wrote:I think I remember reading that the kizashi was actually built with the new safety standards in mind.

Yes, I've read that too.

Here we have had a safety upgrade with a model update. Australian 2011 models received an extra air bag (driver's knee airbag) over the previous models which had 6 airbags.

I believe the USA models are different again with their airbags?

murcod wrote:Australian 2011 models received an extra air bag (driver's knee airbag) over the previous models which had 6 airbags.

I believe the USA models are different again with their airbags?

Yes, the US models have always had a total of 8 (2 Front, 2 Side Curtains, & 4 Outboard Seat Airbags).

I've always known our Kizashis were safe mid-size sedans but I wasn't aware they were designed to meet the new offset frontal standard. This makes me love my Suzuki even more!

Hmmm.. but no knee airbag for the driver!

JDM model tops us all. They have 9 air bags. All 8 that the US spec have plus the driver knee air bag.