Shortcomings
The Kizashi does have its shortcomings, one of which is backseat roominess: As mentioned in the 2010 review, legroom in particular is a couple of inches below the norm. It also has a couple of quirks that showed up both in our 2010 and 2011 test cars, one of which I'm ready to call a defect: In both cars, the windshield washers froze and clogged when it wasn't particularly cold outside — right around freezing or just below. Also, I didn't mention it last time, but the 2011 reminded me how susceptible the Kizashi is to outside odors. I know it's a weird issue, but diesel fumes and even stuff like cigarette smoke from nearby cars readily found their way into the ventilation system. Perhaps this means there's a greater than normal supply of fresh air, which could be good, but sometimes the air isn't very fresh. With me, the Kizashi's recirculation button gets a workout.
See also:
If the Engine Overheats
The engine could overheat temporarily
under severe driving conditions. If the High
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light in the instrument cluster glows red
during driving:
1) Turn off the air ...
Glove Box
Glove Box
To open the glove box, pull the latch lever.
To close it, push the lid until it latches
securely.
WARNING:
Never drive with the glove box lid
open. It could cause injury if an a ...
Cargo & Towing
As noted, the Grand Vitara's maximum trailer weight is 3,000 pounds — twice
that of the CR-V and four-cylinder Escape, but less than the Escape V6, which
has car-based construction and better mi ...