Exterior and Interior Design
Now call us shallow if you want for judging a book by its cover but the Subaru just screams “pocket protector wearing dork” from every angle. The 2012 Kizashi GTS, on the other hand, had aggressive body spoilers, a lower ride height and a set of sweet looking alloys to make this four door sedan seem faster and sportier than it truly is. The Suzuki also isn’t too large or too small much like a VW Jetta.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium is definitely not the fanciest trim level available so the interior felt rather spare and unimaginative with absolutely no areas of visual design interest. The Impreza also didn’t really impress by offering plenty of convenient storage spots and cubbies for smart phones, iPods, sunglasses or any of your other junk for that matter. It’s all very well assembled but the Impreza’s interior does not “imprez.”
Now, compared to the Subaru interior, the 2012 Suzuki Kizashi’s cabin appeared to have been endowed with and overabundance of interesting design flourishes like the unique dashboard textures that flow out into the wavy upholstery that moves along the inner door trims. The design of the climate and audio controls in the center stack appears as inspired a design as the Sydney Opera House next to the Impreza’s simple style which in our eyes was so humble that it bordered on being Amish.
The Kizashi boasts a decent sized 13.3 cubic foot trunk and rear seat passengers in both vehicles will be comfortable as long as you don’t try to go on a 12 hour road trip with five people aboard. Four passengers will be much, much happier. Overall, while the Kizashi does not measure up to the Subaru in the cargo hauling stakes but we happen to prefer automobiles that we aren’t embarrassed to be seen in. Therefore it is on those grounds that the 2012 Subaru Impreza hatch loses this round. (Winner: 2012 Suzuki Kizashi GTS AWD)