See that? That's our Kizashi's side mirror. It's nicely sized -- big, but not obscenely so. If you're backing up, you can check out what's behind you via this and our Kizashi's other two mirrors. However, you can't rely on a backup camera, since our Kizashi isn't equipped with one (note, however, that a backup camera is available on 2010 models as a late-availability option). During my time with the Suzuki, I haven't missed having a backup camera one bit.
The Kizashi isn't that big -- it's one of the smaller choices in the midsize segment. Would a backup camera be a must-have for you if you were shopping for a car in this segment, or would mirrors and a flexible neck be enough?
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 10, 340 miles
tmanz says:
12:38 PM, 08/31/10
depends on how high the trunk is. The super high trunks on most modern cars make the cameras kinda handy. It's nice to know a 4 year old didn't just run across the parking lot and behind your car as you back out.
carguy622 says:
12:40 PM, 08/31/10
Amazing how many things have become "must have" features now. I'm sure I could get along fine without a camera, but when I had a loaner TSX with a camera is was nice in certain situation as an extra method to check my surroundings.
travelingman79 says:
01:29 PM, 08/31/10
I'll take mirrors and only if I frequently need to parallel park, a park-assist system with both audible and visual (the one in recent versions of iDrive is great) cues as to how far you are from the nearest object.
Back-up camera? No thanks. Most use a display that's far from where your eyes should be: on the mirrors/windshield. The exceptions are in some newer vehicles that have the back-up camera's display built into the rear-view mirror. Still, definitely not a necessity.
felonious says:
02:01 PM, 08/31/10
I can live without a backup camera, but I prefer to have one. Just like a lot of things, in fact.
dg0472 says:
02:51 PM, 08/31/10
They way the Kizashi is designed, especially considering that the trunk is fairly low and short, would mean I wouldn't have to have a camera for it.
brn says:
03:51 PM, 08/31/10
I'm with tmanz.
Lower the damn trunk and I'll use my EYES to see what's behind me.
hybris says:
04:34 PM, 08/31/10
That's still a pretty small mirror.
stephen987 says:
05:28 PM, 08/31/10
We did OK for a hundred years without a backup camera, and frequently in cars with much worse rearward visibility. Remember the early-'70s Gran Torino, anyone?
seppoboy says:
08:13 AM, 09/ 1/10
Backup camera on a midsize sedan? That's absurd.
A decent driver can seriously reduce the need for that kind of stuff by using good driving practice. Find a parking space in a parking lot and back into it, that way you know the space is clear that you are backing into, and when you leave you have maximum control by pulling out instead of snarling up traffic trying to slowly back out into everybody's way.
And parallel parking is a snap when you learn the basic technique, know your car's size in comparison to the space, and use the outside mirrors if necessary.