Overview & Reviews

Despite spending an impressive six years on the market -- and enjoying advantages like a roomy cabin and available all-wheel drive -- the compact Suzuki Aerio remained nearly invisible to most consumers. If you ask us, it probably had something to do with the Aerio's average-at-best overall report card. To use a football analogy, it was like a second- or third-string specialty player that Suzuki forced to suit up against several heavy-hitting, all-purpose first-stringers. This wasn't a game the Aerio was likely to win -- yet it was a better car than its sales numbers and anonymity would suggest.

Most Recent Suzuki Aerio

The compact Suzuki Aerio debuted in 2002 as a sedan and four-door hatchback wagon. Initially, there were S and GS (later called LS) trim levels for the sedan; the hatchback came in SX trim only. Later Aerios were offered in either base or Premium trims. Versatility was always a strong point for the hatchback -- with the rear seats folded down, it could carry an impressive 64 cubic feet of cargo.

Aerios were initially powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine; displacement was later bumped to 2.3 liters, with a commensurate increase in power. A five-speed manual transmission was standard on entry-level cars, while a four-speed automatic was optional on those models and standard on higher trim levels. The Aerio was available in either front-wheel or, beginning in 2003, all-wheel drive.

With either transmission, the Suzuki Aerio was sufficiently responsive for running errands around town or commuting. However, although the Aerio provided a soft, smooth ride on the highway, we found there was a penalty to be paid: excessive body roll around corners, which was exacerbated by the car's relatively tall, tippy stance. Opting for AWD settled things down a bit, and of course it improved the Aerio's traction in wet weather as well. Indeed, that optional all-weather capability was one of the few compelling features the Aerio had to offer.

Thanks to its high roof line, the Suzuki Aerio boasted a surprising amount of interior room for its size, and we found ingress and egress to be an all-around cinch. The Aerio offered a generous 14.6 cubic feet of trunk space, too. Unfortunately, interior plastics quality, execution and overall refinement were below average compared to the economy class leaders.

Some notable changes occurred after the Aerio's debut. In 2003, it received a slight power boost to 145 horsepower (from the initial 141 hp) and minor interior trim refinements; uplevel GS and SX models got a six-disc CD player and could be had with all-wheel-drive traction. The 2.0-liter engine was replaced by a 2.3-liter unit in 2004, and horsepower rose to a rather impressive 155. Suzuki added more standard features in 2005 and redesigned the instrument panel, which we had previously criticized as having hard-to-read gauges and a lack of storage compartments. The wagon was dropped for 2007, leaving the sedan to finish out the Aerio's production run by itself.

As a used car, the Suzuki Aerio does have a few things going for it. Its attractive price when new looks even better now that depreciation has taken its toll, and its peppy engine and optional all-wheel drive were pleasant qualities. But the Aerio was never particularly enjoyable to drive and generally came up short in terms of refinement and features.

User Reviews:

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  Great car with great mileage - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By John - November 3 - 5:43 am

  This car has been great. I bought it three years ago with 32,000 for $4500. I am now at 180,000 and still going strong. The only problems I have had is struts and CV axles, nothing else. I would recommend these cars to anyone wanting a cheap transportation option.

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  best car for the buck - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By Christo - October 25 - 10:00 am

  The Aerio GS is a great car , fun to drive . With the new 7/100000 power train warranty should you ever worry , the body is stylish and the exterior is unique .The only problem is the car is NEW !NO AFTER MARKET parts.I went to have the oil changed to find out the local oil change garage didnt have the car in the system .I am also looking to change the fog bulbs to yellow , but cant find a aftermarket part #, only the gunuine suzuki part #. But DAMN the car is fun to drive.My car is 1 month old but i will get back to this in 6 months for a follow up.

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  LOSE 1/3 of price driving off lot!! - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By SCHWAB - October 21 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive if you change the cbs and a couple of things off the front suspension.If you dont It pulls dramatically whenever you accelerate or when you go over any type of dips. I would even consider it dangerous if it was being driven by a teenager as a tuner car,because of the handling before aftermarket adjustments to the front end.Problem#2 If you are looking for a car to change the body kit and all the fun stuff forgetit NO AFTERMARKET BODY KITS AT ALL ! AT least the last time I called 500 parts suppliers ) Problem #3- I had the car 2 months and was going to trade it in for an STI to go with my EvoVIII and with only 1800 miles$16

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  my experiance driving the car - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By allen eberman - September 26 - 10:00 am

  fun to drive and and satisfied with the pep and handlang.

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  Sub-Toyota Quality - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By tucsonics - September 20 - 3:56 pm

  The quality sucks. I had to have the water pump replaced, engine mounts replaced, right axel replaced, and only have 99k miles. The front spoiler is too low, and got hooked on many curbs. Its trashed and costs $800 to replace. Not worth it. Poor paint job, scratches off easy to reveal black primer on bumpers.

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  Poor exterior - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By OkByMe - September 19 - 6:10 am

  The car is fun to drive and has been reliable. I like the standard features. Ive put an additional 70,000 without a mechanical problem, however the body integrity is poor. The bumber is too low and scapes on too many things. The bumber is ready to fall off. Also the 6 CD play no longer works, some dash lights dont work properly. Gas mileage is so-so. It has worked well but I would look at a Toyota first.

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  SO FAR SO GOOD - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By BIG LIMO DADDY - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS WAGON THE FIRST DAY I SAW IT @ THE AUTO SHOW.LOTS OF LEG&HEAD ROOM.I DRIVE 190 HARD MILES PER DAY AND I LOVE IT,THE ENGINE SCREAMS FOR MORE.I ADDED A COLD AIR FILTER AND A HIGH FLOW EXHAUST GAINED 7 MPG.CANT SAY MUCH MORE THAN I LOVE IT. CANT WAIT TO DRIVE IT TO WORK EVERYDAY.

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  Love My Suzuki Aerio - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By CrazyKitten - September 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Aerio, its a great car, big enough to move anything I need to but small enough to be cute. I would recommend them to anyone.

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  nice design but needs refinement - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By lngtonge18 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Maybe I got a bad apple but I traded in my 03 SX 5 speed after 9500 miles. Front brakes clunked. Front door panels buzzed constantly. A loud dash rattle occured twice. The fog lights and hood were loose. And the car had an annoying driveline bucking problem combined with a loss of power. Fuel economy on the highway was a disappointment (29.5) and so was the power. The engine is way too loud (it isnt smooth either) and wind noise is loud starting at 60mph. The doors have a tinny sound quality to them and the fabric on the door panels started showing wear after only 3k. The Aerio is extremely roomy and comfortable though.

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  The Little BIG Car! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Jess - August 20 - 9:06 pm

  After renting two Aerios, once to drivefrom Seattle to Portland, OR, and back, and second to use for a week in Palm Springs, CA, I literally fell in love with this powerful, frisky, solid, and adorable car! I owned a high end Cadillac, and longed for a reason to move to Suzuki. Even bought an extended warranty, and plan to drive this equisite and personable charmer as long as its willing to go . . .It sucks up everything on the highway, and also slides easily into tight city parking. Heartily recommend!!