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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  Perfect For What I Do - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Dan - November 30 - 9:50 pm

  Im a regional sales manager and cover at least 25,000 miles a year. When fuel prices started to go up, I traded my Suzuki XL-7 (88,000 troublefree miles) for an Aerio SX wagon. Never liked the Aerio SX wagon design, but it grew on me; now I love it. I wanted AWD, but its not offered with the manual transmission. I had to have the manual. After my first test drive, I said, "This is a blast." And it is unbelievable how much room is in this car! I haul a lot of stuff. I even bought a rooftop carrier for those extra big loads. Im 62" and could wear a Stetson hat in it. It seats four passengers very well. I always get at least 33 mpg, even when city driving is mixed in. 37 mpg is the most Ive gotten, and it has plenty of power.

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  Very happy with my Aerio SX - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By Jim - October 22 - 8:30 am

  After 2+ years and almost 40,000 miles we are still very happy with our Aerio SX. Oil changes and other fluid changes are the only money that weve spent other than a burnt out light bulb in the dash, (which was fixed in 15 minutes under warranty). This is a lot of car for not much money. Its gas mileage is a steady 27 - 29 in mixed city / freeway driving. We will purchase another Suzuki product when the time comes!

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  1 year, 24k miles and Still LOVE IT! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Josh P - October 3 - 7:33 pm

  I purchased my Aerio SX one year ago this month after a ton of researching and comparison shopping. I have been nothing but satisfied with this car! I absolutely love driving it. My wife and I have to take turns driving it to work every other week, even after having it for a year now. It is roomy enough for my family of 4 in the passenger area, and has plenty of room for a couple of weeks worth of groceries, or the dog crate in the back. I have been nothing but pleased with this fast and fun little car. This was my first ever import car, and I plan on buying another Suzuki. You cant beat the price when it comes to warranty and features. I would say go for it! You wont be disappointed!

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  Affordable Fun Car! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By slsawyer - September 30 - 10:00 pm

  The Suzuki Aerio wasnt my first choice, but it was definitely the right choice! It has a roomy interior and lots of head room. It is great for going uphill with overdrive off. I am still breaking in the gas mileage rate. The first comments from everyone who sees it is "Cute!" So far it has been very reliable. I put it in the league with Honda/Toyota, only affordable. The interior seat fabric could be upgraded though. Also, the sway bar and passenger mirror had to be replaced right away, but that has been the only problem. I love this car!

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  2002 Suzuki Aerio - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By sricaud - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Pleasantly surprised with the acceleration and comfort of this vehicle. Priced several models in this category and got the best value and features for the money.

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  Suzuki Aerio is underated - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By T. F. - August 13 - 4:03 pm

  This is our fourth Suzuki auto and we are pleased with it overall. We have no major complaints at this time.

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  Heck of a car - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By deg - August 5 - 10:00 am

  Bought used with 48,000 miles on it, now well over 140,000 on it and other then tires and brakes this car runs perfect. Best little car I have ever owned

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  A Car That Really CAN! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Steve - August 4 - 10:23 pm

  This is about the new, very improved 2005 Aerio AWD wagon, whch stashes an amazing amout of cargo, and still allows plenty of room for people and pets. Ive known of the Aerio wagon for several years, and have driven it on occasion in various parts of the country, always with admiration. However, the elegant and sophisticated interior upgrades prove that an already great car can become greater! The 6 CD sound system, with 7 speakersand woofer provide concert hall acoustics along with steering wheel adjustments. And the headroom for tall people is miles beyond the norm. Nothing really compares with this Aerio wagon, with its AWD --which is usually only found in more expensive vehicles What this car offers under $20,000 is so exceptional that its hard to imagine what else Suzuki could further provide that would enhance the integrity of this vehicle anyfurther. Its a great driving machine, with plenty of heart!

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  Dirt cheap and FUN! - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By LiquidZero - July 31 - 2:00 am

  First off, I got a sweet deal buying this car, and walked out the door paying only $12,000. Now thats out of the way... this car is simply fun to drive for an econobox. It may not be the fastest car around, but it surprises a lot of people with its pep. Plenty of headroom and storage room. With a 5- spd it gets great gas mileage. Much better than the EPA estimates. Handles well in turns, if just a bit hesitantly. There is significant body roll, because of its height, but Ive never felt like it was about to lose contact with the road. A bit too early to say anything on reliability, but so far so good.

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  A hidden gem - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By Brian Defferding - July 12 - 4:00 pm

  Suzuki Aerios are like the perfect secret. Its a little seen car that will last forever and is a blast to drive. It has plenty of headroom (something other Japanese cars like Hondas and Toyotas sometimes lack), has a spunky engine, performs well in winter. I drive my Aerio around to conventions all around the midwest, racked up tons of miles and any repairs it needs is routine maintainence and oil changes. And the best part - they are totally affordable! I bought mine used at 52,000 miles for $7,500. If you discover this hidden gem for sale, buy it!