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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  diamond in the rough - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By Jet - February 5 - 1:13 am

  I bought my 2006 Aerio SX premium package based on my roomates expirience with his 2004 SX AWD. I think its the best car for the money. Its warranty has no deductable and is FULLY transferable, not just to a family memeber like the Korean brands. The only negative about the car is buzzing door panels on rough roads. Talk to your dealer, they will fix for free like mine did. If you can find any of these cars left, then snatch it up because they are no longer making them. A new car is coming out but it wont be an Aerio. Hurry before they are all gone!

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  My Second Aerio, better than the first.. - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Gkxp - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I have had most cars in this class including a Civic, Insight, Corolla, Cavalier, Elantra, Sephia, Escort and Swift. Having a previous good experience with my Suzuki Swift, I bought a 2002 Suzuki Aerio with the 2.0L 4 Cylinder. I loved it so much, I went back to Suzuki and bought another! The power improvement for 04 is VERY noticeable without a penalty in MPG. Suzuki also addressed the lack of a driver armrest and my 2004 seems much quieter on the inside (engine is very quiet on both). I would suggest to would-be compact class buyers to test drive an Aerio after driving an Echo, Corolla, Civic or Scion XA or XB & Im sure youll be impressed!

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  Great Car - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Brunson - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my car about 2 years ago, and I have not had a speck of trouble with it. Only service that I had done to my car is getting regular oil changes; whoops! A tank of gas cost me less then $20.00, and it last me about three weeks around about town; it last me about a week in a have going from Harford Co. to Balto.City to work 5 days a week. Its a Great CAR!!!!!

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  Suzuke Aero GS Sedan - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By suzuki000001 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Well built, handles well, good performance for the fuel mileage. Averages 30mpg

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  Remarkable - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By CanAmGuy - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my new Aerio SX in Yellow and I agree. The color makes people stop and stare, children wave, and the highway is always a funny journey. I was stopped at the Tolls in NH to be asked who made the car and what it was!! Love the car. Ride is great, and the size is perfect. Wish it had a Sun/Moon Roof for the future. I am ready to do the Commercial in order to show just how much fun a person can have in the car.

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  a fun little car for the wife - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By zaesar - January 6 - 10:00 am

  it is a nice little car that is a lot of fun to drive.wish i had the headlights in my mustang gt.the only bad thing that i can say right now,it needs better tires these tires squeal if you corner just a lttle fast my next tire will be dunlop sp5000.so far lots of fun.

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  this cars 4 u - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By sent2u - December 30 - 10:00 am

  *****Very fun car/little suv.As much as i hate it, i WILL SELL MY CAR! Dealer went out of business in Little Rock , Arkansas so no place to get it serviced with in 60 miles!

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  I love this car! - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By Bill D. - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I saw the Aerio for the first time at the NY Auto Show and was impressed. I bought one and love it. It has good power, handling, general performance. The winshield, and side glass provide a lot of visibility, but that means a lot of eye strain from light as well as the heat from the sun. Also, the LCD display on the radio is hard to see in direct sun. Ive gotten many positive comments about the car and my teenage son likes it too. Id recommend the car to anyone looking for a sporty, affordable, small wagon.

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  a SUV view in a compact car - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By Gerrix - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Its been a week that I test drive this Sedan and so far its a joy. The riding is smooth and quiet at legal speeds. The engine is a bit noisier when pushed but fortunately it doesnt need to be often. The high seating position is probably the most specific feature of this car. Only the Matrix/Vibe can compare in this segment. With this feature, you have a great view of the road and its very easy to get in and out of the car. The digital dash is a surprise, but I learned to love it for its accuracy and its visibility.

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  Great Deal, Great Car - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By drdud - October 1 - 4:00 pm

  I traded my Subaru Legacy for this sweet ride. It has a smooth ride, good gas milage, an attractive exterior, and a nice interior. Plus I saved a bunch of money by buying it instead of buying a new Subaru. Its AWD system is the same, it has a good driving position and good seat height (which is important if you have a bad back). Its seat is higher than the ones in Subarus . This is a great little wagon.