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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My newest purchase - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
By Ashley - November 1 - 3:36 amMy husband and I purchased a 2004 Aerio SX Wagon Standard on May 1, 2006 to replace my Ford Ranger XLT, which I was putting 45 dollars in gas a week into. I havent measured the gas mileage, all I know is now Im only paying 25 dollars a week in gas, as opposed to the 45, which is great. I do a lot of interstate driving to and from work, and this car has so much more oomph than my Ranger did. Its very roomy for being a smaller car, and the storage is great. I love the storage in the trunk.
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Love My Sucuki - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
By charles simpkins - October 31 - 2:03 pmSince my wife and I purchased our Aerio we have fallen in love with it. We have owed Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas and now our Suzuki. It has been the best car that we have ever owned in terms of reliability and performance.
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AERIO IS WONDERFUL - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
By magnum1 - October 18 - 2:00 amIts the best car I have ever owned. I love my 2002 Suzuki AERIO GS. I purchased it in July of 2002 and now have 35,000 miles on it and havent spent a dime on it except for oil changes and general maintenance, which is very little. This includes changing transmission fluid (standard) and flushing the radiator.
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Great Car - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
By DUDE - September 5 - 2:00 amI REALLY DO ENJOY MY 03 SX ITS A FUN CAR TO DRIVE AROUND. LOTS OF EXTRAS FOR THE PRICE, TOO. I HIGHLY RECAMEND FOR ANYONE WHO DOSNT WANT TO SPEND ALOT OF MONEY AND WANTS A PROFORMENCE ECONOMY CAR THIS IS IT. ITS POWER TO WIEGHT RATIO IS NOT TO BAD 145HP TO 2600LB COMPARE TO OTHER VEHICLES IN AND OUT OF ITS CLASS. BUT MORE HP IS ALWAYS O.K.
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Wish I could buy another!! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
By leigh2 - August 29 - 8:02 amI bought this in January 08 with 35k miles on it. After having a Caravan & Suburban..... I could not be happier!! It is finally getting ready for semi-retirement with 206k miles on it. I drive 500-700 miles/week. Outside of regular routine maintenance {Oil changes, tires, brakes, transmission flushes} I have no other issues with this car until recently and that would be due to "old age." The seats are not that comfortable for my frame but I have enjoyed every minute of this car. The cargo space is unbelievable for the size! I can fit 2 people, 2 - 90 lb. dogs and gear for an overnight hiking trip without issue. Id go for the SX4 in a heartbeat if they hadnt made it smaller.
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GREAT VALUE, PRICE, FUN AND RELIABLE - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
By Tom Thompson - August 6 - 10:00 amWe have owned 5 Suzuki products and this is the best yet. Cute, fun to drive, low price with good warranty, comfortable, well laid out and reliable as usual. We checked out 5 other brands but kept coming back to the Aerio and are glad we did. It gets more economical each month and we have done some things to help this out. Keep up the good work
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Killa Deal - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
By Kyle B - July 20 - 11:20 amI had a Grand Vitara and wanted to look for another that was automatic. When I saw the SX it immediatley started to grow on me. I paid 15,500 loaded including ABS and climate control. For the money you cant beat it. It is fun to drive, easy to operate, and the car does turn heads. A warranty that takes the pain out of ownership is also a big plus. I love the way that it handles and it is very peppy while still maintaining good mileage. If you are looking to have a great little road rocket without emptying your pocket this is a great choice.
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DRIVING IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
By DAVID STONER - July 18 - 2:00 amWhen not commuting to work, I spend a lot of time heading for the slopes in Colorado. The car handles great in the snow and has enough zip to get up some of the steeper passes I encounter. There is plenty of room inside for four skiers plus our stuff. The sound system is great and because of its unusal design, it is easy to spot in parking lots. My only complaint are the Yokahama tires. I have already replaced two. Outside of that, and for the price, this wagon is terrific.
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who knew ? - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
By R_ALPH - July 14 - 10:00 amWHO KNEW SUZUKI AERIO IS SUCH A NICE CAR. I LOOKED AT AND DROVE LANCER, CIVIC AND COROLLA, BUT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AFFORDABLE RELIABLE AND FUN ISNT EASY. THE OTHER BRANDS OFFER CHEEP MODELS AS WELL, BUT ITS HARD TO CALL THEM "WELL EQUIPPED" OR SPORTY.
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Fun for tiny bucks - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
By jlandshark - July 4 - 2:00 amI have around 10,000 miles on the car now. It has been a fun car to drive with great gas milage. For going to and from work it can not be beat. Lots of interesting looks and questions from others on the street. Way cheaper and faster than the Protege5 and the Matrix.
