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 deal and unique car...best in show - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By theloneabalone - August 30 - 10:00 am

  bought my yellow aerio sx, ABS and auto but no AWD. Dealer was very helpful and not sleazy. got the car for 13550 inc. destination fee. roomy, unique, fast, quiet,fast,versatile,fast,fun to drive, fast. originaly intended to replace my 88 tercel, my wife now borrows it everytime she can. no neighbors with torches threatening to burn my "ugly" car like car &driver warned me. bahhumbug!!! everyone that looks at the car loves it!!

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  Good car - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By katie - August 24 - 12:23 am

  I like my little Suzuki Aerio. I get 30 mpg on Florida highways where we drive 75 mph. I like the way it handles. Its got excellent pick up for a 4 cylinder. The radio controls on the steering wheel are very handy. I also like the a/c and heat controls. For a small car, the seats are quite comfortable.

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  Drove alot in one year - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By one_aerio - August 18 - 2:00 am

  The car so far has been great. It is comfortable for long commute and easy to maneuver. An added bonus is plenty of space. Presently at 34000 miles there has been a steady increase of build noise. Panel fasteners have begun to make themselves known. Furthermore, if the rear windows are open while the front windows are up the buffeting of the wind will shake the rear doors. Good car for the price.

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  Price, warranty, and economy - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Ron Pink - August 8 - 1:23 pm

  I love my Aerio, especially its great fuel economy. At 65 miles per hour I am getting 35 to 40 mpg which has been a great suprise since it was rated at 25 and 32 respectively.

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  So Good that I bought Two! - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Winko - August 7 - 10:00 am

  The price got me interested but the performance has made me a believer. We were so impressed that we bought two of them. The AWD is great we live in Northern Michigan - lots of snow and ice. They handled as well as our previous Subaru! Less ground clearance but I didnt get stuck once! How about room? Im 66" but plenty of leg and especially headroom. OK - the interior isnt fancy but functional and solid. Great pep in the small engine - it doesnt hesitate to move you down the road. With the extras like a 6 CD player and a very nice sound system - solid heater and AC - this is a great car for the money. Im getting 29 mpg on the daily commute.

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  Little Car, Many Annoyances - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By Handy Dude - August 2 - 2:00 am

  The car is fun to drive especially around the city. Being small it isnt comfortable on long trips. The interior storage is well thought out. It has never stranded me fortunately, but I dont trust the car much. Its annoying and costly to own. It goes through tires every 20,000 miles max, even with alignments and rotation; the rear alignment lacks a key adjustment; brake rotators warp easily and brakes need replacing often; fuel economy of a big V8, and the AC belt tensioner is hard to replace and doesnt last long before it gets really noisy. The interior clock light goes off when the headlights are turned on and there other annoyances. The black velor door panels are hard to keep clean.

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  Best Little Car Around - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By miliboi84 - July 31 - 6:46 pm

  Great Car, it gives you everything you need with only a few drawbacks. Besides the cheap interior plastics, it is great. Room in the front and back seats are good, storage is great, performance is good, and finally it is fun to drive.

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  love it ! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Mike Lapietra - July 28 - 2:53 am

  I bought this car in the dead of the Canadian winter and had to commute many days through snow, ice and slush. With the ABS, AWD and heated mirrors this is a great car if you live in Canada. It is a lot of fun to drive and it is loaded. It looks small, but there is lots of space inside for the passengers and when you fold the back seat you really have a good station wagon. Also, the drivers seat can be pumped up very high, so you will have great visibility. So far I am really happy with it and the Suzuki dealership I bought it from offers outstanding customer service.

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  Suzuki Aerio Review: best safety&comfort - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By Plusdememe - July 24 - 2:00 am

  See for yourself as I did: Suzuki Aerio has best automotive safety crash test[visit website from new carlink]in its class & against almost all other makes/models(compare overall number of g ratings to lexus, bmw...)and anyone who cares about driving safety will also appreciate comfort & handling. Aerio SX standard features are loaded: ABS,dual airbags,tilt steering,large easy view windows+rear wiper,6CD,power accessories for almost everything,child rear seat restraint,& extra travel cups!

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  so fun to drive - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By supersam1977 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  i just recently purchased a 2003 suzuki aerio sx five speed fwd. i have to say that this is by far one of the most fun cars to drive on the market today. my wife likes the room and i like the power.