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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  so far so good - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By tango123ny - January 22 - 2:00 am

  excellent power and fuel consumption for awd. 155 horses feels good under the hood and the ride is comfortably stiff. The styling is a standout, unique and sporty. Great warranty and easy maintenance schedule.

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  very good car - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By jancope - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Fun car to drive. lots of extras you have to pay for in the Matrix , 6 cd changer, out side temp monotor.Lots and lots of room to carry things.

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  Stone-axe dependable - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Tom Merrill - January 18 - 3:13 pm

  I grew up riding and racing Suzuki motorcycles and other than basic maintenance found them very reliable, fast and fun. When my wife and I could no longer stand being a one car family, and the monthly payment on our Honda mini-van was becoming unbearable, we went shopping. Id been keeping my eye on the Suzuki automobile offerings for the previous year or two and was quite smitten with the unique styling, AWD, fully loaded Suzuki Aerio SX wagon. We shopped around and bought two AWD Aerios which drive great (especially in the snow) can carry alot and, just as I found with their motorcycles, very reliable. Gas prices? I drive just as much as I please, loving my Suzuki, in any weather. We dig our Suzukis!

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  Not impressed - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By lugster - January 17 - 10:00 am

  This was my first new car purchase.6 months later,started having problems w/ transmission.1st-Replaced parts,2nd- entire trans.assembly,& on way the way home from service dept.had problems w/ 5th gear(all under warranty).Dont know if problems are Suzuki related or service dept. related,b/c service dept.is not reliable and provides the worst customer service I have ever experienced--have not contacted us in 3 months with issues we have brought 2 their attention(the service manager drove the car w/5th gear prob.!)Think the interior plastic is very poor quality & scratches easily.Feel like if keep the car long-term, it will fall apart very early.

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  Value for Money - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By sidharth malhotra - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I was very apprehensive when buying a suzuki since i havent seen many on the road. But when i took a test drive i was very happy with it. Good power, good mileage, great sound system, looks good and drives well. I had a corolla before was thinking of buying the same car again. But after driving a suzuki aerio i changed my mind simply because i was getting more car in an aerio than in a corolla. My experience was good, hope yours was too.

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  Best buy, and Ive been looking forever - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By Luv my aerio - January 3 - 2:00 am

  I have my yellow Aerio SX hatchback and I love all of the looks I get. Ive been looking for about 3 months now. Ive driven every car in its class and this is by far the best buy for your money. With the $2000 rebate or 0% interest rate, its much cheaper than the Toyota Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe. There is much more room in the back seat. Theres a built in cover for your privacy of articles in the trunk. The reversable floor mat and water bucket are very nice. Theres lots of storage in the rear and an additional cup holder for the back passengers. It drives like a champ. Theres plenty of pick up and the gas just never ends.

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  My First New Car - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By RJL - December 16 - 4:33 pm

  I just bought a 2006 Suzuki Aerio Premium and I love it! Its so easy to handle. Its a perfect little car to keep me on the go.

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  Love my Red Zuki - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By kmw - December 4 - 1:33 pm

  The Aerio is a great car to drive. I have had it for almost a year with no problems. It is a cute commuter car with a suprising amount of room. I have loaded everything into it including my new range in the box. I traded my big SUV for this car and love it.

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  Traded in my Aerio after 2 MO/8K CAUTION - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By gkxp - November 16 - 10:00 am

  In April, I bought a 2003 Suzuki Aerio S. The low price, black interior, 145HP Engine and digital dash sold me. Now in June and after 8000 miles, I traded it in. Reasons? VERY BAD handling in windy/highway driving! Black fabric on drivers-side door trim armrest is already pealing off. Be forewarned if you do a lot of highway driving as I do. Depreciation Percentage higher than others in class.

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  My Car ROCKS - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By his&hersAerios - November 10 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I bought two Aerios in July. We both love them. He wrecked his after one payment and promptly replaced it with yet another Aerio. They are fun to drive so far! I have the standard comments on the + and - sides: + Zippy for the price, great sound, cute car, lots of storage, good gas mileage. - the door mouldings on the inside rattle. I cant configure the tilt and seat position to reach the gear shift properly so my shoulder hurts if I am in stop/go traffic. Other than that, we both love both cars.