Overview & Reviews

At some point in their lives, most people find themselves in need of a small, inexpensive car that gets them around with minimal hassle. While the names "Civic" and "Corolla" come up in most every small sedan buyer's research, the trouble is that you often pay dearly for these household names. In hopes of attracting people on a tighter budget, Suzuki offered the Forenza from 2004-'08.

This value-oriented compact came in sedan and wagon body styles. It boasted a low price of entry, a roomy interior, European-inspired design, a host of standard features, competitive power figures and a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

At a glance, the well-equipped Suzuki Forenza appeared to offer terrific value. But in our evaluations, we found that it fell short of the segment leaders in terms of performance, fuel economy, handling and interior refinement. Unless you really need the extra space of its available wagon body style in a used car, we recommend that you focus on one of its more worthy competitors.

Most Recent Suzuki Forenza

The Suzuki Forenza debuted in 2004, with the wagon model following in 2005. The Forenza was actually built by the Korean automaker Daewoo and rebadged as the Forenza for the American market. It was offered as a four-door sedan or wagon in a single trim level with various available packages. Standard equipment included four-wheel disc brakes, air-conditioning, front seat side airbags, full power accessories and a CD/MP3 stereo with steering-wheel controls. Notably, ABS was an extra-cost option.

The Forenza was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 127 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. This engine performed adequately with the manual transmission but felt burdened and underpowered when saddled with the four-speed automatic. To make matters worse, it wasn't particularly fuel-efficient or refined, either.

The Forenza's cabin was something of a mixed bag, too. It was spacious, with lots of stylish metallic accents, but this was offset by inconsistent materials quality and an overall lack of refinement and quality compared with class leaders. If you can get past that, there was lots of rear legroom for adults and a 60/40-split-folding seatback for extra utility. The sedan provided 12 cubic feet of trunk capacity, with the wagon offering nearly 62 cubic feet of space with the rear seat folded.

On the road, the Suzuki Forenza exhibited soft, rubbery handling and a poor ride quality compared with its competitors, as well as excessive wind noise on the highway. Although it was compliant enough, it exhibited little suspension control over bumps and ruts. Handling around corners was loose and unsure, with excessive body roll and minimal grip from the tires. When merging into traffic, automatic-equipped Forenzas accelerated weakly, and any such maneuver took some advance planning.

Changes were slight during the Suzuki Forenza's run. For 2005, side impact airbags became standard for all Forenzas. The Forenza was freshened up a bit for 2006, receiving a new front fascia, redesigned seats, new wheels and revised trim levels. Bluetooth became available for 2008.

User Reviews:

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  Great Suzuki Wagon 2006 - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By Great Wagon - May 31 - 9:40 am

  I purchased my wagon used with 13k miles for $9,200. I previously owned a Grand Vitara but it was too bumpy on the road. The wagon is smooth, average 25 mpg, can get as much as 27.6 on highway. I used 87 octane and read a former owners review and he suggests to use 91 octane for more miles. Just wish there was a rear release button for the trunk door. I now have 20k miles and no problems. I definitely would recommend this wagon over a SUV. Maybe one day they will improve the gas mileage and softer seats. The leather seating is so much better, but i didnt want an additional $1500 expense. Overall I am happy.

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  Paid off, now its history! - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By cubbie1 - May 14 - 1:26 am

  First week of purchase I hated it! Took it back and they sold my trade in. I have cursed since I bought it, never another Suzuki again! The rims bend like pasta when I hit any pothole, and headlights go through bulbs like crazy. The CD player has been replaced 2xs and the suspension squeaks! Heres an idea: Suzuki stay with the bikes cause the cars are crap! I traded in a Honda and thats my next purchase. If youre looking at a Suzuki, dont walk away from it, RUN!

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  Can I Give It Back?? - 2008 Suzuki Forenza
  By Can I Give It Back?? - May 12 - 10:43 pm

  I have been less than impressed with this vehicle. I feel like I am driving a manual transmission because it jerks pretty severely when you step on the gas. I had to have my speakers replaced because they blew out - I dont blast my radio! My fuses blew out on my cigarette lighters and turn signals within a year. My engine light is on again, this time due to a bad transmission sensor! The gas mileage is horrible! I was in a pinch and needed a new car, but at this point, I would have been better off keeping my old one!

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  Love my Forenza! - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By Dani - May 11 - 4:56 pm

  Just bought the car and love it! Handles well with lots of get-up-and-go with my 5-speed manual. Really hugs the turns, clutch is a little soft though. Still havent found the "sweet spot" for 1st - keep peeling out on accident if Im not paying attention :-D And the gas mileage is excellent.

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  Would I buy a Forenza again? - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By GW Morten - May 4 - 5:33 am

  As I take the Forenza to the shop AGAIN, I ask myself if I would buy this one again. No. Not likely. This car has cost us more in the time we have owned it (purchased new) than any other we own or have owned. MPG says 21-22. Have RARELY gotten 20 (more often 16-18). DONT try to drive in slippery conditions (rain or ice), because you will likely need to be pushed out of the way. I have had equivalent Toyotas in the past, and NEVER had a question about use in winter. Not so, the Forenza. Also, tires are NON-STD size ($$), 7yr/100k warranty is severely limited. It drives ok, but would I get another Suzuki product based on our experience? Sadly, and very disappointedly, No.

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  Great car for the price I paid - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By Rubens - May 4 - 1:16 am

  I bought this car one year ago. My car is 5 speed and I dont have any problem at all. For the price I paid the car has a lot of features. In the city it makes 24 MPG and on the freeway it makes 30 MPG.

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  Great ride for the money, any money - 2004 Suzuki Forenza
  By VicBSEE - April 30 - 10:00 am

  This is my first ever brand new car, and could not be happier with my choice. It has great looks, drives great, very quiet and has many extra bells and whistles usually found only on much more expensive cars. If you need a new car, at a good price, get this one.

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  Great Car For Small Sedan - 2004 Suzuki Forenza
  By toadboy - April 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car for the price and have been very pleased with the overall experience. Suspention is soft on the road but tight in corners, engine with the five speed is peppy(compared to other small sedan base engines Toyota, Honda, Focus), and the build quality is great. The Forenza is very comparable in size to my wifes Ford Contour and the overall ride is much better than the Ford Focus. Suzuki did a great job with this car. This vehicle will get over 30000 miles a year put on it so it will get a good work out.

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  Need to dump this car - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By jessinral84 - April 5 - 2:01 pm

  I have a 2006 Suzuki Forenza Sedan. Where do I even begin? The check engine light comes on constantly; it has comes on at three times in the past year for me. Each time, I spend $300 getting it "fixed" only to have it come on again soon after. The paint on the door handles chips. This car SUCKS during long trips..and by long, I mean trips over an hour. Its noisy, drives poorly and has difficulty accelerating. It also jerks every time I put it in reverse. The battery drains very easily, Ive spent $ getting that replaced. Gas mileage is terrible. Crappy car all around. Every day, I worry that this car will break down (because it has..a lot)

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  mad as hell - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By clarissa - March 22 - 3:26 pm

  as of 10/19/09 I have taken this vehicle to the dealer at least 6 times. it lights up like a christmas tree inside the dash board. check engine light, steering wheel, tire monitor all stay lit up and dealer cant seem to find the problem. I quess what they say, you pay for what you get is true, the forenza is cheap and is not worth the aggravation that comes with this car. I would not advise anyone to purchase this car, or you will be mad as hell the way that I am.