Overview & Reviews

No matter how you slice it, the departed Suzuki Reno was basically a Suzuki Forenza wagon with a slightly more stylish body. It shared that car's basic architecture, engine and transmission. A four-door compact hatchback, the Reno should make for an affordable used car with plenty of interior space and lots of features. Don't expect class-leading performance, however, as the Reno lagged behind the competition in virtually every driving-related category -- even fuel economy.

Most Recent Suzuki Reno

The Suzuki Reno debuted for the 2005 model year. With its emphasis on value, the Reno's long list of standard features took center stage. Many modern compact cars come standard with power door locks and windows, a tilt wheel and other convenience features, but the Reno went a little further by offering such features as a micron air-filtration system for the cabin, a CD stereo with MP3 capability and a height- and lumbar-adjustable driver seat -- all without requiring the buyer to check a single box on the options list.

Clearly the Suzuki Reno has excellent value as a used car. Still, "excellent value" doesn't exactly mean comfort or power. While the EX trim level was loaded and included features like leather seats, remote keyless entry and cruise control, the Reno in any trim offered barely adequate performance. This was particularly true in the acceleration department, with subpar fuel economy adding insult to injury. Handling was also less than spectacular, as Suzuki endowed the Reno with a soft, smooth ride at the expense of cornering ability. However, this is a trade-off that the average consumer will likely appreciate.

Because the 127-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has to work so hard to keep up, a good deal of engine noise makes its way into the cabin. Competitors like the Mazda 3 are more refined and quicker by comparison.

The Reno's interior came up short as well when compared to other domestic and import-branded small cars. The materials were of low quality and many panels simply didn't fit correctly. We suggest that shoppers looking for an inexpensive used hatchback skip the Reno and check out more viable choices.

Changes were minimal during the Suzuki Reno's run. Model year 2006 brought the addition of a standard tilt steering wheel and new seat fabrics, while '07 saw the inclusion of a standard tire pressure monitoring system for all trim levels. Unfortunately for audiophiles, the formerly standard eight-speaker stereo was dropped altogether for '08, leaving a meager four-speaker unit in its stead.

User Reviews:

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  My Little Tomato - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By little red tomato - October 9 - 6:56 pm

  I like my little red tomato. Its great on gas, I went from Patchogue to Riverhead everyday and it costs me $20 - $25 filling at 1/4 tank, depending on the gas prices for the week. For the price its a good car, I havent had any problems.

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  Love My Reno - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By devbot - June 1 - 3:56 am

  I purchased my Reno as a birthday present to myself. I love my car, and how it hasnt broken down yet. Ive owned mine for about six months now. The interior is very roomy, and the instrument panel is very simple and logical. Styling is very European, and theres plenty of space in the trunk. My only real complaint about it, is that I wish there were a more powerful engine option. I know this is an economy car, but I really wish that it had like the SX-4 engine option. The suspension could be a little stiffer, I mean it handles well, but Id like less body roll. Again I know this is an economy car, but sometimes you may have to do some avoidance maneuver.

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  Not too Shabby - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By tiffany - February 25 - 11:30 pm

  I bought this car new after months of looking online at CPO / used cars. I actually got it for well below invoice price, which was one major reason that I purchased it. I am pleasantly surprised by the quality and performance of it. The interior is simple yet stylish, and has plenty of room. The exterior is a sleek, European hatchback look. There are great features included for the price. I am actually pretty happy with my purchase. The only thing I am disappointed in is the fuel economy. A car this small should be able to get more than 22 mpg (city). My 03 Honda Civic gets 29 mpg.

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  Reno - Good Car, Little Money - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Beverly O. - December 6 - 1:03 pm

  I was apprehensive about buying a small car such as the Reno, but after test driving the Kia Rio and then the Suzuki Reno I was assured that the Reno was the car for me. The Reno out-performed the Rio with its acceleration, comfort, noise level and cost! I love my little Reno. It would be just perfect if only it got a wee bit better gas mileage for its size.

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  Happy so far. - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Reno Owner - November 7 - 9:20 pm

  We bought a 06 Reno a few years ago and so far has been a reliable car, overall I like the car. Im around 6-2ish and I fit comfortably into the vehicle. No knees into the glove box, no hair touching the upholstry on the roor. Has gotten a bit cramped with the addition of a car seat, had to move pass seat forward. Have not had any major mechanical problems to this point. Have not experienced the bad starting as some others have. Did eat through the factory serp belt though by 36,000. Have flushed the engine cooling system and serviced the auto trans, no problems with the fluid exchanges either. MPG is nothing to totally rave about, but full it once a week, not terrible.

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  Suzuki Reno - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By John - November 4 - 8:40 am

  When I bought the car, I loved it. Specially the one on display which had special rims and tinted windows. I had decided to get a manual but ended buying the auto. I read reviews and the person did not recommended doing this, but to me its a very reliabable car. I drove it during the snow and it took me to and back from work. The only thing that I dont like is the fact that is not good when it comes to gas.

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  Reno....not broken in yet - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Charley - August 16 - 5:50 pm

  I just got my Reno and am pleased. A few things need to be changed but overall its a great car. The main selling point of any Suzuki is the warranty. You cant beat 7 year/100,000 miles. Plus, if you are a loyal customer to the dealer for your services, you get free tires as long as you own it. For a base model, it has a lot more than any other base model you can get. We were looking for budget...and thats what we got. But this is by far the best bang for your buck as far as dependability goes. Power isnt all there. My 92 prelude puts the Reno to shame in that aspect. But all in all its a nice car with a lot of benefits you shouldnt pass up if youre on a budget.

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  Great looking, but whatsup with the a/c? - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By sweetwolf54 - October 13 - 8:33 am

  I really enjoy this car in just about every department,except the air conditioner. I have had it back to the dealer twice and it doesnt COOL the interior unless its UNDER 80 degrees. Has anyone else had a problem on warm/hot days getting this car cooled down INSIDE??? Im really frustrated..

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  Underrated Commuter Superstar! - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Jamin - September 21 - 10:33 pm

  I work as a salesperson in the car business and I drive a variety of cars and trucks on a daily basis. Some are nicer, faster, bigger, and tow better than others. For me, this vehicle works. I work downtown and I needed a small, reliable commuter that was reasonable on gas but still fun to drive. This car delivers. I bought it with just over 40k miles on it and so far have had no problems. The flat torque curve of this engine allows it to pull even in 5 gear which is unusual for a car this size. I went with an 8 for reliability due to my short ownership. The car handles like a go-cart and winds up nicely. I paid 6k used (its a 2006)- (a deal a customer could have gotten) Value-wise-- 10!

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  Nothing Special - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By NancyH - February 7 - 7:13 am

  This is a great car if you live in a state with little snow, and dont mind the terrible gas mileage. While it is fun to drive, had I known these two factors were as bad as they are I wouldt have bought this car. Also there is no good place to store cds and the glove compartment is tiny.