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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  Great on a Budget - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By The Newlyweds - January 3 - 2:13 am

  We recently purchased a new 2005 Suzuki Reno. We are very pleased with our purchase. We love how quiet and relaxing it was to drive/ride in. The gas mileage is pretty good (30mpg). We also own a 97 Geo Metro so were big on gas mileage. We were complaining about wanting more room on longer trips and wanting 4 doors. So we very pleased with the roomy interior, safety features, and the hatchback style. The cargo room is something we have been wanting more of and we are thrilled! We cant wait to go on our first camping trip!

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  Great Car - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Dave - December 18 - 2:50 am

  I love my car, its fun to drive and looks good as well.

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  Excellent vehicle - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Charles E. Smith - June 28 - 1:16 pm

  Since we have had this vehicle I dont know why we didnt buy one sooner. It has great acceleration, break stoping power, and has a very smooth ride. It corners easily.

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  I Love this Car - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By parul - March 8 - 7:36 pm

  The Suzuki Reno is a perfect car for students, couples and singles. If you are in the market for a coupe...go for this one. It looks neat and small, but its actually spacious inside has more room for tall people. It is very smooth. You dont even feel it when you are going 80 miles an hour. Its brakes are good. What else do you need in a vehicle that costs less than $15,000. Rather then buying a used vehicle, buy a Suzuki Reno.

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  The Reno is Excellent - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By nonie - March 5 - 1:20 am

  I own a 2006 Suzuki Reno and Im very happy with its performance. Im lovinit. It comes standard with a ton of features for the price and I must say that it is a great value. It looks beautiful from both the inside and outside. It runs better than a Honda Civic. Its so smooooooooooooooooooooth, you gotta drive it to feel that. If you dont want to take my word for it, go out and give it a try. Im sure youll thank me.

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  Great Car - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By tikirob - December 1 - 2:06 pm

  This car has been great. The ride is quite an smooth and the build quility is high. The seats are very comfortable.

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  A great overlooked runabout - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Ev - November 26 - 6:36 am

  Its easy to miss the Suzuki Reno. It is overshadowed by the heavily promoted Scions, Toyotas and Hondas, little Suzuki is well, little known. I hadnt heard of the Reno until I saw one at the auto show, and was immediatly drawn to it. After an hour of test driving it, the Reno sits in front of my apartment. Aside from the obsurity of the car, what really sets the Reno apart is the amazing level of standard equipmet. My base model came with side airbags, power windows, locks and mirrors, steering assist, 8 speaker am/fm/cd/tape, and of course the European insired hatch design. My only complaint is the gas mileage is not up to the standards of the class (see Honda Fit, Scion xA, etc).

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  My little Zuki - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Nahjdh - September 21 - 5:46 pm

  Bought used with 6k miles on it. It now has over 80k and no major problems. Putting a K&N filter, lighter flywheel pulley and a new exhuast turned this car into a beast. One of the few cars I could find in a 5 spd. My wife and I used it as an autobahn cruiser while we were stationed in Europe. Loved the surprised looks on BMW owners faces as we passed them doing 100+mph! We love this little car and plan to run the wheels off it. It has been dubbed "Road Runner" by the wife because its quick and fun to drive.

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  Love that Reno! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Bob Figuly - February 7 - 12:40 am

  This is the second Suzuki I have owned in the past four years. They are the "smartest" and best designed cars ever! I was considering a Toyota, but the test drive of the Reno sold me. Smooth, quiet and powerful, the Reno won on all accounts. When I drive the Reno, the people driving the Mercedes and BMWs all crane their necks to see what Im driving. The dealership was great and helpful also.

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  My Reno - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By Dewalt - October 18 - 12:43 pm

  First off, let me tell you that I am one of those guys that races every car I buy. I am a mechanic as well so I do all my own engine work. I have modified my Reno with minor modifications and I do pretty well at the track with it. Because of the type of car that it is no one ever sees it coming and they underestimate it. It does great on a drag strip but the handling leaves a lot to be desired. I bought the car for a work vehicle initially but then my curiosity got the better of me and now that I have raced it I am thoroughly impressed with it.