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 bang for the buck - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By blu5092 - April 9 - 8:30 am

  I have this car less than a year and have no issues so far. It is comfortable, quick and good on gas. If you floor it, only then do you suffer poor gas mileage. Sometimes I cant help it since I am so impressed by this small motor. For a 2.0 this car is very fast. For anyone who doesnt want to hurt their wallet, this car beats any toyota thats similar in size.

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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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  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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  Suszki Renos water pump problems - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Suszuki problems - July 16 - 3:13 am

  At 4,000 miles, less than 6 months old, the timing belt went out because of a faulty water pump. My car had major motor damage and spent three weeks in the shop and Suzuki knew of the problem and refused to recall the Reno. Now I can not trust the vehicle.

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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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  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.