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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  Call This a "Bug"gy - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By knoxvilledavid - December 17 - 6:10 am

  The Reno is a great car if you like getting 20 mpg around town, and cranking the engine multiple times to get her started. I had to crank my 06 two dozen times once trying to go home from work for an appointment. Add to that several trips for service every few days for nine months while Suzukis "engineers" worked out a "fix." The "fix" should have been to give me a full refund of my money!

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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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  Pretty Fun Little Car so Far - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By SMR - November 11 - 6:23 am

  So I have only had my 2006 Suzuki Reno for about two weeks but it has been pretty impresive for the money. Lets face it, its a cheap mode of transport. But its got some class thats for sure. I think the Italian design really helps. To me it looks better than cars out there that cost twice as much. Its very European looking. It could be that the car is actually a Holden Viva from Australia which was basically rebadged as a Suzuki. Overall I have been quite impressed by this stylish little guy. If you like the little European cars (like I do), then you wont be dissapointed. Test drive one and I think you will see what I mean.

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  The worst car ever! - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Jena - November 1 - 1:26 am

  I purchased my vehicle in 2007. I hate it. It only has 3,000. miles on it. My transmission is failing, the air bag light is on, and engine light is on too. I called Suzuki to help me. But I have to pay for everything to see whats wrong and most thing arent covered. It doesnt start always. I have 2 children and i am unemployed at this time. They told me that only interior thing are covered under warranty until 100,000 miles. The transmission is not shifting right and it jerks when it shifts. Gas not so good. I called corporate and they couldnt help me either. Not worth the money. Too many problems. And its not only me. What should I do.

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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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  Reno-Divorce - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By anti_suzuki - April 28 - 2:41 pm

  My quarrel is not with the car, which is built in Korea by Daewoo, but with the service and treatment of the Suzuki dealers. I have only had two issues with this car in 45,000 miles, but the last one was the last straw. I was charged $278 to fix a defective $45 electronic sensor. I watched the mechanic take 15 minutes, but they charged me 45 minutes labor. I told them what was wrong, internet supported common problem, and they charged me an additional $100 to diagnose it. I am trying to unload the car now and I would caution EVERYONE away from Suzuki cars. They dowble talk you with big warranties for which you still have to pay if the engine or trans do not fail completely. Stay Away!

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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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  Worst first purchase! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Meg - October 30 - 12:56 pm

  I jumped into this car way too fast. I have an automatic and it has to be the slowest ever. My cars nick name is "I think I can" because that is what I feel like when I try to pass someone! I have had my car only a year and a half. This car has been in the shop at least 5 times! My computer has been reset twice already! Then my head lights went... an electrical problem. Also the paint is completely gone off my back fenders! My dealership repainted this once and they refuse to do it again. All the paint had chipped off because of the design.

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  Suzuki Reno 05 Problems! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Tom - October 23 - 3:20 am

  Bought car in 08/2006. Right after purchase the serpentine belt needed replaced. After one month (9/06) the steering joint had to be replaced, I also had an oil leak and the valve cover gasket needed replaced. 11/06 I had to have the power steering system flushed and the fuel emission serviced. 1/07 The following needed replaced: Front strut upper mountings, bearings, and sway bar links. Luckily most of these repairs were covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty. I had a brake from repairs until 5/08, the power steering sensor had to be replaced along with the drivers seat assembly. Ive had some starting and idling issues and now I have a really hard time starting it. No power.