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 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.

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  Great looking, but whatsup with the a/c? - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By fastdriverNleather - October 5 - 5:53 pm

  Nice clean lines easy to drive , even for me being 6ft3.lots of room. this car doesnt wear you out on long road trips . Ive driven it to las vegas from LA, was very smooth, quiet and relaxing to drive. even at speeds in excess of 80mph..

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By jpcommute - September 28 - 5:40 pm

  I recently purchased a 5spd Reno (46K) for a commuter. I drive 90 miles round trip to work, about 90% interstate. The car is better than expected. The editor reviews seem to be a bit harsh. The ride is good, pretty quiet, handling is OK, peppy engine with the 5 spd, no problems merging etc.The standard features are way above the economy class norm. The mpg has been close to advertised, I have ranged between 26-28.5 mpg with an average 25% city 75% hwy driving. Hwy speeds between 70-77 mph. If you are looking for max mpg, look elsewhere, the Reno offers a pretty good package at the current used prices, shop around and get one at trade-in value and you will have a good 1st car or commuter.

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  FUN FUN FUN - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By John Davis - September 24 - 8:50 am

  I looked at what seemed liked hundreds of cars and this car was the only one that stuck in my mind. I purchased the car and everyone I know has fallen in love with it and what makes it even better is the people at the dealership. Im already looking for another Suzuki for my wife.

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  great car - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By comgetsum - September 10 - 10:13 am

  I bought my car in April of 07 when I got it it was bone stock I got the blue metallic Ive since added 18wheels intake, exhaust, chip, bigger injectors and ported and polished the intake. Have not had one issue with this car and im a abid street racer I keep up with evos and stis this is awesome grand stock its very slow but for the money u get lots of standard features **** the Ford Focus there base modek car has crank handles to roll up the Windows. To bad they they dont make the Reno or forenza anymore I think Suzuki was dumb for recalling them.

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  Better than it gets credit for - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Ben - August 30 - 6:50 pm

  Bought this car brand new in Feb. 2005 - now has 105K miles and Ive never paid for anything other than routine maintenance (although, routine maintenance is a bit expensive on this one, especially hard-to-find tires!) Best features of this car are handling, and interior roominess for its size (I am VERY tall, and this car is more comfortable to drive than some full-size sedans!) Engine performance is adequate at best, but despite this, the gas mileage is subpar for a car this size. (Mileage IS a lot better on the highway, where I do most of my driving)

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  Piece of junk - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Ed - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car in 2006. Since then its been in the shop at least 6 times. Ive had major issues with the transmission sensor. When the sensor goes bad the car does not move. I was driving this car to work at the speed limit of 50, then I had to stop for a light, when I was taking off the check engine light came on and the car had almost no power. If I knew then what I know now I would have opted for a better car. I would never purchase another Suzuki. I guess you get what you pay for. Oh and getting rid of it is much more difficult considering its worthless.

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  Good Car - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Saverio - May 10 - 10:33 am

  I have owned this vehicle since February of 2005. It now has over 31,000 miles. It has been great. I put new tires on it 2000 miles ago. I opted for wider tires and it has improved its handling.

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  Great Little Car - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By redsox8191 - May 9 - 4:50 pm

  My Suzuki Reno is the second Suzuki I have owned. I also currently own an XL-7. I LOVE this car. The interior is set up great and there is plenty of room for me and the kids. The sound system rocks and the ride is as smooth as silk. The braking with the 4 disk brakes is sharp and the speed sensitive steering is awesome...especially in parking lots etc. The only knock I have so far is the gas mileage isnt great. Hopefully that will improve as the car gets broken in better. I highly recommend this vehicle to those looking for a small reliable car! You cant beat the 7 year / 100,000 mile warranty either!

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  Great value - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By revtomax - April 22 - 5:56 pm

  I just purchased one and I love it. Great looks, great paint, fun to drive. The options it comes with are great am, fm, cd player front and rear wipers, easy controls. Just a lot for a little. I have owned a Focus in the past and there is a lot in this car that the Focus didnt have for the price. And the warranty, well that itself almost sold me the car.