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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  Lousy car - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By hikaru_n - April 4 - 4:25 pm

  This car is riddled with electrical and sensor problems. Had to get them to replace the headlights. Very bad acceleration and shifting. Probably the worst car Ive ever had. Its my fault I didnt do enough research on this car. It was inexpensive and fun to drive but now Im already really wanting to trade this piece of crap in for a mazda 3 hatchback. Which I should have bought in the first place. TRUST ME DO NOT BUY THIS CAR YOU WILL NOT DRIVE IT!

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  Billies Review - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By billie - February 6 - 8:20 pm

  A fun vehicle to own. Not only can I go when I want with the quality travel I want, but it is very versatile for a family of 3 (me, my wife and my 12 month old son).

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  Great Buy - 2008 Suzuki Reno
  By Tony - February 2 - 4:43 am

  I bought this 08 Reno with 2,400 miles on it. Its my ride from home to work and back. This is the first small car that I have ever owned. I traded in my 98 Lumina (168k miles)and $5400 cash and drove it off the lot. So many of the reviews have been less than complimentary, but as an owner, I think this is a great little car. 3 year/36k mile bumper to bumper, a 100k powertrain warranty, and 24 hour roadside assistance. I dont like the fact there arent many dealerships around for service concerns, but I have only had one issue with the airbag light staying on all the time. Remember that you get what you pay for. I bought a 4-cylinder automatic. I dont expect to keep up with a Vette!

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  So far - so good - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By BK - January 16 - 2:53 am

  We have 30,000 miles on our Reno and have not had it in the shop yet. It starts easily and is pretty good on fuel. I drive 40 miles round trip to work and run a few errands around town in it. It is a manual 5 speed and we average 35 miles per gallon consistantly around town. The air is pretty weak and living in Florida can be a bit frustrating. Overall, we have been pleased but we are holding our breath. We also owned a Suzuki Verona at the same time that was a nightmare - we finally got rid of it, thank God.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By M. Miller - October 27 - 11:36 am

  Manual version is very fun to drive as long as you dont mind driving the stick. The car is looking great from behind; very sexy. It has great lines and it feels sleek and "in style" even after 4 years. I recommended it mostly for in-town commute. I drove it from Atlanta, through DC and NY, when I moved up to Chicago. I drive it in Chicago and it fits perfectly here; easy to park, easy to move around on short distances. I dont understand why only 7.2 in Editors review.

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  So nice!!!! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By kuzuki reno - September 17 - 6:06 am

  I love this car. It drives so smooth. I had one car on my mind for the last year and well it was not this car but when I saw it i had to test drive it and fell in love with it.

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  Great Car, Great Value - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By jperez - August 24 - 5:20 am

  I love it the Reno. It is small sleek, stylish, has power everything, and costs less than $15,000. Enough said.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Tony - August 18 - 2:06 am

  I just purchased this car because of its looks and how it drives, On the road all you see these days is Hondas and Toyotas I wanted to be diffrent and bought a Reno. The car is very spacious and very confortable, it rides well too.

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  Great Car, Buy it! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Buy it !!! - July 30 - 1:16 am

  OK guys heres the story and the word from someone who knows. Listen up, this is a fantastic car. It has tons of standard upgrades that other cars makers charge an arm and a leg for. It handles great, looks very European and very cool, and it comes with a CD/MP3 player 8 speaker system - standar ! I highly recommend getting the 5-speed manual transmission over automatic. The manual will give you more power, more control, and its a heck of lot quieter than the automatic. Take my word for it, youll love the car. I looked at the Honda Civic, Hyundai, and the Scion tC; and The Suzuki Reno beats them all hands down. The quality is second to none. Thats the story and the word.

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  2006 Suzuki Reno - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By dora5 - July 17 - 7:40 am

  I purchased my car in 2011 at 48,000 miles, and the biggest problem is that it isnt good on gas. Also, I was told by a mechanic at a a Goodyear Service Center two days ago that I might need struts, rack and pinion work and rods!!! Even though the car was given a clean bill of health just six months ago, and only has 52,000 miles on it. Today, I went to the Suzuki authorized service center and they said I dont need anything but an alignment and new wipers. They thought the struts where getting dry, but not a problem. Seems to me Goodyear wanted to make a little money. To be safe, I am taking it to a third shop just in case. Luckily, I purchased an extended warranty.