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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  Smart Package - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Saverio - July 2 - 1:36 pm

  You couldnt find a better car for less money than the Suzuki Reno. It has all the fixings of a luxury car at an economic price. If you like that go test drive one, pt for the manual transmission. You wont be sorry.

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  Good buy for the average driver - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Phillip Myers - June 17 - 8:20 am

  I just purchased my Reno a month ago and have really enjoyed driving it. While not as good as my Focus in the handling department, the ride quality seems to be on par. Once you get used to the not so tight handling, you can have fun in this car. I would recommend the Reno to anyone who wants a comfortable, affordable vehicle for the daily commute. The standard features are awesome, but I would recommend skipping the automatic, unless you like slow acceleration and a buzzy engine.

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  Awesome toy - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By russgoble - December 27 - 12:16 am

  I bought the car and to be honest with you, stock, the car isnt much, but after putting some 17" rims, limo tint, a sound system, underglow light, a custom grille and much more, that car has turned into a one of a kind here where I live. The manual has a lot more power than it look like. Adding NOS, turbo chargers, intake, exhaust will really make this car get up and race with the best. If anyone wants a car at an affordable price that you want to fix up and make unique, then I recommend this car

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  Best small car! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By jayqohardd - November 4 - 10:54 pm

  So my best friend has had her Reno since 2005 so over the years road trips have been abundant! This car is sooo much fun!! I love it more than anything. I am actually about to by an LX for my commute to and from work. The reliability is beyond expectation, I mean, we have put over 200,000 miles on it in 7 years! She just keeps going. Now, the bad thing is that the stereo system in the doors went out quickly, the fact you have to push down to shift from Drive to park, etc.. has made the shifter loose & you have to press the shift towards the driver to make sure it locks in when turning off the vehicle. Other than that I cannot complain!

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  Horrible Experience - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Tabitha Harmon - October 31 - 7:00 pm

  I bought this car to have a dependable vehicle. It has had so many problems. I have had it in the shop for the transmission (5x), the washer fluid box (2x), the air bag (1x), the windshield wipers (2x), and the AC (5x). Every time, the dealership promises the car is fixed, but it certainly is not. Now they are saying they are not going to pay to have the AC fixed because they claim a mouse has gotten in it. Yet, they have no proof of this. Im really getting fed up with Suzuki.

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  Nice Looking Car, but Keep Looking - 2007 Suzuki Reno
  By Jack H - September 24 - 2:30 am

  I bought the Reno because I desperately needed a car. I should have done more research. My car has had starting problems many times. It also gets terrible gas mileage for a compact car. I average about 21 mpg with city and highway driving. A friend has an 06 Impala that gets 30 mpg with a V6 engine. The seats are a little uncomfortable and the manual transmission is terrible. How much would a decent linkage cost Suzuki to put in. The engine is also underpowered. I am considering trading in the car for a Cobalt since the reviews that I have read about it are quite good.

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  Cool little car - 2008 Suzuki Reno
  By vickid - September 12 - 10:03 am

  Good car for the price with a good warranty. Comfortable, good looking. Lots of base price features. Its zippy, quiet, and rides well.

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  Quality Car - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By JING - August 27 - 7:16 pm

  The Suzuki Reno has a great air conditioner, its cold air at start-up, and tinted windows, something the other small cars do not seem to have. These things have a lot of value in the Southwest desert. It runs smoothly and is very quiet at and above the posted speed limit on the highway. The seats are comfortable and the audio is great. It comes standard with 4 wheel disc brakes and good sized 15" tires.

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  Buyer Beware - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By psgibas - August 27 - 9:00 am

  This car is not only poor when it comes to fuel economy, but the technical problems I had with it go beyond my apprehension. I had major work done on it TWICE since my late 2005 purchase. I will not recommend this car to anyone, spend extra couple of grand and get something better.

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  Practical with a small kick - 2008 Suzuki Reno
  By rye - July 18 - 11:23 pm

  I drive 90 miles a day and I get from 420 miles to 380 miles on a full tank of gas so the mileage is alright. Needs cruise but hey its a good price on a car that get me to were I gotta go