Overview & Reviews

Quentin Crisp once said, "If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style." It's a message Suzuki wisely took to heart in its expeditious handling of the short-lived Verona.

Sold as the Daewoo Magnus internationally, the Suzuki Verona was launched on U.S. shores in model-year 2004, a reflection of Suzuki's desire to carve its niche in the lucrative midsize sedan segment. The Verona came armed with one of the lowest price tags in the segment, along with a decent interior and pleasant ride quality. Still, it became immediately apparent that the sedan's modest charms weren't enough to lure buyers in this highly competitive segment.

Suzuki's sales goals were by no means overly ambitious -- the manufacturer hoped to sell a meager 25,000 Veronas per year. Sales fell short of even these humble expectations as consumers were turned off by the car's lack of key safety features and unimpressive handling and performance. Suzuki quickly called it a day, killing the Verona in 2006. However, the manufacturer hasn't let go of its dream of conquering the midsize sedan segment. Suzuki has announced plans to re-enter the category in the near future with an all-new vehicle.

Most Recent Suzuki Verona

Available in a single generation spanning 2004-'06, the Suzuki Verona midsize sedan was the largest car in Suzuki's roster at this time. With one of the lowest price tags in its segment, this Suzuki was designed to appeal to buyers wanting an inexpensive way into the midsize sedan category.

Verona buyers got a car with handsome though nondescript looks, and a wheelbase roughly equal to that of a Honda Accord. The most inexpensive Verona was the S trim, which came with keyless entry, 15-inch wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning, full power accessories and a CD player. Next up was the LX, which added climate control, 16-inch alloys and auxiliary remote steering wheel controls. Those who chose the Verona EX benefited from additional features like an electrochromatic rearview mirror, heated seats and a power moonroof. Traction control was the only option, available solely on the EX.

This family sedan was more notable for what it didn't offer than for what it did. Convenience features like a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and one-touch up/down windows weren't available, even though they were commonly found elsewhere in the midsize segment. Also absent was an in-dash CD changer. Its safety features list also came up short, as the Verona initially failed to offer side and head curtain airbags. (Side airbags were eventually added, however.)

Inside its cabin, the Suzuki Verona drew favorable comparisons to the Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat. Gauges were pleasant to look at and some materials did a nice job of conveying an air of quality. Materials weren't universally up to snuff, though. The Verona's leather was coarse to the touch, and plastics on the dash felt cheap. Control stalks were flimsy relative to those of other cars in its class.

The car's engine, a 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder producing 155 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, struggled laboriously to help the Verona accomplish even the most basic passing maneuvers and distinguished itself as one of the weakest in its class -- even relative to competing sedans' inline four-cylinder engines. On the plus side, the car's four-speed transmission made the best of the situation with well-timed shifts.

Suzuki took steps to make the Verona more palatable. In 2005, the car got long-overdue side airbags, along with a standard tire-pressure monitoring system and a trunk-mounted tool case. LX models benefited from a standard sunroof. Antilock brakes became standard in 2006; the trim lineup was also condensed into two trims, the Base (which was similar to the former S) and the Luxury (similar to the ES).

In editorial reviews, the Suzuki Verona's driving experience proved to be a disappointment. Acceleration was lackluster and the car was wobbly around turns; steering, too, came up short, feeling disconnected from the road. In its favor, the Verona offered capable brakes and a comfortable ride.

In the end, though, even Clarence Darrow would be hard-pressed to win a case for the Verona. Although inoffensive, it simply didn't measure up to its rivals; in an Edmunds.com comparison test of 10 midsize sedans, the Suzuki Verona was the last-place finisher. Used-car buyers seeking dirt-cheap prices in this segment would be better served by choices like the Hyundai Sonata or Chevrolet Malibu instead.

User Reviews:

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  JUNK - 2006 Suzuki Verona
  By Ripped off - August 22 - 6:13 pm

  This car is junk! The cruise control does not work it jerks. The dealer cant find a problem. The CD player broke, the gas cap broke and now at 41,000 the ABS system went out and is another $2100. RUN away from this junk!

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  suzuki verona - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By goku - August 8 - 2:00 am

  so far so good

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  Verona is A Classy Value Option .... - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By rasup - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Overall Excellent choice.The Verdict after 300 miles.. 1. Style : Very Classy...gets looked a second time almost at all places. 2. Performance: Very Good. The Car is very smooth.Could have better accelaration at higher rpm. 3. Price : No Car can beat the price in this class for the features. 4. Space : Very large.

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  Suzuki Verona - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By lencyn - August 2 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I are pleasantly surprised at the comfort of our new Suzuki. Much less road niose than our last car. The interior is plush and rich looking. I love all the little extra storage spaces and especially the large trunk. We would like better gas mileage, but it seems to be improving. We only bought the car in January so it really hasnt been tested.

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  The Verona, A complete Surprise! - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Gk - July 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my 4th Suzuki. The other 3 were XL-7s. This is the 3rd Suzuki that I have bought from Passport Suzuki in Plano Texas. Passport Suzuki is the BEST when it comes to sales & service, they make you feel like family. The Verona is a precision built car. Fit & finish rivial most cars, very tight. Seats are comfortable, firm, not too soft. The interior is roomly & layed out well. Ride is comfortable, the car floats, smooth suspenision & is as quiet as a Cadillac or Lincoln. The engine is smooth, quiet & doesnt have that 4-cyl bang that is associated with 4 cyls. The A/C is great, will freeze you out. A very nice car for the money.

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  I love my new Car - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By ybg9090 - July 22 - 10:00 am

  So far so good. The car looks small from the outside however its so roomy. My salesman was 285lbs and about 6"2 and he had planty of room to move. Its very comfortable. The small amount of wood grain makes the car look classy but not gaudy. The car is inexpensive and great warranty. I absolutely love it.

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  verona - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By joe spear - June 24 - 4:33 am

  Since purchased this verona has been an excellent ride. Its quiet and comfortable. The lumbar seats are great for my bad back. I have the titanium silver color which is easy to keep clean. It doesnt show dirt too much as compared with red or black. I would purchase another one with no second thoughts..

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  MY MY MY VERONA - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By nace - June 22 - 6:43 am

  I purchased my Verona about 3 months ago.So far all is well and I love the car. I havent experienced the stalling problems that Ive read about the Forums. The car looks great, rides good, and has adequate power for everyday driving. I hope it continues to perform well for as long as I own it. Thanks

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  Suzuki Verona EX - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By marvinlee - June 20 - 2:00 am

  The Verona is a precision built, attractive car with low power and only fair fuel economy given its six cylinder engine with dual overhead cams. The overall fit and finish rival much more costly cars. Notable is the light effort to open the trunk lid, the beautiful instruments (LS and EX models) and automatic temperature control (LS and EX). Unlike any other new car I have owned, the Verona has not required any return trips to the dealer for minor factory assembly problems. The body is quiet on good roads but transmits excessive tire noise on rough concrete and asphalt.

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  Lots of features, very stylish - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By Nadine - June 3 - 1:30 am

  I did research on the 2005 Suzuki Verona before I purchased it. Several sites stated that it was poor on crash tests. Despite this concern, the Verona is a great car. The interior is excellent! Heated saets, moon roof, 6 speaker sound sustem with tape and CD capabilities, power drivers seat. and power windows and locks, what more could you ask for? The ride was a little stiff at first, but has improved greatly. It is a smooth, comfortable ride. Dont try to make any quick manuvers in it, as it is slow to respond sometimes. But it does have a smooth ride and acceleration when you need to pick up speed to pass. Despite my concerns during an accident (received a poor rating on side impact) I love it!