Overview & Reviews

Born in Japan, Suzuki is an automaker that has made a name for itself by crafting vehicles that emphasize value and affordability. Through the years, the brand's lineup has included sedans, wagons and SUVs. However, in late 2012 the company decided to stop selling new vehicles in the United States.

The company was founded by Michio Suzuki in 1909 as Suzuki Loom Works. By the 1950s, its focus had expanded beyond just loom machines to include both motorcycles and automobiles. In 1955, it rolled out the Suzulight, a compact car that proved to be a harbinger of a new era of Japanese lightweight vehicles. The automaker expanded its lineup to include a truck in 1961. Like its sibling, the tiny Suzulight Carry pickup distinguished itself with its featherweight specification. By the end of the decade, the Suzuki lineup had grown to include the Fronte passenger car, the subcompact Fronte 800 and the Carry Van full-cab van.

In 1970, Suzuki rolled out the Jimny, a four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle that resembled a playful version of the Jeep CJ-5. The automaker's roster continued to grow throughout this decade, with the addition of the Alto and the subcompact LJ80.

The 1980s saw Suzuki partnering with General Motors when GM acquired a 5 percent stake in the company. GM made this move partially in response to the growing popularity of subcompacts in the U.S. market. After the purchase, Suzuki products were rebadged and sold as GM vehicles on American shores.

In 1985, the carmaker launched an American outpost, and for the first time, Suzuki-branded vehicles became available in the U.S. The company's first model was the Samurai; available as either a convertible or a hardtop, this compact SUV met with immediate success. However, the Samurai's glory days were short-lived.

In 1988, Consumer Reports published an article in which it deemed the Samurai unsafe, saying it was more likely than most to roll over during certain maneuvers. Suzuki took the magazine to court (and eventually won) but the bad publicity from the article cast a pall on the Samurai that never quite lifted. Suzuki soldiered on, though. By the end of the decade its total aggregate car production had topped 10 million units, and its line had grown to include the compact Swift and the Sidekick, a compact SUV.

During the '90s, Suzuki expanded its reach to include territories like Egypt, Vietnam and Hungary, and launched new models like the Cappuccino convertible and the lightweight Wagon R. On U.S. soil, Suzuki rolled out the Esteem, dropped the beleaguered Samurai, introduced the two-seat, T-topped X-90 and replaced the Sidekick with the Vitara and Grand Vitara.

Suzuki and General Motors purchased ailing Daewoo in 2004, and two of that manufacturer's vehicles were rebadged and given new life as Suzukis. The Suzuki Forenza and Suzuki Verona both had former lives as Daewoo cars.

Through the first decade of the 2000s, Suzuki continued to evolve and improve its models, culminating in the Kizashi, a midsize sedan that was good enough to challenge segment front runners. But with overall sales and consumer interest stuck on a downward trend, Suzuki finally announced bankruptcy and termination of its U.S. vehicle operations in late 2012. The company plans to honor existing warranties, and some Suzuki dealers will continue to provide parts and service.

User Reviews:

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  I got duped!! - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By nafeeshap - August 21 - 2:17 pm

  This car is the WORST car I have EVER owned. I drive a 2006 Suzuki Forenza. My car does NOT start like it is supposed to. I have spent so much money trying to determine what the problem is. I have to unplug the battery in order for the car to start when im ready to drive it & that does not always work. The car is in the shop right now. I took the car in Saturday 4/21/2012. I got a complete tune-up. I picked the car up Saturday 4/28/2012. I drove home. I parked the car. I went to move the car on Monday 4/30/2012. The car would not start. I took it back to the mechanic. I brought the car with 4 miles on it. It was brand new. I now have 21,000+ mi on it. It makes no sense. I HATE this car!

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  Suzuki SX4 ZXi - 2008 Suzuki SX4
  By G V Chanukya - August 10 - 11:46 pm

  Suzuki SX4 ZXi car though boasts of high end features its crap when it comes to quality. I have brought new SX4 on 4-4-2008. The reverse shifting gear was hard to function from outset. When I asked about it, Suzuki people told its designed like that only. When it ran 4900 km,just before second free service, the shifting gear (reverse) got jammed. To add further woes, water started pouring into front cabin from the bottom..

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  Dont purchase - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By dwebb28 - August 1 - 6:36 pm

  Transmission knocks when it is put in drive (just not when at the dealership), inside door handles break off, my valve cover gasket was leaking, my hood keeps popping open when driving, I keep going through tires after numerous alignments and rotations, and during an oil change when the vehicle was coming down off the lift the struts magically failed. Not a very impressive car. I do not recommend buying this car. Biggest mistake that I have made, should have spent a little more money on a Honda

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  Regrettable purchase - 2008 Suzuki SX4
  By tlong - June 3 - 11:00 am

  This is the very first brand new vehilce purchase I have ever made. I am quite disappointed. The exterior paint is "cheap & sensitive" (scratches down to the metal extremely easily, I have had to pay for protectant because of bird droppings marking it). The interior "plastic" (dash, doors)scratch extremely easily, and the upholstery snags like mad as well. The little windows on the front sides create blind spots. The window sticker when I bought it said avg mpg 30 highway and I have not ever gotten above 25-26mpg. Small gas tank. Cruise control is not standard neither are arm rests. Not terribly comfortable. Hard to handle in strong winds. Back seat not much leg room. Not "family" car

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  unhappy with car - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By unhappy customer - June 3 - 6:40 am

  Ok, so continuing from back in Sept, my car went back in again to the dealer for a 3rd time replacing the transmission sensor for a second time on 10/12/09 and also had a drivers seat ordered as the lumbar is broken. Well to date, no call yet that the seat is in and we are now in December and the car still rides like it has a hesitation. Suzuki rep has decided not to return calls as well. Its no wonder they stopped making this car. They are nothing but junk!! Transmission should have been changed according to other mechanics, but Suzuki doesnt want to honor the warranties!! Rip offs!!

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  Why you shouldnt buy an SX4 - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By Greg Myers - February 19 - 2:10 am

  I bought the SX4 for my wife as a Christmas present in 2006 . The colors was beautiful and it had a manual trans . (Her favorite ). Since then , the engine failed at 30,000 miles , the airbag module($1800)failed , it has thrown numerous check engine lights and and now has a bad catalytic converter . Guess what , if you arent aware , your emissions warranty runs out at 80,000 miles and theres no getting around it. The trouble code is for a catalytic flow efficiency problem that is more likely an oxygen sensor fault like Nissan has just experienced . The dealer installed cost of the new cat is just over $900.00. Do it yourselfers can get it at the dealer for about $500.00.

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  Transmission Range Sensor - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By qwooten4u2c - February 16 - 6:23 am

  Not all to bad of a vehicle, but it has numerous write-ups of transmission issues. My wifes Forenza has the check engine light on now. The code presented were PO700and PO705 (Transmission Range Sensor) This part is dealer only and cost $50-$60. Getting it fixed at the dealer would have cost us about $300-$400. $60 part, thirty minute change time, $400 cost. Yeah right! Did it myself.

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  Transmission - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By unhappy with car - November 22 - 12:33 pm

  So, bought the car in Aug 2007, first month it was in shop 3 times for a vibration/shake. They finally after first aligning, rotating and balancing tires, then supposedly replaced tires because they claimed there were flat spots figured out it was bent wheel axles!! Then again in the shop 3 weeks ago as the engine seemed to have a strain on it and then wouldnt drive. They claimed it was the sensor in the transmission, then got it from the dealer and that same day they had to have it towed as it would not shift into gear at all!! They told me they replaced the shifter cables. On the first time into the shop for the transmission they told me the radiator was never bolted into the car!!

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  Very Bad Paint - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Jessie0405 - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had trouble with the paint job in the first year and again now. Paint chipped in places that would not normally be touched by hands, rocks or anything else for that matter. On the trunk edges, by the driverside back window. Large chips that rusted. Many tiny rust spots. Big ones were fixed at the local dealership. Told it could be the pearlized paint as it is softer than normal. Having the same problems again. Chips in the paint that are rusting, tiny pinholes all over that are rusted. Took it back to dealer, they advised me that was normal wear and tear. It is not!!! They just want me to buy a new car. Left dealership very unhappy!

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  Suzuki does not stand behind their warranty - 2011 Suzuki SX4
  By serine459 - November 7 - 2:53 pm

  I bought a 2011 Suzuki Sx4 new in 2012 I kept noticing a sweet chemical smell whenever the air conditioner or defrost was being used. I contacted my Suzuki dealer and they said they had dealt with this problem with other Suzukis and thought it was related to the vapor coming back into the vent so they ran the hose to a different area and said it should be fixed. The next time I drove the car and used the air conditioner the antifreeze smell was there again. I contacted Suzuki and they said that they had done all they could and sent me to Arbitration. Suzuki told Arbitration that the car was working as designed and they said there was nothing more that they would do for me .