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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  Nice SUV - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By gee - April 17 - 2:00 am

  only 5,000 miles, so far so go.

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  This car is good looking but is bad - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Ms Samuels - April 15 - 7:33 pm

  The first major repair bill cost me almost $400 for ABS Wheel on my drivers side front and it has been downhill all the way.

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  maybe my bad luck - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By suzuki user - April 13 - 2:00 am

  We have replaced the transmission just after drove it for 4 months.And now we got a engin oil leakage.The dealer is aweful here.

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  Not bad for the price !!! - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By Sal Ferro - April 13 - 2:00 am

  This little SUV handles it own. For the price the features are outstanding. I have a third row seat whichs is great for kids , but a little cramped for the adults on long trips. The soft plastic they use for the visors is too filmsy and not long enough to block the sun when you use it for side use. Overall this SUV is worth the price and has enough room to spare and using the 4 Wheel drive is fun. Oh !! I do have one issue that I am too lazy to go to get fixed, is that sometimes the radio LEDS go dim in the daylight whichs makes it hard to see the station and clock. One day I will have the issue addressed when I have time to go to the dealer.

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  my second suzuki - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By nauj - April 13 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara for a 2004 XL-7 Limited 2WD in Dec. 2003. The 99 was trouble free and very reliable and I have no reason to beleive that the 2004 will be any different. The ride is very quiet with no road noise, a killer stereo system, comfortable leather seats, a beautiful dash with wood grained accents and the feel is like Im driving something much more expensive. I would highly recommend that anyone looking for a mid size suv to look at and test drive the Suzuki. I think that they will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of vehicle for the money.

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  Best car i have driven - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By Joshua - April 7 - 3:20 pm

  This is a great car and is fun to drive. The doors and dashboard on my 2006 Aerio SX do not rattle. The car has great gas mileage and this is a great car to buy and comes with a lot of standerd features.

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  2004 XL-7 - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By bb - April 7 - 11:46 am

  We have owned our Suzuki XL-7 for 1 1/2 years. The reason I bought it was the warranty, the design, and the trade in deal they gave me. It feels very solid and handles well, I am 6 feet tall and there is a lot of headroom. I think the XL-7 could be a bit longer, but it is adeqaute with smaller kids. We have the 3rd row seat which is very tight. If the SUV was a foot longer the 3rd row would be a bit more pratical. We bought out XL-7 with 6,000 miles on it for $20000, $15,000 with our trade. The dealer gave me $5,000 for a 1994 Ford Explorer Limited with 99,000 miles on it. My wife likes the size of the XL-7 and finds it easy to navigate. She feels safe driving in snow with the 4WD.

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  Great Car - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By sm - April 2 - 8:43 am

  This is our second Forenza and we have been extremely happy with the car. It is very attractive inside and out. It has a comfortable ride and is very dependable. I like the addition of the side airbags and the reassurance of the great warranty, but we have not needed to use it yet. The car is a lot roomier inside, both in the front seat and the back, than you expect it be. When someone rides in the car with me for the first time, their comment is always how surprised they are at how roomy / comfortable / sharp it is. The Forenza is a comfortable road trip car, too!

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  What a great little SUV! - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Barry - April 2 - 12:30 am

  What a surprising little SUV! The Grand Vitara is a HUGE advance for Suzuki. The external AND internal styling, materials, and fit and finish are absolutely top rate! My wife and I compared and drove all of its closest Japanese competitors - and it knocked the socks off them! The interior is particularly good - with a modern, robust, rattle and creak-free cockpit. Its legroom is surprisingly good, although the trunk is smaller than the Toyota RAV4s. Its gas mileage is perhaps not the best, but it is still quite acceptable. The 4-mode full-time AWD and the proper ladder-type chassis seem to be a more robust alternative and a cut above its more car-like SUV competitors, and the 7-year warranty is very reassuring. I HIGHLY recommended tihs vehicle!

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  Just try it and you will love it - 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  By Gucio84 - April 1 - 3:56 pm

  Iwas waiting for that car for more than a month. First i want to get GTS AWD CVT but they dont make it yet so i put order for SLS AWD CVT. I took delivery on 2/18 and the car had 24 miles on it. Now i cant say to much about acceleration because i have 350miles and still i am brake in a car but driving on high way taking few seconds to get to 80mph. So far i can say car is cool and fun to drive. On snow car feel steady. Interior its nice and it has a lots of room. Car has a lot of features for that price. If you will buy different car with those futures you will pay much more.