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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  2004 Suzuki Aerio SX - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Vinnie Torioalleo - February 25 - 4:46 am

  Very, very quick but needs better suspension. Theres a lot of noise in the cabin area. Brakes are very, very, very noisy. Everything else about the car is great, buy one or youll have to get an sx4 because this fast and furious baby as been discontinued.

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  Lasted 260K miles. - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By JofNoho - February 21 - 4:13 pm

  I averaged 50K miles a year since I bought this car brand new. No problems until I had to replace the lifters at 110K, not bad. Suzuki recommends timing belt replacement at 60K but I pushed it to 100K and then 200K. It ran great to 260K, it proved to be extremely reliable. There were a few electrical problems, the passengers air bag light came on pretty early on and the headlight switch shorted out at about 150k. Also, suzuki charges a lot for parts and the two mechanics I took it to knew nothing about these cars. Other than that, it was a surprisingly durable car that got me back and forth from work for almost 5 years.

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  XL7 - 2003 Suzuki XL-7
  By Jen Conlin - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the best ride Ive ever been in. I enjoy the fact that I feel like Im riding on air. I barely feel the bumps on the road, the engine is quiet and I enjoy the comfort that the vehicle provides.

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  Warranty not good enough - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By Allen Holloway - February 15 - 3:53 pm

  I bought the car new in 05 and didnt have any trouble the first year. In the last 12 months, Ive replaced the exhaust system due to catalytic converter failure and the entire a/c system which isnt covered under the 100,000 mile warranty and cost me $2,000.00. I dont get the gas mileage that is advertised either. The ride is okay. A lot of extras come standard on this car such as power windows, cd player and tilt wheel. Overall Im satisfied with the car, I would like to see the 100,000 mile warranty cover everything.

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  not bad for the price - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By ana - February 14 - 10:26 pm

  I purchased this car used in 2004. it only had 3000 miles on it, so i got it at a good price with the warranty. it is a smooth ride, but it is slow on acceleration for a v6. It is roomy and stylish. I love the radio controls on the steering wheel and the full size spare. Unfortunately I have had to take the car in quite a bit. Since it is a new model, they have to get the kinks out. It is a little discouraging but the dealership is trying their best to fix the problems.

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  Reliable car with great features - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By scott morgan - February 9 - 12:43 pm

  I bought my awd aerio brand new with 49 miles. It was loaded with climate control and ABS, I paid $15,000 for it. At first I had a minor hiccup with balding tires (tires went bald after 14,000 miles! dealer fixed it with alignment or something and its been golden since). This was my first new car and I am so glad I bought it. I have treated it well and changed the oil every 3,000 and got a tune up(spark plugs and stuff) at 100,000. I have went through some brakes and a few tire changes. The car has 140,000 miles on it and will be 6 years old next month. The car is great in the winter and I hope to get another 3-5 years out of the car.

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  Good Cute car - 2001 Suzuki Esteem
  By ArkMon - February 1 - 10:00 am

  For a subcompact car, this is a great one. We specifically sought a new Suzuki Esteem because it was the end of the model year, the last year of the Esteem. We figured we could strike a deal on one that a dealer wanted to move off the lot. We ended up finding a great deal on a used one, instead. We love this car, and I think of it as a little Subaru. While somewhat conservative, it stands out from others in its class. As a small 4 cylinder, I expect some noise, but once up to cruising speed, its suprisingly smooth and quiet. Extra space of the wagon makes it feel not-so-small. I reccomend it to anyone searching for cars in the category.

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  Verona experience - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By verona buyer - January 29 - 2:30 am

  This vehicle is better than all the reviews I have read about. The handling does not seem sloppy and my car has side impact bags in the front seats. I love the interior, especially the casette player and the audio controls on the steering wheel. The headroom is good and the seats are comfortable. I like this car. Those are the pluses, now for the minuses. The windshield wipers dont seem to have a fast speed and the headlights are weak.

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  SUV wannabe, well worth the title - 2002 Suzuki Vitara
  By Jonny Matrix - January 26 - 10:00 am

  I was very skeptical about this vehicle at first. I am a frequent traveller, and being in the military, its understandable that a vehicle with storage capacitys needed. Having had an Isuzu Rodeo with a 4 cyl engine, I experienced that the vehicle was too heavy for its engine. I also needed something with a decent fuel economy. Having have had a brand new Vitara for about a month now, and putting on 2800 miles, its proven to me more than worthy. It is definitely one good way to start in an SUV, and I should have done so sooner.

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  fun 4x4 - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By LIDiver - December 27 - 2:00 am

  The car has adequate acceleration. Good braking. The side opening rear door is a plus for me. Gas mileage is typical for a 4x4 vehicle. Interior room is good. Drivers seat has adequate adjustment to make the driving comfortable. All in a it is a good purchase and fun to drive.