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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  gotta have it - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By cactus flower - October 19 - 2:00 am

  i had this car as a rental for one week. I was totally thrilled with it. Has great torque for the mountains I had to go over (from Salt Lake to Reno)- wouldnt pull down, would downshift and kept right up with the big dogs when ascending. For an economy car, there isnt anything I didnt like about it. Its cute and sweet, fuel efficient and powerful. Id buy one in a minute for toodle-ing around in, if i could.

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  Great SUV for the Money - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By Tabitha335 - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle for the money. Ive owned my XL-7 for one year and have put 20,000 miles on it. No complaints and havent had any problems. Comfortable car on the road and great off road capabilities as well. The V-6 is small but adequate.

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  Review - 2008 Suzuki Forenza
  By Amr - October 16 - 2:43 pm

  I bought this car as A Chevy "Optra" its an automatic 1600CC 107 HP,with only 2 front Airbags & audio control. I luv the Hold button it makes the car go crazy giving you high acceleration. The only thing i hate is the left side mirror, alot of blind spots.. i had an A4 Skoda and the left side mirror showed me whole 3 lanes, the optra shows you only one & miss leading data on the cars position, some time i look at the left mirror & deside to change lanes and i find a car beside me!! id say its soo narrow, but all in all, i luv this car.Just dont fool your self, your not driving a benz.. what you pay for you find, no high expectations. Thats why i like it.

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  Great little car - 2003 Suzuki Vitara
  By sandspur - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my mid-life fun car - although Im a good 20 years past midlife (61). Great for toodling around town, to the beach and commuting. Seems like the gas mileage should be a little better, but I get 26 on the road and 24 around town. Had no use for the tiny back seat so i took it out - now I have a mini truck/convertible/sportscar.

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  Air Conditioning - 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By tpend3533 - October 11 - 9:16 am

  I have not had a successful experience with Suzuki or the dealer concerning the cycling of the air conditioner. It cycles on and off at least 4 or 5 times per minute causing loss of power and erratic performace. I am not happy at all with this vechicle and also with the support from Suzuki. The dealer said it was "normal" and Suzuki said it was all up to the dealer. A catch 22 situation. Suzuki is of very little help when you call about a problem that the dealer will not address. Finally when i got the attention of the Service Manager he saw it was a problem and tried to correct it. As of today it has not been corrected. Suzuki has been of little help as far as I can understand.

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  Great All Wheel Drive - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By Scotty - October 9 - 2:40 pm

  I drive my Suzuki Aerio SX mostly for the 11 city highway miles to work. I took it up the mountain to snow ski and it exceeded all expectations on icy roads. We got 3 snowboards, a pair of skis, and four people inside comfortably. If you are used to high-powered imports, then this car will disappoint, but all four wheels really take you around the corners quickly even when conditions are bad.

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  Good Little Car - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By Suzuki XL-7 4DR - October 9 - 5:53 am

  I test drove almost every SUV made including the Navigator, Escalade, and Lexus. The XL-7 doesnt have the luxury of these SUVs but for the money, it surpassed all the others that we tried. It handles well and rides fairly comfortably, although the gas mileage could be better. Blind spots where the backseat headrests and the spare tire cover are can cause problems at times. All in all Ive no problems with performance AND Ive gotten quite a few compliments on the body style also. This would be a great business vehicle!

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  Love this car - 2003 Suzuki XL-7
  By xl7lover - October 5 - 5:16 am

  Just as great as a Toyota made super well! Reliable, handles super, great 4 wheel drive. Hugs the road, extremely reliable. Good on gas. First time buyer and we were really impressed. Has a 3rd row which comes in handy when needed.

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  Cheap Car, but Not a Great Value - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By Ann M - October 5 - 3:46 am

  This car looks quite nice from the outside. It also comes standard with air conditioning, a CD player, and heated mirrors. However I have had multiple starting problems with this car even though my Suzuki dealer claims this problem is limited to the 06 models. It also gets bad gas mileage when compared to other compact cars. I was driving a SUV so I did not notice it at first, but 21 mpg for a compact is bad. Also, the automatic transmission sucks too much power away from the already small inefficient engine. When I am going up a hill on the interstate I have to keep my foot on the floor and still lose speed. The engine is also quite noisy and does not like to go above 60 mph. Do not buy this car.

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  1 year, 24k miles and Still LOVE IT! - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Josh P - October 3 - 7:33 pm

  I purchased my Aerio SX one year ago this month after a ton of researching and comparison shopping. I have been nothing but satisfied with this car! I absolutely love driving it. My wife and I have to take turns driving it to work every other week, even after having it for a year now. It is roomy enough for my family of 4 in the passenger area, and has plenty of room for a couple of weeks worth of groceries, or the dog crate in the back. I have been nothing but pleased with this fast and fun little car. This was my first ever import car, and I plan on buying another Suzuki. You cant beat the price when it comes to warranty and features. I would say go for it! You wont be disappointed!