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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  on to alaska - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By tazmania - May 25 - 2:00 am

  traded a chev astro van for this one because i wanted a 4x4 for my trip to alaska.- read more reviews than i can remember, but this car is true to them.- for now have been using it on the back roads of Baja Calif and no complaints.- Expect the gas milage to improve as the engine settles down.- my two fulled sized dogs ( boxers) love it.- the trunk holds all my camping gear and with the side opening door its easy to get to.- What I really like is its is not rounded like the other midsize suvs.- its lines are straight and sleek and it doesnt look oversized.-

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  Satisfied after 6 years - 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Mike - May 20 - 9:20 am

  I bought the Suzuki new in September 2002. I thought about buying a Jeep Wrangler but the Suzuki was less expensive and had more bells and whistles for the buck. After 96,000 miles it is still tight and runs well. I got 24 mpg on the hiway this summer. Best of all its paid for!

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  Let Me Down - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By tlambert - May 20 - 6:26 am

  I am very disappointed with my Suzuki XL-7. At 48,000 miles the air compressor pump/belt went out. It cost $1,600 to replace! I live in Oregon, and only use the A/C 6 weeks of the year!

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  Not what youd think! - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By Mike Smith - May 16 - 12:20 am

  My 2005 Verona was a fun car to drive and it ran very well. Until I had a "Thud" in the transmission and it went down hill from there. After a "Reprogramming", it now hesitates very frequently, it has a lot less horsepower, and gas milage is rotten and those were this cars good points! Suzuki has given me the run-around between Cal (Where you have to call for problems) and a service rep that takes days to call you back. If you want a car for a reasonable price, my experience is this car is "Not what youd think!"

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  a real winner - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By john starkey - May 15 - 12:03 pm

  Great little car agile and tough lots of fun to drive. Great in the snow. A real winner.

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  Great little/big truck - 2010 Suzuki Equator
  By douglas98012 - May 14 - 1:10 pm

  I just bought this truck and love it. Comparable to any truck in this category, except way better price and warranty. I am looking forward to putting this truck through its paces and to see how it will hold up. Will update in a year after i use it and abuse it the way a truck is supposed to be treated.

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  A Few Minor Issues - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Landon - May 11 - 3:13 pm

  I acquired this as a used car with only 11,500 miles, and loved the aesthetic value. It looks wonderful, inside and out! But this past January, I had to have to the transmission completely replaced. Ive also had my doubts about the axles and CV joints, though the dealer hasnt found anything wrong. The "check engine" light has come on a couple times over false alarms and Ive noticed that the transmission can be quite sticky when switching out of/into reverse gear. I also have some concerns about whether the Verona couldve been designed with better fuel efficiency. Lastly, Ive abandoned using the wheel-mounted stereo controls; they dont respond accurately at all.

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  Solid Rear Wheel Drive SUV - 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Gk. - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Very solid feel & ride. I have owned 3 XL-7s & this is my 3rd Grand Vitara & you can tell Suzuki has improved the interior noise greatly. I love sitting up high in the drivers seat & the leather seems to be a better quality than before. Smooth V-6. Suzuki needs to step it up a little to keep up with other makes that retail for less money that have auto windows up/down, power drivers/passengers seats, larger console & a larger screen navigation unit that is built into the dash. The biggest downfall to the Suzukis is the resale values. A loaded 2010 GV with very few miles can be purchased used for $18,000. The 0% interest, quality & styling keeps bringing me back to the Grand Vitaras.

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  Very satisfied - 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  By monk_bud - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Bought the AWD SLS 2010 Kizashi w/o GPS package in July. So far, really like the smooth drive, very comfortable interior. Has good acceleration and power. Havent used the AWD, yet. Will use it for ski trips in winter. The mpg is not quite as high as I thought it would be. The styling is sharp. I like having a unique car; easy to find in a big parking lot. Havent seen another Kizashi on the road.

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  Not the car i thought it would be - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By Pablo - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car brand new.. thought it was a great buy. I guess you cant ask for much for 11,000. Everything was good until 45,000 miles. Head gasket blew.. a couple of oil hoses had to be changed. The 5,000 repair cost was covered by the warranty so that wasnt that bad. Then at 49,000 my clutch and all the components broke. That was 850 out of my pocket not including towing... Now at 51,000 the cam shaft sensor broke along with the steering belt. 600 dollars to replace... I dont know whats next... Im still paying for my car and i already have an extensive list of repairs.. My only question is, whats going to break next? Oh and the paint on all my door handles chipped off after 3 years.