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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  Great looking, smooth handling little SUV - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Bob - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Pros: Ride, comfort, performance, looks. Cons: rear hatch would be better if hinged at top, or at least on the driver side. Driving experience: Solid, quiet, and very comfortable. This truck easily handles soft sandy beach trails. This is my first SUV and I test drove only the Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Nissan Xterra because they had the components and reliability I was looking for. I now have 10,000 miles on this vehicle and all I can say is, the more I drive it, the more I like it. It handles very well, its comfortable, I can take it off road, unlike other small SUVs, and it looks great. Its also the perfect size vacation vehicle for a family of three.

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  2005 XL-7 - Purchase Date 10/05 - 2005 Suzuki XL-7
  By Cindy - October 4 - 11:50 am

  For the past 12 years Ive been driving minivans and I was NOT buying another one. I miss driving a car (pre- kids) and that is what I was hoping to buy. Unfortunately, at this time, that isnt practical. I need a vehicle large enough to cart my boys, their friends, sports equipment, and the dog around. I live in a remote area of NW New Jersey - it takes 20 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store - so I didnt want to buy a gas guzzling full size SUV. We have snowy winters and I love driving in the snow so 4x4 is required. The XL-7 was the answer. It provides all the features I need at a very reasonable price. Its fun to drive, good on gas, and the boys love the sound system. So far, so good.

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  Can Anyone Get Parts for These Cars? - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By dnrportch - October 3 - 9:33 am

  You cant get parts for the Aerio in a timely manner. Example one: the transmission went out in 2006. It was still under extended warranty, but it took 6 weeks to get the parts and it had to be repaired twice. We have a great dealer. Its the car and the factory. The car runs fine now. Example two: after a low speed collision with a deer (he jumped on the hood while chasing another deer across the road in front of us!) we had two dealers try to order replacement parts on three separate occasions. The parts never arrived! Its been eighteen months. You should also know that the car is terrible in wet snow or snow over ice. It is geared too powerfully relative to the weight of the car. I like the gas mileage it gets, but would not buy another.

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  Reliable Little Buggy for 2 Years Now - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Harvester - September 30 - 1:43 pm

  This has to be one of the best deals Ive ever gotten on a used car. Bought it less than a year old, with 8500 miles. The cost was already 2/3 of a new one. All the complaints Ive read about have never happened to me. There were 3 recalls that the Suzuki dealer performed - one for a wiring harness, one for a seatbelt thing, and the other for the running lights. I took this car on a road trip across Texas and back and was very good on gas. For $200 I put a Pioneer radio and it made all the difference in the world. The speakers are actually very nice sounding if you put some wattage behind them.

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  Very good car for the money - 2008 Suzuki SX4
  By Ross - September 29 - 8:06 am

  I really love my car. I think it looks sporty for an economy car. I just wish it had more horsepower and torque. My sport edition did not come with the driving lights or cruise control, which is about the only thing I can complain about. Other than the 2009 model has an integrated GPS. But in the total package I would say the car is well worth it.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By mike - September 27 - 7:00 pm

  I love this car. I got it dressed out for $13,300. It is a well thought out car that looks great and I havent had anything go bad.

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  decent car for the money - 2007 Suzuki Forenza
  By csk17061 - September 21 - 6:24 am

  i bought this car new in 2007 to use as a work car. it currently has 128,000 miles on it. the car is made a bit cheap but you get what you pay for. for under 10 grand new it was a great buy. the only problems i had aside from basic maintenance is the interior door handles break easily but they are only 4 bucks to buy from a dealer and it takes 15 minutes to put it on. it does seep oil out of the valve cover but again very easy and cheap to fix. this is a picky car, but just like any car if you dont do the routine maintenance things will go wrong. in short, the car is now 5 years old, still runs great and gets the same 32 MPG it did when i bought it.

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  2004 SUZUKI VERONA - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By BADKINS18 - September 20 - 12:20 am

  THIS VEHICLE DRIVES AND PERFORMS WELL. IT GIVES THE FEEL OF A HIGH END SEDAN BUT REMAINS VERY AFFORDABLE. ALSO CARRIES AN OUTSTANDING WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH ANY CONCERNS AND RECALLS. WOULD BUY AGAIN.

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  Great for the price - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By Frank Orlando - September 18 - 11:16 pm

  Good reliable car, good quiet ride , handles well on the road with good passing power. Controls are easy to use and see except steering wheel at night should light controls up.

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  What a surprise! - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By d.a. - September 18 - 1:23 pm

  Well, its like falling into some "parallel" universe when you get in this car. It looks quite small, but once youre in, it feels cavernous. I like the way I feel like Im sitting "high" even though its a small car, and not an suv. Im a BIG guy, 61", 230 pounds, and I have NO problem getting in and out. The drivers door is quite long, it opens wide and entry/exit is a breeze. Amazing little car. Didnt expect to fall in love with it like I have, it was just a "second" car purchase to have an extra car. Love, love, love it!