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:

• 

  You cant find any other car for this price and performance during 2001. - 2001 Suzuki XL-7
  By srk2040 - December 24 - 4:07 am

  Had the car from dealers lot brand new. Few facts about this car: 1) the engine bay has a flex bar across it 2) the frame is liquid filled to reduce vibration 3) came with direct electronic ignition as opposed to plugs and wires. 4) has third row of seat. 5) OEM tires are exact same as Lexus RX300, Dueler HT. The front brake wears out lot quicker than what Im used to. Amazingly, the rear drum brake has never been changed and it always passes the inspection. Its on 170,000 mile now. Comes with lot of upgrade if you really into it. I installed rear catch net, rear door net storage, window rain deflector. Overall, you can not find any other car like this even today 2013 that is true 4x4

• 

  Very pleased with my purchase - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Hard to please - December 18 - 10:00 am

  After having driven Accord for many years, I was convinced that I could not be as satisfied with anything else. So I am pleased to say that I am happy with the Verona. I researched before I bought and I have waited now for 6 mos and 14000 miles to make any statements of my own. I would recommend this car to anyone looking to make an intelligent car buy. It looks nice, it drives nice, it has been reliable and of course the standard features make this a hard act to follow. I dont believe you will be disappointed.

• 

  dollar for dollar - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Naples Dave - December 18 - 10:00 am

  I have had multiple problems with my new Verona none however being mechanical. Most of the problems are head lamp seal was bad, weld maks showing on the C posts, mild wobble in the driving, engine power loss when slowing to a stop/start however the new computer chip corrects it, and flickering or the outside temp numbers. all have been fixed with mild to medium wait time for my car. The car is smooth while driving and very stylish all in all very good deal for the price you pay.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By JG15lzb - December 18 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Verona is a great car. I just got this car last month and I absolutely love it. The interior is quite spacious with plenty of room to store items. (My sister has a Camry and the Veronas interior measures up to it inch for inch). The wood trim looks and feels real. I havent had any problems with the car yet but time will tell.

• 

  The ForenzGetAboutIt :( - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By Sucker - December 16 - 4:46 am

  Or, more aptly titled, the "Suzuki Piece of Junk." I bought the car in mid-May 2006. It was trouble free for roughly 600 miles. It has been in the shop consistent every month since then for no crank issues, transmission, dropping the entire subframe, plus a host of others. I already have a hefty file going on repairs, etc. There is not enough room here for all of the problems and issues involved with the car. What a farce! I just picked it up from the last go around. The shop had it for a month and the car is still not fixed. I would very strongly recommend checking out other comparable vehicles in this class if you actually want to own a new car that runs and is reliable. It looks pretty, but mechanically I give it a rating of zero on a scale of 1 to 10.

• 

  Reno-The most overlooked compact - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Tony123 - December 13 - 5:20 am

  Suzuki makes a great car. The build quality, fit and finish a reliability challenge the best compacts out there. But it seems that the rest of the world sees Suzukis as "bottom of the barrel" cars. This is definitely not true. I have been so pleased with my Reno. My gas mileage is better then what the sticker stated. I average 32-34 mpg with local driving. The car is extremely roomy and comfortable. The transmission is smooth and easy-maybe not as refined as a Sentra or Corolla - but better than any Focus, Cobalt or Elantra. I just bought my wife an XL-7, she loves it. If you like the European style and the practical benefits of a hatchback, test drive a Reno-you will be pleasantly surprised.

• 

  Opinion Changer - 2011 Suzuki Kizashi
  By angel973 - December 13 - 2:23 am

  This car totally changes my opinion against Suzuki vehicles. I used to own a Suzuki XL-7 4WD Limited. It left much to be desired in many ways and as a result I traded it in with a Nissan after owning it for just a short time while it was still in a pretty good condition. I thought I would never buy a Suzuki again. Lo and behold I came across this beautiful car by chance. Both my wife and I love this car. Its look - both the interior and exterior - is quite pleasing to the eyes. The ride is smooth and comfortable. The performance is surprisingly exciting. Not to mention that you get possibly the best bang for your buck. The bottom line is, this is really a great car and worth looking into.

• 

  The Car I Wish It Was - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By Jim_From_IL - December 10 - 10:53 pm

  I intially bought this car for its sleek styling and overall value. It comes with lots of options all thrown in for what you would have to pay thousands extra if you went with a Toyota Camry (which was my other choice). Too bad the performance of this is plagued with computer glitches and transmission issues. This being the first model year has had its problems. I just got mine out of the shop for the third time. This time the ECM (Electronic Control Module) had to be reprogrammed. As of Aug, 06, it seems better now, but Im almost afraid to drive it. It has stalled twice while approaching stop lights. If I get any more major problems, I will seriously be thinking about dumping (uh - trading) it.

• 

  Not a piece of junk! - 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By 07GVXS - December 9 - 2:03 pm

  For the money you spend for a Suzuki GV it is not a bad vehicle. However because of its tendency to depreciate I would not buy one brand new. I bought my 2007 GV Xsport 2wd. barely used with 13000 mi. last year. The problem with the rear tires wearing was resolved with a rear end alignment. Seems the factory misaligned many of these models. The new tires seem to last longer once this is corrected. In my opinion most of the MPG ratings for this vehicle are pessimistic. I get around 20 MPG in city and 23 on Hwy. However this diminishes greatly if you exceed 70MPH on Hwy. The interior plastics are cheap and scratch easy but the engine and trans. seem to be very reliable and thats what counts.

• 

  Almost Perfect - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By T Moores - December 9 - 3:13 am

  Ive been driving my Reno for just over a year. The more I drive the more I respect this car. Whats not to like? Consumer Reports doesent like it. I used CR for years to research items. Their review of this car is wayy off. This is a darn good commuter vehicle. Its solid, safe, has a comfy ride, and is nice to look at. The warranty is one of the best things about it.