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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  Best Choice - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By MyWifesNewCar - October 20 - 11:40 pm

  I really like this car. I happily recommend it to any one considering a new small car purchase. It beats the competition hands down on content and features. The little car is a pleasure to drive, now I dont mind Walmart parking lots. Give it a try Im sure youll be suprised.

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  Super Little Car - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By mcidriver - October 20 - 4:50 pm

  Very nice little car. Love the AWD with ESP. Pay the extra for the top of the line model. You wont be disappointed.

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  love this car - 2009 Suzuki SX4
  By Jack - October 14 - 1:10 pm

  I have seen this car on road and at traffic stops. Looked at other cars- compared price, reports/reviews, recalls. Shopped 4 dealers with my trade-in,got the best deal at my local dealer by $600 and within $300 of what I wantd. The dealer-salespeople were fantastic. was going to pay for it but 0% financing-ok/ The car is really great-fun to drive-more than enough headroom-free Garmin-car loaded w equipment.Dont wait! good pickup and passing-26.8 mpg n town so far. Going on trip this weekend!! Car is quiet, no road noise,will pull out in front of traffic from red lite-corners good- give it some gas going around corner- like on a motorcycle,no body lean,stops quicker than on a dime!!!

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  A reliable car - 2005 Suzuki XL-7
  By Amrit - October 10 - 6:13 am

  The 2005 Suzuki Xl-7 has a more modern design than the 03 or older. One of the reasons that I bought this car was because I also own a Suzuki Aerio in which I did not have any problems. I bought the XL-7 because the price is so much cheaper than a lot of other suvs out there on the road. The woodgrain on the dashboard adds a nice touch to the interior which is standard on every XL- 7 model. The car is easy and fun to drive. The third row seating comes very handy. Suzukis powertrain warranty (7 year/100,000 miles) makes you worry- free.

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  A Lot of Car for the Money - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By tim tschosik - October 7 - 6:13 pm

  The Suzuki SX4 is an excellent car. It is a great daily driver, good on gas, and has great responsiveness in the 0 to 40 range. Metro traffic here doesnt really let me get to 60 mph. Its very quiet for a small car. AWD at this price can not be found elsewhere.

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  Sharp peppy thing! - 2009 Suzuki SX4
  By ronman114 - September 30 - 1:18 am

  We just bought this car used with 19200 miles. It is in excellent shape and feels like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Shifting is smooth and easy. Love the looks of it inside and out. Features on dash well placed and everything very visible. I like the buttons on the steering wheel but would prefer they were lit for nighttime driving. 2WD and AWD selections are amazingly easy and SO handy in bad weather. Im sure this car handles better than those crossovers and pickups that dont have AWD. Love heated seats, higher driving position, huge windshield and heated side mirrors. So many perks for such a small price! Cons are:wish it had better fuel economy and the gas tank is too small.

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  Great Car - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By MissPinUp - September 28 - 2:06 pm

  Ive had my Suzuki for 3 years so far. I havent had one problem with it. I get it serviced when it needs to, no problems. I get 34-37 mpg

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  Finally an affordable 7 passenger SUV - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By mrandmrsj - September 27 - 2:00 am

  If you have a family with younger children , this is the SUV for you. You can seat 2 adults and 5 kids in this one. The leather seats (ex III 2wd) are a breeze to clean. Gas mileage is reasonable compared to other 7 passenger SUVs. Do not spend 30 or 40 thousand on a 7 passenger SUV/minivan without checking out the XL-7 first (especially if you have kids).

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  One of the best small car - 2004 Suzuki Forenza
  By Edi - September 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car as a commuter car and very happy with it. I compared this car with Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic and for a couple thousand dollars less I got a car that come with standard accessories (i.e. pwr lock, eight speakers, etc.) but not standard on others.

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  Great Deal - 2006 Suzuki XL-7
  By Dave - September 12 - 1:23 pm

  I bought my 7-passenger XL-7 a month ago and the only disappointments are the dumb reviews. This truck is great, not cheap looking inside and has much better 3rd row seats than the RAV4. I dont understand where these other reviews Ive seen are coming from. In all my research (and I did A LOT) I never came across anything about this vehicle being unreliable over the last 5 years, which is pretty darn good. It usually does not have any defects or people complaining about how they had to get this or that fixed as in MOST other consumer reviews. I mean give me a break, its nice inside, the woodgrain looks expensive, and it is comfortable...but probably not for larger people. I love mine, and I got it for a great price.