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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  Some Good, Some Bad - 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Scott - September 7 - 5:10 pm

  I love the features like Smart Key that you dont find on vehicles in this class. I have one serious gripe. The mechanical valve lifters need to be serviced ever other year. Ive heard it costs anywhere from $500 to $2400 out of our pockets! Thats unacceptable for a modern engine. The rest of the car makers ALL use hydraulic, maintenance-free lifters. My 67 Ford even had them. Suzuki saved $100 and we will be paying for it for years to come. My valves are already ticking with only 7,000 miles. Also, the MIL came on and the fuel gauge went to "E" so thats my first trip to the dealer for repair. The valve train ruins it for me. Cannot recommend this SUV for this reason. Try again, Suzuki.

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  Costa Rica Grande Vitari - 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Carl Hallberg - September 7 - 3:23 am

  Hugs the road better than any other car especially in the rainy mountains. Love the constant 4 wheel drive. Gas mileage could be better. Love the keyless entry,

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  Watch out for the air compressor - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By LadyDarya - September 6 - 5:20 am

  My advice is to do serious research on the XL-7. The a/c compressor has a serious habit of freezing up and breaking the drive belt. This is not a cheap fix. I pulled the B04 relay and just went without the a/c. Brakes are not that great and go out frequently and trying to find someone outside the dealership to work on it is not fun! Oh and the 2001 and 2002 models tend to loose their gas door (as in it comes off).

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  Better than it gets credit for - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Ben - August 30 - 6:50 pm

  Bought this car brand new in Feb. 2005 - now has 105K miles and Ive never paid for anything other than routine maintenance (although, routine maintenance is a bit expensive on this one, especially hard-to-find tires!) Best features of this car are handling, and interior roominess for its size (I am VERY tall, and this car is more comfortable to drive than some full-size sedans!) Engine performance is adequate at best, but despite this, the gas mileage is subpar for a car this size. (Mileage IS a lot better on the highway, where I do most of my driving)

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  Suzuki Forenza 2005 - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By sascydharan vasudeva - August 29 - 2:26 pm

  Noisy engine. Needs more power specially in hill area. Fuel economy is not so good. Interior is good and more spacious. Power steering is good. Heated side mirror is an advantage.

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  nice design but needs refinement - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By lngtonge18 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Maybe I got a bad apple but I traded in my 03 SX 5 speed after 9500 miles. Front brakes clunked. Front door panels buzzed constantly. A loud dash rattle occured twice. The fog lights and hood were loose. And the car had an annoying driveline bucking problem combined with a loss of power. Fuel economy on the highway was a disappointment (29.5) and so was the power. The engine is way too loud (it isnt smooth either) and wind noise is loud starting at 60mph. The doors have a tinny sound quality to them and the fabric on the door panels started showing wear after only 3k. The Aerio is extremely roomy and comfortable though.

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  Gets me from here to there, no problems. - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By jeffrok - August 14 - 10:00 am

  $3,000 cheaper than the competition and a 7 year warranty! Pros: Good mileage in automatic or manual. Different looking, making it easy to find in a parking lot. Nice seats Great stock radio (6 CD changer, 6 speakers) Tons more head and legroom than the Protege5.. Cons: Narrow, tall styling makes it lean quite a bit in sharp turns Different looking, making some people smirk at your car Engine is a little growly at highway speeds, but not too bad.. No factory sunroof option You have to remove the headrests to fold the back seats down Dash isnt sporty enough. Hopefully its a good winter car.. I hope I dont regret not opting for the AWD.

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  This worries me a little... - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Jessica - August 5 - 8:50 pm

  The Grand Vitara is a nice vehicle to drive around the city. Its peppy, but not very fast. What worries me is this: when I get on the freeway, its sometimes really difficult for my Grand Vitara to accelerate, especially when going uphill. I used to drive a 95 Cadillac Seville, and when I used the cruise control, the car would remain at whatever speed I set it at, whether going uphill or downhill. With my GV, when I use cruise control, if Im going uphill it wont keep it at the speed I set it at; itll sometimes go down 5 mph. Also, sometimes my windshield wipers get stuck when I turn them off. There is barely any lumbar support, so driving for long distances is tiring and a bit painful on my back. I only paid $21,000

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  great value for true 4-wheel drive - 2004 Suzuki Vitara
  By beaz - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I only paid $17,300 for the top of the line Vitara. Much less than competitors. Wife got the small car she likes and I got a 4WD I wanted for Oregon winters. I have a mini-van if I need lots of room.

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  4 wheeling in A/C comfort - 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Ralph - July 16 - 9:13 am

  I live in the Mohave Desert of Calif and do a lot of off roading on very bad, rocky, dirt roads, dry stream beds. Thats what I bought it for. mpg 18 town, 23 hwy. 126k miles, run Mobil 1, replaced tires, dash temp control, tune up,brakes, in all these miles. I take this where 4x4 trucks and larger 4x4s wont go because of the limited size. Interior is leather, comfortable, seats 5, fold down rear seats for anything,paint has held up in our sun with wax but bushes have put desert pen stripes everywhere. I intend to get another used one with a tow bar installed so I can tow it behind my truck and camper.