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:

• 

  Lots Of Standard Feature For The Money - 2005 Suzuki Verona
  By Action - June 18 - 1:46 am

  Sluggish Acceleration and Its a Little Heavy Handling Also Gas Mileage Could Be Better. Averages 23-26. 10% Lower than the 28hwy Advertised.

• 

  I have to have a title??? - 1998 Suzuki Sidekick
  By stagmie - June 13 - 10:00 am

  A very fun vehicle to drive! Goes many places those big SUVs cant. Even my 2- Wheel drive model has gotten me in and out of some unbeliavable places. The comments I get about the vehicle when the top is down are a added plus.

• 

  Kizashi - 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  By GG - May 28 - 6:10 am

  On 1/22/2010 my wife and I took delivery of 2010 suzuki kizashi sls awd ctv. The car drives very well,it feels very solid and tight as a drum and therefore quiet and with very little road noise intrusion into the cabin. Suzuki did a great job with the interior of the car, one will notice excellent interior materials and ergonomics, in my opinion it is much better than usual competition. The awd is a plus and the fact that one can turn it off is an excellent feature. This is not the car that was intended to beat mustangs or like cars in 0 to 60 race but if one chooses to have little fun, kizashi will deliver. The only disappointment: cramped back seats and single cd changer

• 

  2006 4WD LUX MODEL - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By littlejjam - May 23 - 11:13 pm

  After 15k miles w/ this vehicle, Im coming away quite impressed. The power from the 2.7L V6 is adequate for most situations; Ive never felt it didnt have enough power to pass or merge. Could it use another 20hp and 30ft/lb of torque? Sure it could. For what it is, the little V6 does just fine. The trans. sometimes stays in a lower gear longer than wanted (uphill climbs). Releasing the gas pedal and allowing the trans to upshift, and then reapplying throttle very gently, usually works to keep vehicle in highest gear possible. Interior design is awesome, "clean and modern". Materials used are consistant w/ this vehicles price range. If you want Lexus luxury, then you should buy Lexus.

• 

  Reliable but costly to repair - 1998 Suzuki Sidekick
  By Frank - May 20 - 6:30 pm

  I bought my Suzuki when it was 2 years old and it had just under 25000 miles on it. I now have 120,000 miles on it after about 6 1/2 years of driving. I have had few problems with it. This vehicle is very bad for rust and doesnt hold up well in places where salt is used on roads in the winter!!! They have NO resale value and Dealer parts are ridiculously expensive! You think that you are driving a Rolls when you buy parts. I am not kidding!!! They need to stop being so outrageously greedy when selling replacement parts. I went to the dealer once for a repair and told them I would never come back. I didnt. I shopped for after market parts where ever I could find them.

• 

  Learned to love this vehicle - 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By grandvitdriver - May 11 - 9:17 am

  Overall, an excellent vehicle. Over 85k miles...yep, 85 on an 08...without a serious concern. Stock tires were junk (Yokohama) -- 2 non-repairable flats in less than 5k miles; replaced all 4 w/less than 11k miles. Took me several months, numerous trips to dealer and countless phone calls to resolve the issue of DUST....a true SUV and you cant drive it on a gravel road without be choked with dust? Problem solved (simple!! keep control set to "outside"). I am very pleased with the vehicle. I drive on 35 - 40 miles of scoria (gravel roads) on a daily basis...the GV has held up exceptionally well.

• 

  Nice SUV - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By gee - April 17 - 2:00 am

  only 5,000 miles, so far so go.

• 

  maybe my bad luck - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By suzuki user - April 13 - 2:00 am

  We have replaced the transmission just after drove it for 4 months.And now we got a engin oil leakage.The dealer is aweful here.

• 

  Not bad for the price !!! - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By Sal Ferro - April 13 - 2:00 am

  This little SUV handles it own. For the price the features are outstanding. I have a third row seat whichs is great for kids , but a little cramped for the adults on long trips. The soft plastic they use for the visors is too filmsy and not long enough to block the sun when you use it for side use. Overall this SUV is worth the price and has enough room to spare and using the 4 Wheel drive is fun. Oh !! I do have one issue that I am too lazy to go to get fixed, is that sometimes the radio LEDS go dim in the daylight whichs makes it hard to see the station and clock. One day I will have the issue addressed when I have time to go to the dealer.

• 

  2004 XL-7 - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By bb - April 7 - 11:46 am

  We have owned our Suzuki XL-7 for 1 1/2 years. The reason I bought it was the warranty, the design, and the trade in deal they gave me. It feels very solid and handles well, I am 6 feet tall and there is a lot of headroom. I think the XL-7 could be a bit longer, but it is adeqaute with smaller kids. We have the 3rd row seat which is very tight. If the SUV was a foot longer the 3rd row would be a bit more pratical. We bought out XL-7 with 6,000 miles on it for $20000, $15,000 with our trade. The dealer gave me $5,000 for a 1994 Ford Explorer Limited with 99,000 miles on it. My wife likes the size of the XL-7 and finds it easy to navigate. She feels safe driving in snow with the 4WD.