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 Car - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By candam - May 25 - 3:23 pm

  I bought this car from the dealer and it now has 62,323 miles on it now.It had a couple of problems that were fixed by the dealer. Great warranty. It rides nice on long trips and has enough power to make it a pleasure to drive. The interior if very nice especially the heated seats. I have not had any problems with the car and love it.

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  I cant decide - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By XLerator - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Drivers cockpit cramped. My leg rubs when driving and if I push the seat back there is no passenger leg room. Definitely needs better gas mileage. Barely getting 15 Mpg. Needs a low fuel light and smaller rear headrests. Good looker. Nice leather interior. The heated seats sure do work. Could use a better tire size. Third seat only holds very samll children.

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  2004 Suzuki Verona EX - 2004 Suzuki Verona
  By hrb - May 10 - 2:20 am

  I have had numerous mechanical problems my 2004 Suzuki Verona, including steering wheel radio controls that took five trips to the dealership get fixed. The car is good overall, but parts are very hard to get, and the customer service at Suzuki Corp. is less than helpful. Be cautious if you are thinking of buying this car, as aftermarket service is difficult to come by.

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  My New Aerio - 2006 Suzuki Aerio
  By mrmmac - May 6 - 2:33 am

  I purchased this car three months ago and am still very happy with it. The only problem is the driver side does not have enough leg room.

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  Great car for the price - 2002 Suzuki Esteem
  By sj - April 30 - 11:53 am

  Bought it used (5 speed, wagon) and never had any issues whatsover. With the rear seats folded down, it had very good usable cargo space. You can fit stuff in there you can never imagine in a sedan. Wonder why people still prefer to buy sedans over wagons.

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  Roomy but should have better gas mileage - 2004 Suzuki Aerio
  By David G - April 24 - 2:00 am

  It is fun to drive, shifting is not very smoothe. Fuel economy 30 on highway not very good for such a small car! The interior is very roomy and seats four very well 5 if 5th is child! Has alot of amenities for the money and warranty is excellent! Long trips or snow driving not very good (low ground cleance) even though it is front wheel drive! Might want to get 4WD version for snow areas!

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  2002 XL7 Limited - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By FlyinGN - April 17 - 10:00 am

  We researced for SUVs for about 8 months before we got the XL7 Limited. We wanted 3 seats, leather, sunroof, 4wd, not too big, not too small,and great build quility and comfort. The more we searched the more we found out that there really are not many choices if you did not want to spend over $30k.

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  Cant go wrong - 2006 Suzuki Forenza
  By Chuck Scott - April 15 - 1:13 pm

  This is the best car on the market for the price, if you want a no-frills, compact sedan. I dont mind shifting, so the 5-speed gearbox is fine for me. The downside to opting for a small, light vehicle is that you dont have the comfort or heft of a larger sedan. Consequently, it can get a little uncomfortable on a road trip. But for local trips this makes a good second car. My only criticism is that the flow of air from the heater to the floor is insufficient. I had this checked out by the dealer, and was told that everything is operating normally. Although gas mileage could be better, I am very satisfied with the quality of workmanship, performance and reliability of this vehicle.

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  Nice, but work on MPG - 2005 Suzuki Forenza
  By brad - April 13 - 12:53 am

  I bought the 2005 Suzuki Forenza S. I think the main reason I bought this car was because of the 100,000 mile warrranty with full transfer to the next buyer. The gas mileage on mine around town and a little freeway is about 25-27 mpg in Utah. My 2002 protege gets about 29 avg. so they need to work on that. The car has very good standard features that most base models do not come with. Mine is having some issues with the air bag sensor and some dashboard noise while diving. All and all, this is a great car for the price!

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  Great Value! - 2002 Suzuki XL-7
  By s.h.c. - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Excellent quality, great value for the money. Fun to drive and rides very smoothly. If you are looking for a SUV with 3 rows of seat at a reasonable price (low $20K), definitely consider this SUV.