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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  Will Buy Another One... - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By Lynn - September 6 - 11:50 pm

  We bought this Suzuki Aerio for our college daughter who was not happy as she had been driving a Audi A4 quattro. We also have an A6 quattro. The Audis have been unreliable and expensive. We will never buy one again! We were happily surprised to find an affordable AWD car to replace our daughters A4. I only drove in the car when we first purchased it, from CT to FL. It has a super ride! Its roomy, comfy, and has nice dash controls w/great placement! The cloth seats are awesome! Our daughter thinks it is "cheap", but she was spoiled driving an Audi. She says that the AWD doesnt feel like it works, so I recommend you test drive the AWD in rain/snow if possible as I cant confirm daughters complaint. I do know that I want my own Aerio.

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  Great Buy - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By pens87 - September 6 - 11:36 pm

  I got mine a week ago and I love it. It is the first Suzuki that Ive owned. I wasnt sure about the Suzuki brand, but its great. It cost a total of $16,500 after tax, and what a great deal for that price. You get AWD, a nice interior, decent horsepower, and all of the safety features. In my opinion this is the best buy if youre looking for a car under $20,000. I looked at a few cars that were priced at $19,000 - $21,000 and this SX4 is as good if not better than them. I think for $16,000 this car is a steal. It looks great on the outside and inside. It has great headroom/legroom and a lot of trunk space. I was also pleasantly surprised by the speaker/audio quality. What a great buy.

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  Exellent Car - 2005 Suzuki Aerio
  By dhenderson - September 5 - 10:36 pm

  My husband and I have owned two Aerios. The first we bought used, and bought the second when we traded in the used Aerio because we wanted some of the updated features it had. The Aerio has been nothing but reliable. It had great acceleration and is agile and superbly handles city and highway traffic. Its easy to back out and park like a small car but has almost the interior space of a touring sedan. Its more attractive than much of its competition and offers a comparable or better engine to boot.

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  Awesome - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By GVCbJ - September 5 - 2:50 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for a year now, and I like it as much as when it was brand new. It is great on slippery roads/snow, has a lot of room for its class, and is quite comfortable for long trips. I really cant think of anything Im displeased with.

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  Love this car (even after 94K miles) - 2003 Suzuki Aerio
  By Anonymous - September 4 - 1:50 pm

  This is the bang for your buck by far. The best purchase I have ever made. I purchased my slightly used 2003 4 door S trim sedan in 2004 for just under $10K. It now has 94,000 miles and Ive never had a problem with the engine. I have only had minor problems with the cd player and the piece of the bumper that detaches to minimize damage from towing. This car is incredibly reliable, has good pickup, and is safe and fun to drive. The cabin and trunk are very roomy despite the small appearance of the car. The height of the cabin is great for tall people.

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  This car has a paint issue! - 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  By Greg Wade - September 2 - 4:10 pm

  Just purchased this vehicle Aug. 15th 2010. I spent 20+mins going over the exterior of this car looking for defects in the paint ( scratches, chips dents ) and nothing was visible. I drove the car home ( approx. 4 km ) and was very shocked to see several paint chips in the passenger side door. The next day I drove this car to work on paved roads ( approx. 70 km ) The car now has several more paint chips. This car most definitely has a paint issue. I am not sure if it has something to do with the coating they applied for me at no cost. I will be talking to the dealership about this, however I have no confidence that they will support me based on other reviews I have read.

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  XL-7 Limited - 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By R Webster - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Very happy. Great vehicle with great service. Excellent value

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  Handles like my sports car! - 2001 Suzuki XL-7
  By Jim - August 29 - 10:46 pm

  Bought this based on test drive and 3rd seat. First experience with 4WD. Had the over-size wheel/tire (option?). This XL-7 has been awesome. Dealer repairs VERY expensive. Driver seat back torn out due to years of toddler abuse (LoL). Car still drives like new. Fast steering - handles very similar to my Miata in fact - may give some used to the GM slush boxes some fun in the wind at highway speeds. Only problem was aluminum chips in early production A/C compressors caused a lot of failures in 01 02 XL-7s; and replacement / system flush averaged between $2000 and $2500 at the dealers.

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  A compact SUV with real 4WD - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Bob - August 27 - 9:03 pm

  I have about 2,500 miles on my Grand Vitara. Having stepped up from a 4 door compact car, the only thing I miss is the good gas mileage, especially with the current gas gouging going on. I have driven mostly on pavement and a little bit on loose sandy beach trails and really have no complaints. The basic feel of the suspension is taut but very comfortable. Its a great looking, great handling, and very comfortable little SUV, whose only real competition for true off-roading is the Jeep Liberty, which, based on my experince is another $5,000, and reputed to be less relaible.

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  Love this car - 2003 Suzuki XL-7
  By SWebster - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many cars over the years but I love my XL-7 Limited.