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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  Very good SUV!! Really happy with it! - 2003 Suzuki XL-7
  By Dec - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Well I took the time and tested well known SUV like Nissan, Isuzu, Mitsubishi and others no so popular brands like Kia. Except the Isuzu(rodeo), all of them gave me a nice impression. After 2 months of testing My wife and I pick the Suzuki. It was the best value for the money; I like the ride, the power and the build quality. Really nice sound system also. The only reason why this car is cheaper than others is because of the name, Suzuki is not so popular. This car has better performance and offer more standard features for $10000 dollars less than the others. You canÂ’t go wrong with this car!

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  40 000 km review (best car ever owned) - 2012 Suzuki Kizashi
  By bigjohn23 - November 27 - 4:21 am

  The Suzuki Kizashi is a very good looking car inside and out. I then started to look at the specs and wow...it had a lot of features (especially for the price and the iAWD system). Not even a single problem so far. The only complaints is the wipers are not the best and the gas mileage could be better, but I mean it is a heavy car that does not get stuck in any snow/ice. It has a wonderful Rockford Fosgate audio system and you can put it front-wheel drive or intelligent all-wheel drive whenever you want with a button. I had 2 Audi A4 Quattro in the past and the Kizashi handles even better. It is basically an A4 (same features, same look), but a lot cheaper and more RELIABLE. You wont regret!

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  Soo well rounded... - 2008 Suzuki SX4
  By Eddian! - November 17 - 8:53 pm

  Its so hard to classify this car, to match it with the "competition". Maybe its because its on its own territory. Its a well rounded car - excellent value, outstandingly-well equipped, smart match of performance vs fuel economy that produces a car that exceeds and outperforms the others in everything except the price. Note: its not as fuel-economic as a Toyota Corolla but delivers more power and sporty-feeling, without being as pricy as a Mazda3. The most oustanding features is are the great ride quality and handling and Suzukis 100k/7ys fully-transferable warranty.

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  Joe Js Review Ft Lauderdale - 2009 Suzuki SX4
  By Joe Johnson - November 15 - 6:16 am

  I bought the middle, tech package with 2WD and 5-speed. The car is great fun to drive and a rare small crossover model that is actually comfortable with great seats and dash layout. I test drove the automatic, but it was boring. The 5 speed is more like a beamer in that it drives very tight, corners and hugs the road nicely and is fun. The layout of the folding seats is well designed and theres plenty of room in the back for stowing items. With auto show coupon and rebate, car is available way below dealer cost. best value in mini crossovers, under 16K for the tech package. Car even comes with loaner privileges and 3 year roadside assistance. Wish I had gotten AWD but dont need it in FL.

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  My Suzuki SX4 - 2007 Suzuki SX4
  By SS from CT - November 12 - 1:20 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for two months and have driven in all kinds of traffic conditions. This vehicle comes well equipped for a base model. It has good looks, ample power, and performance, all at a great price. The 5-speed manual transmission has much better acceleration than the automatic and this vehicle has little trouble merging into highway traffic. It has great handling on country roads. For a small car it has decent room and a very nice quiet ride. This is a well built solid car.

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  Grand ohhhh Feeling - 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By Grand E - November 10 - 1:03 pm

  So far this little truck has been doing a great job for my wife and I. We have taken a few road trips in it now and she performs great. The last trip it was a total of 6 passengers as well as luggage and all fit comfortable within the little truck. Great pick up on the engine smooth shifts just a pleasant drive all around.

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  a SUV view in a compact car - 2002 Suzuki Aerio
  By Gerrix - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Its been a week that I test drive this Sedan and so far its a joy. The riding is smooth and quiet at legal speeds. The engine is a bit noisier when pushed but fortunately it doesnt need to be often. The high seating position is probably the most specific feature of this car. Only the Matrix/Vibe can compare in this segment. With this feature, you have a great view of the road and its very easy to get in and out of the car. The digital dash is a surprise, but I learned to love it for its accuracy and its visibility.

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  113K and still fun to drive - 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
  By alrod - November 8 - 4:53 am

  I bought my Suzuki new in 2006 and have had no issues other than one tire change and a couple of brake jobs. I am sad that Suzuki no longer makes this vehicle because it has served me well and has been nothing short of reliable.

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  great buy - 2004 Suzuki XL-7
  By terryand tony - November 5 - 2:00 am

  one of the best vehicle i have owned.

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  So Far So Good - 2010 Suzuki Equator
  By So far so good - November 4 - 7:33 pm

  Great little truck. No problems and paid much less that I thought. I guess I need to do this again in a year or two.