Acceleration

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
5	4	3.7

With automatic transmission, acceleration is a bit tepid from a stop, but improves nicely once underway. Engine has little surplus of power in the 40-65-mph range, but transmission downshifts quickly for passing. Acceleration improves with manual transmission, which has very smooth clutch and shifter action.

Fuel Economy

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
8	6	6.7

Test manual-transmission GS 2WD sedan averaged a satisfying 31.5 mpg in predominately highway driving. Test SX 2WD wagon with automatic transmission averaged 22.3 mpg in a city/highway mix--not great for a subcompact.

Ride Quality

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4.1

Reassuringly stable at highway speeds, and tar strips and smaller bumps are absorbed surprisingly well. Some larger bumps pound through and set body to jiggling or bounding.

Steering/Handling/Braking

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.9

Quick steering and well-controlled body lean combine for almost sporty feel. Short overall length and tight turning circle help in close quarters. Brake pedal suffers long, mushy travel, particularly in simulated panic stops.

Quietness

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
2	2	3.6

Wind, road, and engine noise intrude at highway speeds. Engine sounds coarse and loud under full throttle. Larger bumps drum through body.

Controls

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.6

Gauges are digital and readable in all light. Big, bright speedometer digits, but fuel-level bar-graph and some other indicators are undersized. Radio and climate controls just out of easy reach. Lots of hard plastic surfaces, but varied textures, colors, and shapes keep interior from looking cheap.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
7	7	4.4

Tall build, height-adjustable driver seat, and very low cowl combine for commanding view of the road, though thick rear pillars detract from over-the-shoulder visibility in both sedan and wagon. Plenty of head and leg room. Firm, supportive seats are mounted high for simple, step-in-and-out entry/exit.

Room/Comfort (rear)

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
4	5	3.2

Quite good for this car's exterior size. Wagon's tall roof affords ample head room; sedan has lower roof that cramps passengers taller than 5-ft-9. Knee room slightly better in sedan than wagon, but neither feels tight unless front seats are pushed far back. Entry/exit eased by high seats and large doors.

Cargo Room

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
4	6	3.3

Sedan's tall trunk is large for the class but doesn't go far forward. Wagon's bumper-height cargo area easy to load, and removing its floor panel reveals several handy compartments. Small-item storage rather limited inside, though there is a pull-out drawer under the front passenger's seat. All Aerios have split rear seatbacks that fold easily and lay flat once seat bottoms are flipped forward.

Value within Class

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
5	6	4.7

Except for their tall build, Aerio sedans don't stand out among subcompact cars. But the wagon is roomier and more versatile than most subcompacts. Both are efficiently designed, relatively entertaining to drive, and very competitively priced. Noise levels detract, but Aerio's biggest shortcoming is Suzuki's low profile in the marketplace and its poor resale value vs. the top import brands.

Total Score

GS 2WD sedan, man.	SX 2WD wagon, auto.	Class Average
48	49	44.2

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		31
Average Score		44
High Score		61