Acceleration

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	3	3	4

Test '03 2.0-liter front-drive SX with automatic did 10.7 sec 0-60 mph. No chance to time '04s yet, but test of manual-transmission '04 front-drive SX suggests new 2.3-liter engine provides slightly stronger acceleration than old 2.0. AWD Aerios don't feel much slower than front-drive models.

Fuel Economy

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
7	6	6	6.6

Test '04 2WD SX with manual transmission averaged 24.3 mpg in mostly city driving.

Ride Quality

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	4.4

Generally stable at highway speeds, though gusty crosswinds can mean mild wander. Tar strips, smaller bumps absorbed surprisingly well, but larger bumps can pound through, causing jiggle and bounce.

Steering/Handling/Braking

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
5	5	5	5.3

Quick steering, moderate body lean, but small tires lose grip early in aggressive cornering. Tidy size, tight turning circle help in close quarters. Brake pedal suffers long, mushy travel. Non-ABS-equipped SX suffered early rear-wheel locking in simulated panic stops.

Quietness

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	3	3	4

Wind, road noise intrude at even moderate speeds, and rough surfaces can induce tinny body drumming. Engine coarse, loud at full throttle.

Controls

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4	5.6

Odd digi-graphic instrumentation, with big speedometer readouts but undersized tachometer and fuel-level bar graphs. 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)

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
7	7	7	5.1

Plenty of head room, and all but S sedan come with height-adjustable driver seat, but tall drivers may wish for more rearward seat travel. Firm, supportive seats mount high, help ease entry/exit. Tall build, lowish dashtop combine for commanding forward view, but thick rear pillars impede over-the-shoulder visibility.

Room/Comfort (rear)

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	5	5	3.9

Quite good for the exterior size. Wagon's tall roof affords ample head room. Sedan's lower roof 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. Large doors ease entry/exit.

Cargo Room

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	6	6	3.9

Sedan's tall trunk is large for the class but doesn't go far forward. Roomy wagon's bumper-height cargo area easy to load, and removing floor panel reveals several handy compartments. But note that AWD trims cargo volume by 3.1 cu ft in sedans and 4.2 in wagons. Cabin storage limited in all models, but includes a handy pull-out drawer under the front passenger's seat. All Aerios have split rear seatbacks that fold easily and lay flat once headrests are removed and seat bottoms flipped forward.

Value within Class

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
4	5	6	5.6

Aerio makes sense as an efficient, low-price commuter car, and few other cars in this price range offer the superior bad-weather traction of AWD. But it's also quirky and somewhat noisy, and Suzuki sells far fewer cars than the top import brands, which hurts resale values.

Total Score

FWD LX sdn, man.	FWD SX wgn, auto.	AWD SX wgn, auto.	Class Average
47	48	49	48.4

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		34
Average Score		48
High Score		64