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2004 Suzuki Aerio Full Review
Date Published: 2/20/08
Also in the 2004 Suzuki Aerio Review:
2004 Suzuki Aerio Review
Suzuki's entry-level subcompacts offer more power for 2004. Aerio comes as a 4-dr sedan and 4-dr SX wagon. Both graduate from a 145-hp 2.0-liter 4-cyl engine to a 155-hp 2.3 liter. Manual transmission and extra-cost automatic are available. The sedan offers base S trim and an uplevel version called LX. Suzuki's QuadGrip all-wheel drive is a $1000 alternative to front-wheel drive for LX and SX with automatic transmission. ABS is optional across the board. All Aerios include air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, tilt steering wheel, CD player, and split folding rear seats. The LX sedan and SX use 15-inch alloy wheels, the S 14-inch steel wheels.
News
Suzuki now offers three car lines, but only the Aerio is designed and built by Suzuki itself. Aerio could be ditched before a slated 2007 redesign unless Suzuki finds more ways to enhance the car's appeal. And frankly, we don't think that's likely, given the limitations of Aerio's basic design.
2004 Suzuki Aerio Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Available AWD | Noise |
| Maneuverability | Brake-pedal feel |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
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.
| 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
Test '04 2WD SX with manual transmission averaged 24.3 mpg in mostly city driving.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
Wind, road noise intrude at even moderate speeds, and rough surfaces can induce tinny body drumming. Engine coarse, loud at full throttle.
| 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
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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 |
2004 Suzuki Aerio Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 11/21/2003
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| FWD S 4-door sedan, manual | $12,999 | $12,219 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| FWD S 4-door sedan, automatic | $13,799 | $12,971 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| FWD LX 4-door sedan, manual | $14,699 | $13,817 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| FWD LX 4-door sedan, automatic | $15,499 | $14,569 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| AWD LX 4-door sedan, automatic | $16,499 | $15,509 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| FWD SX 4-door wagon, manual | $14,999 | $14,099 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| FWD SX 4-door wagon, automatic | $15,799 | $14,851 | $500 |
|
|
|||
| AWD SX 4-door wagon, automatic | $16,799 | $15,791 | $500 |
Price note: AWD denotes all-wheel drive. FWD denotes front-wheel drive.
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
S
Powertrain
2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
Dual front airbags, emergency inside trunk release, daytime running lights.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, rear defogger, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, outside-temperature indicator, map lights, intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
185/65R14 tires, wheel covers.
LX/SX adds to S:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat, heated power mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, variable-intermittent wipers, cargo cover (SX), rear wiper/washer (SX).
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear spoiler, fog lights, 195/55R15 tires, alloy wheels, AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
ABS Auto Air Pkg.
|
||
|
LX/SX, S
|
$800
|
$752
|
|
Antilock brakes, automatic climate control.
|
||
|
|
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2004 Suzuki Aerio Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Suzuki Aerio 4-door sedan | Suzuki Aerio SX 4-door wagon |
| Wheelbase, in. | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| Overall Length, in. | 171.3 | 166.5 |
| Overall Width, in. | 67.7 | 67.7 |
| Overall Height, in. | 60.8 | 61.0 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2676 | 2734 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 14.6 | 63.7 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 40.6 | 40.6 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 41.4 | 41.4 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.6 | 39.0 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 36.0 | 35.2 |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| dohc I4 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 2.3 /140 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 155 @ 5400 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 152 @ 3000 |
| Availability | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
|
| 5-speed manual | 25/31 |
| 4-speed automatic | 25/31 |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Suzuki Aerio 4-door sedan | Suzuki Aerio SX 4-door wagon |
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 3 | 3 |
| Side Impact, Driver | 5 | NA |
| Side Impact, Rear Passenger | 4 | NA |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | 7/100,000 | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 3/unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Japan
Drivewheels:
front-wheel drive
Also in the 2004 Suzuki Aerio Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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