2004 Suzuki Verona Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Suzuki's largest car is a South Korean-built compact-size sedan with an unusual-for-the-class engine arrangement. Verona offers S, LX, and top-line EX models. All come with a transverse-mounted 2.5-liter inline 6-cyl engine plus a 4-speed automatic transmission and 4-wheel disc brakes. LX and EX include ABS, which is not available on the S. EX also offers optional traction control, at $500. Side airbags are unavailable. All Veronas include fog lamps, heated power mirrors, power door locks with keyless entry/alarm, power windows, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, CD/cassette stereo with steering-wheel controls, and split folding rear seat. The LX adds 16-inch alloy wheels to replace 15-inch steel wheels, plus automatic climate control. EX adds sunroof, heated leather seats, and power driver seat. Against the midsize Honda Accord and Toyota Camry it targets, Verona is slightly shorter in both wheelbase and overall length, but a bit wider and some 250-300 lb heavier. Verona was designed by the bankrupt Daewoo Motor Company, Ltd., and is built by GM Daewoo Automotive Technologies, which GM formed after buying parts of Daewoo. GM also owns a stake in Suzuki.

News

Verona has just left the starting blocks, so only minor changes should occur in the next few years. As with its smaller sister, the Forenza, Verona's fate depends on that of the South Korean company that originated it, GM Daewoo Automotive Technologies. Though GMDAT gets a boost from selling cars to Suzuki for sale in North America under the Suzuki label, the Japanese company still has only so much say-so in the nature and timing of future changes. At the very least, we hope Suzuki will work with GMDAT to improve Verona's less-than-satisfying powertrain behavior as well as its performance--the sooner the better.

2004 Suzuki Verona Road Test

Pros	Cons

Ride	Acceleration

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
3	5.2

Verona disappoints with sluggish takeoffs and mediocre midrange power. Automatic transmission smooth, but slow to kick down for more passing power. One test car's engine ran erratically when first started on cool mornings.

Fuel Economy

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
5	5.3

Test cars averaged 19.8-20.2 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving. Suzuki recommends regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	6.2

Comfort-calibrated chassis and tires smother most bumps, helped by solid-feeling structure. Large humps and dips can induce mild float, however.

Steering/Handling/Braking

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
5	6.1

Pleasant, but no more. On par with Sonata, with slightly overboosted steering, moderate cornering lean, but less agile and grippy than Mazda 6. Better-quality tires would help. Good stopping power. We'd like traction control available for all Veronas, not just top-line EX.

Quietness

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	5.8

Smooth-running engine sounds strained in full-throttle acceleration, but isn't unduly loud and cruises comfortably at 75-80 mph. Tire and wind noise about par for the class.

Controls

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	6.4

Conventional-looking dashboard with clear instruments and reasonably handy controls. However, shifting requires awkward motion of pushing down on knob while moving lever through notchy zigzag gate. Materials appropriate for the price. Detail workmanship quite good.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	6

Adult-size head and leg room, though lanky riders may feel squeezed. Ordinary seats, but comfortable enough. Visibility average.

Room/Comfort (rear)

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	4.5

Three adults will be pinched, but two 6-footers have decent leg room even behind a tall front-seater, plus good foot and head room. Seatback seems raked a bit much for long-haul comfort. Entry/exit about class-average.

Cargo Room

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
3	4.6

Sickle-shaped trunklid hinges intrude some into a usable but average-size trunk. Releases for folding rear seat are inside and somewhat inboard, so require stretching to reach. Cupholders and cabin storage nothing special, but self-propping hood with gas strut is an upscale convenience.

Value within Class

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
6	6

Verona is nicely equipped for its price and boasts a strong warranty, but it's plug-ordinary in performance, where its 6 cyl acts more like the 4-cyl engines of many rivals. Also, Suzuki is new to the compact class, and that, plus Verona's origins, imply a bigger depreciation hit and lower resale values vs. more-established competitors.

Total Score

EX w/trac. control	Class Average
52	56.1

Scores for all Midsize Cars

Low Score		44
Average Score		56
High Score		72

2004 Suzuki Verona Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 11/07/2003

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

S 4-door sedan	$16,499	$15,344	$500

LX 4-door sedan	$17,799	$16,553	$500

EX 4-door sedan	$19,499	$18,134	$500

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

Powertrain

2.5-liter 6-cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes, daytime running lights.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power steering, tilt leather-wrapped steering w/radio controls, cruise control, air conditioning, interior air filter, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats w/height adjustment, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, fog lights, full-size spare tire, 205/65R15 tires, wheel covers.

LX adds to S:

Safety

Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Automatic climate control.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

205/55R16 tires, alloy wheels.

EX adds to LX:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather upholstery, heated front seats, 8-way power driver seat, power sunroof, automatic day/night rearview mirror.

Optional Equipment

Powertrain	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Traction control
EX	$500	$470

2004 Suzuki Verona Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Suzuki Verona 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	106.3

Overall Length, in.	187.8

Overall Width, in.	71.5

Overall Height, in.	57.1

Curb Weight, lbs.	3380

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	13.4

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	17.2

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.1

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.2

Rear Head Room, in.	37.3

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	37.8

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I6

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.5 /152

Horsepower @ rpm.	155 @ 5800

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	177 @ 4000

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	20/27

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 Verona 4-door sedan

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: South Korea

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2004 Suzuki Verona Photos

Also in the 2004 Suzuki Verona Review:

Suzuki Verona

Suzuki Verona Road Test

Suzuki Verona Prices & Equipment

Suzuki Verona Specs & Safety

Suzuki Verona Photos

Suzuki Verona Full Review

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