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Suzuki Aerio Wagon
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Comments
Price is $16,900, but that includes A/C, cruise, tilt/telescopic wheel, ABS, seat belt pre-tensioners, side curtain airbags, 4 wheel disc brakes, height adjustable seats, remote locking etc.
That is for the TDI engine rated at EPA 42/49. It is cheaper w/ the gas engine, but not as stingy w/ fuel. The new TDI is nothing like diesels of the past it is smoother and quieter. Very queit on the freeway because it only turns 2080 rpm @ 60 mph. The engine has so much torque it does fine at low rpm. It actually has the same amount of torque as last years 1.8t (155 lbft).
Reliability is about average (which is actually pretty good these days as all cars are getting more reliable - I think average now is equel to the best that was available 10-15 years ago) and the diesel engine will last forever.
Can't hurt to try one.
Thanks for your comments!
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
2 liter engine with DOHC, timing chain, direct ignition, AC, PB, PW, PS, CC, AM/FM CD, 15" aluminum wheels, fog lights, this thing is loaded! how does Suzuki expect to make any money?
interested in the Aerio SX. Thanks!
Erik
looks like the $3500 number was for Grand Vitaras, not the Aerio. The Aerio was (is?)
$1500 off MSRP (still a good deal in my book).
Erik
I'll start with the good news. The seating position is high with a great amount of headroom. In fact, the wagon is very tall in general.
The rear visibility was better than expected. The engine tuning is nice in that torque is generated at considerably lower RPM than most other engines around this size. The ride is firm and quiet enough. Steering is very light but has adequate feedback. The cargo area has an assortment of little compartments that are often wasted space on other cars.
The bad news begins with the console. Who thought digital instruments were a good idea? The cowl covers a very slim strip of orange LED instruments - a 2 digit number for the speedo and a graph for the tach. These are a bit difficult to see and require more than a glance to read. The plastics are sub-econo and were clashing warm and cool greys. I'm usually not so finicky, but these were bad enough to complain about.
More problems with the interior include the poor fabrics. The seats have a very snag-catching perforated football jersey fabric surrounded by a fabric best described as flannel! This is even
worse than typical econo velour. The rear arm rest is released by pulling a nylon strap that sticks out through a button-hole type seam. The football jersey is also on the upper door panels where I typically rest my arm while driving. It would have been smarter for this to be plastic or vinyl. There is not front center arm rest.
The cargo area is wall to wall felt. Being sporty and all, you'd think Suzuki would've clad the seat backs and cargo floor in plastic (like the Matrix). The back seats fold semi-flat after tugging nylon straps on the seat bottoms and removing the headrests from the seat backs.
The spoiler certainly does spoil things if you look too closely. It is crudely fastened on by 2 large plastic rivets. The spoiler doesn't
fit or contour well into the body at all. Other exterior appearance problems include less-than-smooth paint and wheels that are IMO too small and out of proportion.
This is a pity, really. I was looking forward to the Aerio as a replacement for my Metro. Despite how spartan my Metro is, it was designed and assembled with greater care than the Aerio. The Aerio was pleasant enough to drive, but you'd be crazy to buy one when there are better choices for the same money. Suzuki is cutting corners and it shows throughout. Spend the same and get an Elantra GT or spend a little more and get the handsome, competent and ultimately better Protege5.
I've test driven the Vibe which I like much better than the Aerio even though I'd get less features for the same money; too bad they are so hard to come by and going for MSRP right now. I wasn't loving the styling of the Elantra GT but I saw one in black the other day that looks very nice so I really should test drive one. The P5 looks worse than the Vibe IMO and is more expensive here similarly equipped than either the Vibe or the Elantra but I may still give one a drive just for completeness.
Erik
I have no problem with Suzuki reliability. I used to own a Chevy Sprint Turbo. That was one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. No It was not refined...but man that power to weight ratio was perfect (1600lbs - 70hp). Dead reliable.
Timing chains in Suzukis are nothing new. My friend's 2000 Esteem has a timing chain.
I think the Aerio is a step-forward for them. If not in performance than in design. Its obvious they are appealing to the younger crowd (factory fog lights,dams,spoilers)but I still think the digital dash was a bad idea. I've had my share of them.
The thing that makes me laugh is you mention other cars as competition to it...yet you never mention Hyundai. For $14,500 the Elantra GT is a direct competitior loaded with leather and yet it doesnt even get an honorable mention. Thats OK, us Hyundai owners are used to that.
I agree with you that Hyundai and Suzuki are improving. My friend has owned the Esteem Wagon and Esteem Sedan and I'm impressed with them both.
Suzuki engines are excellent performers. They certainly gave the Aerio enough power (141hp). Thanks for the props on the GT.
I test drove the Porcshe 911 and it stank. All that money and I couldn't fit luggage for me the wife and the kids to go to disney land for the week.
Yes that was a sacrcastic remark. Cars have purposes and they're getting mixed up.
This cars goal is to be an economical, practical and easy to live with It does all of this well. It is not goint to handle like a Porsche, it is not going to be as plush as a benz, and it's not going to be as sexy as a Jaguar. And they never meant it to!
. If you want refinement and performance, it is readily available for some extra cash. but it seems wacky to me to point out nonsense that doesn't matter.
The Aerio was a great effort by Suzuki. I applaud them for pricing the car aggressively and giving it a more realistic MSRP. You could pay sticker on this car and not feel bad because there is only a $500 markup. The only thing that kills the car for me is its funky dash design and the digital guages. The exterior grabs my attention just as much as the Matrix. I hope to test drive one soon and see if the interior is really as bad as everyone makes it seem.
The biggest problems I found - the very high seating position combined with the usual steering wheel placement makes for a drive reminicent of a bus, and down the street is a Nissan dealer that offers the much more refined Sentra with the same equipment for only 2k more.
The very high seatings position will certainly not suit everyone but I loved it. It makes for a great visibility amplified by the big outside mirrors.
The ride is smooth and the cabin is quite quiet, even at cruise speed.
I will buy one very soon.
Not bad since my friends Esteem really hauls ***. All in all a very good review.
frankie25597
You are shouting (ALL CAPS). I drive the Elantra GT and think its a great car. Go for it.
My wife & I were originally shopping for a CRV to replace our Sidekick (wife's daily driver) but are shifting our focus and may check out the Aerio for her instead. Then, a few years down the road, we may replace my Altima with something CRV-like. Anyway, we would be interested in how the Aerio is on the highway, as we would probably use it for camping/trips when it's more practical than the Altima. BTW, what model/colour did you get? And were the dealers willing to deal?
Congrats on your new Aerio! The clicking noise you describe sounds like it could be a speedometer cable. Since the noise is only there when you drive, thats the only time the cable turns. Not uncommon. Have the dealer look at it.
All seems good. Roomy, comfortable, responsive... it's got a strong engine, it's not a slouch.
No ABS is available on the GL and GLX models in Canada. You have to get an SX trim level (in either sedan or hatchback) to get ABS. The interior cloth on the GL is tan, which goes well with my green car.
The wheel covers are off right away, it looks like a ghost car right now. I am waiting for someone to sell me their aluminums off an SX they want to slam and put 17 inchers on.
You can't beat the finance rate right now on the sedans, go see your dealer. But, be warned, there is not much room to play with on the pricing. Just look at edmunds pricing for the Aerio to see why.
Been hanging around the yahoo groups site for "suzukiaerio"; somebody there mentioned there was talk going on over here, so, there ya go.
Keith
Abbotsford, BC