Driving Impressions

The driving experience in the Suzuki Forenza and Reno is about what you'd expect in a value-oriented compact. The Reno and Forenza share the same platform, including suspension, engine and transmission. So we weren't surprised when all three body styles shared similar driving characteristics. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It's not particularly powerful nor is it particularly fuel efficient. With 16 valves, double overhead cams, direct ignition and most of the other modern engine tricks we see today, its 126 horsepower at 5600 rpm are somewhat disappointing. Torque is a bit better, at 131 lb-ft at 4000 rpm, but no matter how you slice it, this is not a very sporty engine, a fact reinforced by the unhappy noises it makes when pushed hard. EPA-estimated fuel economy is just 22/30 mpg City/Highway (manual transmission, all models). That's distinctly sub-par for the class. On the plus side, they meet ULEV Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle requirements, meaning they're relatively clean. Part of the problem is weight. These Suzuki models are fairly heavy cars for this class. Base curb weight for the Forenza sedan is 2701 pounds, which is 200 pounds heavier than a Toyota Corolla and 250 pounds heavier than a Honda Civic. The Reno hatchback weighs in at 2750 pounds while the wagon tips the scales at 2850 pounds. Weight impacts acceleration performance, and these cars are not quick. We tested both the five-speed manual and the four-speed automatic transmissions. The automatic shifts smoothly, but feels as though it's taking what little power the engine puts out and hiding it away somewhere. The automatic features a fiddly gated shifter on the floor and you have to have to push down on the shifter handle to move it from neutral to reverse, all of which seems to add layer of needless complexity. On the plus side, it offers a Hold function designed to keep the car in gear on long uphill stretches. The standard five-speed manual felt smooth and buttery in a Reno we drove, but vague and ropey in a Forenza sedan. As befitting a budget car, the suspension is pretty basic, although it is fully independent. MacPherson struts hold up the front of the car, while a dual-link setup takes care of the rear. It's a tried and true setup that does its job well, and is well-sorted in this car, with few extraneous ride motions, and an overall comfortable ride. Despite its looks, the Reno is no sportster, but it and the Forenza have well damped suspensions that keep control of the car body in most circumstances. It feels tuned to the soft side, which was nice on bumpy, broken pavement, but it dove under braking and squatted under acceleration. The steering had a bit of play in it. The steering is decently weighted, but we frequently found ourselves having to re-center the wheel ourselves, rather than letting the car do it. Brakes are firm underfoot. Anti-lock brakes are optional. We recommend getting ABS as it allows the driver to brake and steer at the same time in an evasive maneuver. Electronic brake-force distribution helps balance braking force front to rear according to the situation, resulting in quicker stops and better stability under hard braking. In short, these features can help you avoid a crash, whether it's wet, wintry or dry pavement on a sunny day.

Final Word

The Suzuki Forenza and Reno models offer a lot of stuff for the money when compared with the big name brands, and come with an excellent warranty (3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 100,000 miles/7-year powertrain). The Reno five-door hatchback, the Forenza four-door sedan and the Forenza wagon are essentially the same vehicle in different body styles. Reno is the best looking with its Italian styling. New Car Test Drive correspondent Keith Buglewicz is based in Southern California.