Suzuki Aerio SX is a hatchback with personality

srobertson

Suzuki Aerio SX is a hatchback with personality

Check out the window sticker on this week's test vehicle and you'll see the word "INCLUDED" repeated over and over. My 2005 Suzuki Aerio SX was loaded with convenience and luxury features, such as automatic climate control, yet it didn't have a single extra-cost option. That seems to be the marketing tactic Suzuki is using to grab market share in the hotly contested compact car segment. The company's publicized goal, called the "357 strategy," is to triple sales in five years by 2007.

Known initially for its motorcycles (in 1954 it was producing an astounding 6,000 motorcycles per month), in 1955 Suzuki introduced the Suzulight -- a small, technologically advanced vehicle with then-radical innovations such as front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.

In 1982, when other manufacturers were producing tip-over-prone three-wheel ATVs, Suzuki introduced the first 4-wheeler and revolutionized the industry. Today, Suzuki employs tens of thousands of workers worldwide and builds hundreds of thousands of automobiles annually. Although its penetration in the U.S. auto market pales in comparison to rivals Honda and Toyota, on a world scale Suzuki outsells many better-known brands, such as Saab, Subaru, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes and Isuzu. Not bad for a little company that began in 1909 as a manufacturer of weaving machinery.

Available as a sedan or sporty hatchback with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the Aerio is styled to look aerodynamic and distinctive. It's roomy, fun to drive, and aimed at youthful customers. The hatchback SX that I tested has the extra space younger drivers need to haul their adventure gear to the outback, and their dirty clothes to the laundry. And, as fuel prices climb, Aerio's excellent gas mileage will likely become a strong selling point for all-wheel-drive shoppers. With an overall height three to four inches greater than other vehicles in its class, the Aerio boasts more interior room than typical compact cars. Legroom is equal to or better than most of its competition.

Another appealing feature is Aerio's 100,000-mile warranty that Suzuki says is America's best because it is transferable to subsequent owners. When Consumers Digest rewarded Aerio a "Best Buy" rating, in 2003, shoppers noticed. The 2005 model is better than ever, with many safety and power upgrades. Now equipped with a powerful 155-horsepower, 2.3-liter engine, the Aerio SX is a blast to drive. With its standard side airbags the Aerio earned four stars (out of five) for the driver, and three stars for the front passenger in crash tests conducted by the NHTSA. Side-impact testing (without side airbags) returned a perfect five-star rating for the front seat, and four stars for the back. In frontal offset crash testing conducted by the IIHS, the Aerio earned the highest possible rating. It was given a "best pick" rating for highway safety by the Insurance Institute.

Driving Impression

With its tight turning radius, peppy performance and eye-catching styling, the Aerio is not your ordinary ride. It is a fun car to drive, providing big smiles as the miles slide by. Given its sporty demeanor, I was surprised to find a set-and-forget automatic climate-control system, and a suspension tuned for a rather soft ride. The only downside to a soft suspension in a vehicle like this is increased body lean in tight corners. But this is a worthwhile trade-off for the pleasant, almost plush, ride that the SX delivers. This is a tall vehicle, and that translates into great headroom and legroom, while sacrificing a bit of gas mileage. It is rated for 25 mpg/city and 30 mpg/highway.

A high seating position provides chair-like comfort and exceptional legroom. The car is quiet for a vehicle in this price range, and the attractive cloth seats provide good support. The driver's seat is height adjustable, and combined with the tilt steering wheel, anyone should be able to find a position that works. My test vehicle included a four-speed automatic transmission, cruise control, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and shift knob, and a great-sounding 6-CD sound system with six speakers and a sub-woofer. A subwoofer makes all the difference in a small car like this -- an unexpected touch of luxury that adds to the fun quotient.

The Aerio SX has the buttons, bells and whistles that today's buyers want, such as fog lights, power windows, heated outside mirrors, rear window defroster, split and fold rear seats, a driver-seat armrest, map light, outside temperature display, under-seat storage bin, front-seat back pockets, dampened hand grabs and power locks. The car rides on 15-inch alloy wheels, and is accented with color-keyed door handles and mirrors and a chrome exhaust tip.

With a bottom-line price $16,794, the Aerio SX is a great value. Excellent crash test ratings, a comfortable ride, a transferable 100,000-mile warranty, and a playful personality combine to make the Aerio a capable competitor in the compact car segment.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.