Background: The all-new,
2002 Suzuki Aerio capitalizes on many of the latest trends to hit the compact-car segment with a bottom line that’s more than competitive with rivals. Suzuki’s newest front-wheel-drive vehicle went on sale this past month after its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January. As with recent newcomers such as the Ford Focus and Toyota Matrix, headroom is plentiful thanks to a high, curved roof. Seating positions are also raised a bit, making entering and exiting the vehicle easier.
In addition to Aerio, the 2002 Suzuki automotive lineup includes the Esteem sedan and Esteem wagon along with the compact, two-door Vitara SUV, the Grand Vitara SUV and the XL-7 SUV with three rows of seating handling up to seven riders. Suzuki has 420 dealer outlets nationwide and has been selling automobiles in the United States since 1985. Suzuki also houses a Central Regional office in Elk Grove Village.
Engine/Trim Level: The Aerio is available in two bodystyles, a four-door sedan and four-door wagon with rear hatchback. Suzuki refers to the wagon as the Aerio SX while simply calling the sedan Aerio. The sedan is available in two trim levels: S and up-level GS while the wagon is a GS-equipped edition only. Powering both is a 2.0-liter, in-line, four-cylinder, 16-valve, double-overhead-cam engine cranking out 141 horsepower.
Gas mileage is decent with manual-transmission models checking in at 26 miles per gallon in city travel and 33 m.p.g. highway. With automatic, highway estimates drop about two miles per gallon. The tank holds 13.2 gallons of regular unleaded fuel. Five-speed manual transmission is standard while automatic transmission is a $1,000 option. Currently, all Aerios are front-wheel drive, but an all-wheel drive version is scheduled to arrive during the next model year.
Price: Suzuki provided the Daily Herald with an entry-level S sedan with automatic transmission and a starting price of $14,499. The only other option was $75 floor mats; so the bottom line totaled $15,074 including the $500 destination charge. The lowest-priced Aerio sedan is an S version with manual transmission starting at $13,499. Both the Aerio GS sedan and Aerio SX wagon have a $14,499 starting price (with manual transmission.)
By comparison a four-door Focus Hatchback starts at $15,596 while a Nissan Sentra XE sedan checks in at $11,904. A Chevrolet Cavalier LS sedan lists for $15,235. A front-wheel drive 2003 Toyota Matrix checks in at $16,180. The lowest-priced sedan sold in the United States, the Kia Rio, lists at $9,343. All comparison vehicles include five-speed manual transmission.
Standard features: For a $13,499 price tag, the Aerio S comes with a high volume of standard content such as with power steering, power windows and mirrors, tilt steering wheel, fog lamps, rear window defroster, in-dash single-feed compact disc player with AM-FM stereo and three-spoke steering wheel. The GS sedan and wagon add power door locks, cruise control, a chrome exhaust tip and rear spoiler with brake light standard.
Interior: The interior feels quite airy thanks to the high roofline. Generous headroom is found both in front and back. Two adults fit most comfortably in the rear quarters, three would be a crowd. Seats are of the cloth variety and a two-tone interior (black and gray) comes standard in all models. Seat positioning follows an industry trend begun a couple of years back where front bucket seats are raised several inches. This design delivers several benefits, eliminating the “sinking” feeling found in some small compacts and allowing easier entry and exiting from the vehicle. Rear seatbacks are split folding, allowing for more cargo-carrying options.
Large windows help cut down blind spots. Ceiling handles are found above all four doors. The relatively small instrument panel is largely digital, not analog. Miles per hour are displayed with large digital numerals which change constantly as speeds go up and down. Fuel levels and engine temperatures are displayed via very tiny bar graphs while the tachometer design incorporates a quarter- circle gauge. A small secondary gear shift indicator is also part of the package. Suzuki locates the trunk release lever on the floor left of the driver’s seat. Power outside mirror controls are found on the dashboard’s far left side.
Headlights turn on and off via the turn signal stalk and wiper controls activate from a right-hand side stalk. The stereo with compact disc player is high atop the central dash with a three-dial ventilation system below. Suzuki creates a spacious feel with a long, deep dashboard top. Between standard front bucket seats are a hand-operated parking brake and two permanently-molded, side-by-side beverage holders in front of the floor-mounted transmission shifter. Despite the diminutive size, trunk volume is impressive at 14.6 cubic feet. Two interior curved hinges guide the lid when opening and closing, but the rather deep cargo area prevents most stored items from being crunched by them. By comparison a Chevrolet Cavalier sedan accommodates 13.6 cubic feet of cargo volume.
Exterior: The sedan’s overall outside design is modern with conservative overtones. The roofline is high and curved with a raised, short, trunk lid creating a back-to-front slope design. Strap-like handles must be lifted out (while the interior lock button is pushed down) when locking doors on manual models. A square, non-locking fuel tank is on the driver’s side rear fender. In front the long hood swoops down to the air dam, creating a grille-less front while headlights are placed in triangular housing reaching to side fenders. Small, 14-inch radial tires come standard in sedans while 15-inch tires are the norm in wagons.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 97.6 inches
Overall length: 171.3 inches
Overall width: 67.7 inches
Overall height: 60.8 inches
Curb weight: 2,604 pounds
Safety features: Dual front air bags, rear door child safety locks and daytime running lights are standard throughout the three-car lineup. Anti-lock brakes are a $500 option across the board. Keyless remote entry is not available in the S sedan, but is standard in the GS sedan and wagon. Side-impact airbags are not offered.
Warranty: The Aerio includes basic powertrain and roadside assistance warranties for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first) and a rust/corrosion warranty good for three years with unlimited miles.
Final thoughts: The Aerio marketing plan is fairly straight forward. Basically the short list of options in all three models consists of automatic transmission, anti-lock brakes and floor mats. Our S sedan test car was the bare-bones model plus automatic transmission, but had all the essentials (air conditioning, power windows, CD player) many first-time buyers and second-car shoppers desire. Headroom is cavernous for a compact-sized vehicle. The four-door hatchback’s pricing is less than recently introduced competitors with like styling, including the new Toyota Matrix and its automotive twin, the Pontiac Vibe. Both Vibe and Matrix are aiming for the same youthful market and currently offer all-wheel drive models and two engine selections, things Aerio currently does not. Entry-level shoppers on a budget should include Aerio in their product search.