Looking to capture America's attention in the midsize sedan segment, the 2004 Verona takes its place as Suzuki's flagship sedan.
The all-new Suzuki Verona features a stylish design, standard inline six-cylinder engine, the best warranty and a starting price of under $17,000.
That's great news for value-minded consumers. Verona has good curb-appeal, too. Penned by Italdesign in Turin, Italy, the Verona possesses nice lines and elegant features like a classic chrome grille and multi-reflector jewel-type headlamps.
Interestingly, the Verona is actually built in Korea and is marketed as the Daewoo Magnus in other parts of the world.
Three trim levels of the Verona are available. Pricing starts at $16,499 for a Verona S, while the mid-level Verona LX is priced at $17,799. The top-of-the-line Verona EX costs $19,499.
The S comes standard with power windows and door locks, heated power mirrors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, remote keyless entry, a tilt steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver seat, air conditioning, and an in-dash CD/cassette player.
Step up to the LX and you get automatic climate control, 16-inch alloy wheels and antilock brakes. The top-of-the-line Verona EX features a power sunroof, heated leather seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-way adjustable power driver seat.
Options include antilock brakes for S models and an electronic traction control system on the EX.
Verona features a roomy and comfortable cabin. There was plenty of room for my family in both the front seat and the rear. A fold-down rear center armrest with cupholders is a nice touch.
However, my co-tester and I didn't care for the faux, emphasis on faux, wood trim used in our LX tester. It cheapened the overall look and tone of the interior. While functional, Verona's interior is not at the same quality level of its competitors.
All Verona models come equipped with a smooth, inline 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower. Verona's engine is transversely mounted sending its power to the front wheels through a standard 4-speed automatic transmission.
At 2.5-liters, Verona's engine is a bit on the small side. We found the throttle in our Verona LX tester to be a bit on the touchy side. Acceleration from a stop is adequate, but we were unimpressed with the amount of power on hand for highway passing.
The 4-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth shifts, but at times there was a noticeable delay in engagement when shifting into reverse.
Overall, the ride is smooth and quiet. In addition, Verona features speed-sensitive steering, which adjusts the amount of steering assist to help enhance driving stability and control.
Safety features include anti-lock brakes (standard on LX and EX models) and dual front airbags. Side impact airbags are not available.
Verona, like all 2004 Suzuki models, is covered by Suzuki's 100,000 mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty that's fully transferable to succeeding owners and free of deductibles for covered items. Also included is a three-year roadside assistance program and a warranty repair courtesy vehicle program.
If a Suzuki dealer has to keep a vehicle overnight for certain repairs during the new-vehicle limited warranty period, the owner will be provided with a free Enterprise rental car.
Considering all that Verona has to offer, and its modest price tag, we think value-minded consumers will appreciate this attractive sedan.
2004 Suzuki Verona LX
Engine: 2.5-liter (155 hp) I6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Drive Type: FWD
Fuel Economy: 20 city/28 highway
Base Price: $17,799
As Tested: $18,299 (including $500 destination charge)
Website: www.suzukiauto.com |
