At some point in their lives, most people find themselves in need of a small, inexpensive car that gets them from home to office with minimal hassle. Honda and Toyota have spent decades perfecting their economy cars, and we'll wager that the names "Civic" and "Corolla" come up in most every small sedan buyer's research. Trouble is, you pay dearly for these household names. A Civic EX may indeed be worth all $17,000 it costs to buy it, but if your budget's only $15,000, you're going to have to shed some equipment and horsepower or pick a different car. For the last several years, the Hyundai Elantra has been our top recommendation to economy sedan buyers seeking to get a lot for a little. After spending a week with Suzuki's new Forenza, though, we feel the Elantra may have to share its role as econocar value leader.
Like the midsize Verona sedan, the Forenza is the product of General Motors' purchase of Daewoo Motor Company and Suzuki's ongoing partnership with the world's largest automaker. Badged as a Daewoo in other parts of the world, the Korean-built Forenza is essentially a replacement for the Daewoo Nubira that was sold in the U.S. from 1999 to 2002. The Nubira, too, was loaded with standard features and sold at bargain prices, but it suffered greatly for its unrefined driving dynamics and cut-rate interior materials. Since GM took the helm, the design and engineering budget has evidently increased, as the Forenza is light-years ahead of the Nubira in these areas.
But if you know anything about Suzuki, you know the company already sells a homegrown economy car called the Aerio (introduced for 2002). The Aerio and Forenza occupy roughly the same price territory, though an available all-wheel-drive system and a choice between sedan and wagon body styles make it likely that you'll spend more on an Aerio. Advantages to the Aerio include a standard 155-hp engine, a tall cabin design with generous headroom and good crash test scores. Disadvantages include sloppy handling, a dire lack of cabin storage and low-grade interior plastics.
Where does this leave the Forenza? Surprisingly, the younger Suzuki has the more balanced package: It rides well, handles well and has an upscale cabin with plenty of storage. Although its 126-hp engine looks unimpressive on paper, it gets the job done in traffic and falls midpack in the economy sedan segment. Unless you're looking for AWD or a wagon, we think the Forenza would be more satisfying to own than the Aerio. (Note that Suzuki plans to add a wagon to the Forenza lineup for 2005.)
But intrabrand competition ultimately counts for little in this large segment, where buyers will pit either Suzuki against mainstream cars like the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra among others. How does the Forenza stack up in this setting? Once again, surprisingly well. Just running down the standard features list tells you plenty, as the base S model costs just $13,349 and comes with four-wheel disc brakes, a height-adjustable driver seat, a padded center armrest, air conditioning, an eight-speaker CD stereo, steering wheel audio controls and power windows, mirrors and locks.
About the only basic amenity you can't get on the S is cruise control. The midgrade LX provides it, along with alloy wheels, foglights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a sunroof and keyless entry. Finally, the high-line EX is available for those who want leather upholstery, but it requires a four-speed automatic transmission (also available on the lower trims). Antilock brakes are the only option; they cost $500 extra on all trims. Missing in action are side-impact airbags, a feature that comes standard on the Elantra and is optional on all other competitors in this segment. Our manual-shift LX test vehicle did not have ABS and came in at $14,899 (including destination charge); however, buyers should note that a subsequent price increase has pushed that figure to $15,249.
Step inside and the Forenza doesn't immediately remind you how little you paid to get it. In fact, its cabin is just as nice as that of the $20,000 Verona. Instead of halfhearted fake wood inserts, though, Suzuki opted for faux aluminum trim in its new economy sedan. Soft green backlighting provides an attractive complement for the metallic look, and in the gauge cluster, soft blue light encircles the speedometer — a subtle touch that gives the interior a little personality. In comparison, the Elantra's cockpit seems a bit dowdy.
Fortunately, the Forenza backs up its style with quality materials and solid fit and finish. Designers covered the dash and door tops in a textured, soft-touch material that looks and feels good enough to be used in a more expensive car. The velour-type cloth upholstery is soft and inoffensive in appearance, and seems likely to stand up to everyday use. The door panels include large fabric inserts such that outboard occupants will always have a comfy spot to rest an arm. All but a few of the plastic panels are low in gloss, and all of the controls feel at least average in quality. The adjustable vents are particularly well executed: Metallic trim gives them a classy look, while their damped adjustment action returns an impression of substance.
Build quality was excellent on our test vehicle. We noted flashing (leftover from the molding process) on some plastics and a buzz from the front of the headliner, but didn't find one misaligned panel inside or out. Although you'll find higher-quality switchgear in a Civic or Corolla, the Forenza is definitely above average in the build and materials department.
Take a seat behind the wheel and there's a cloth-covered and padded center armrest to cradle your right elbow. Along with all the basic adjustments, the driver seat offers two-way seat bottom tilt and lumbar adjustment. Decent seat-track travel and a roomy footwell make the Forenza worth a test-drive for taller drivers who feel cramped in the Corolla or Mazda 3. The seats themselves are nicely shaped and offer enough firm support to get you through a road trip. A pair of large cupholders is conveniently housed in the center console, and you can stick a 1.5-liter water bottle in one of them without blocking access to the shifter.
Most controls fall readily to hand from the driver seat. An illuminated ignition assures that you won't be fumbling with the key in the dark, and a straightforward three-dial climate control setup makes it easy to get the cool air flowing on warm days. The stereo head unit is a little busy, as it's overstocked with buttons and extraneous features. Mastering the basic functions isn't too difficult, though, and the steering wheel controls make it a simple proposition to adjust the volume or advance a CD track. The cruise control buttons are also on the wheel. Fussy power mirror adjusters and the lack of retained accessory power (after you shut off the engine) are among our few complaints.
In the backseat, the accommodations aren't the best you'll find in the economy sedan class, but anyone under six feet tall should be OK on short trips. The bench is high enough to provide thigh support and the back cushion has a comfortable rake. The cushioning is firm but not unpleasantly so. Legroom is just average, but there's plenty of room to slide your feet under the front seats. A fold-down armrest houses the rear cupholders and gives your passengers some personal space. Three-point belts are provided in all three seating positions, as are head restraints.
Like the Elantra, the Forenza gives owners plenty of room for their personal effects. A large rubber-lined well under the center stack can easily handle your cell phone, sunglasses and garage door opener all at once. Additionally, spacious door bins are provided in both the front and rear, allowing everyone on board to stow maps and snacks. Trunk capacity measures 12.4 cubic feet, which is average among economy sedans. When you need to haul an assemble-it-yourself bookshelf, the seats fold not-quite-flat in a 60/40 split to open up extra room.
Obviously, a well-appointed interior wouldn't be worth much if the driving experience was unpleasant. And although the Forenza won't exactly make you forget you're driving an economy car, it proved to be an agreeable companion in the course of our travels. Power is provided by a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine rated for 126 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. We weren't enamored with the soupy shift action of our test car's manual transmission, but once the car was in gear, there was adequate low- and midrange torque to keep pace in L.A. freeway traffic. Rarely, in fact, did we wish for more power, even when passing and merging.
It took concentration to shift smoothly in the Forenza, but it's always nice to have full control over shift points when driving a compact car amongst SUVs and their sometimes inattentive owners. Still, most economy sedans — from the pricey Mazda 3 to the thrifty Elantra — offer more refined manual gearboxes.
In instrumented acceleration testing, the Forenza took 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph (and 17.1 for the quarter-mile), which puts it in the middle of the pack among economy sedans. Considering that most people opt for an automatic transmission in their budget sedans, a manual-shift Forenza is actually one of the spunkier econocars around. Refinement is not quite up to Honda and Toyota standards, as the Forenza's 2.0-liter engine has a gruff sound and drones a bit when cruising. Fuel economy is a serious weak point, as the Suzuki's 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway rating falls short of every other car in the segment, not to mention some midsize sedans.
Although the Forenza may not be the most efficient commuter car on the market, it is at least a comfortable one. A fully independent front strut/rear dual-link suspension smoothes out most road surfaces and floats lightly over the occasional bump or expansion joint. The ride can be a bit harsh over rough or grooved pavement, but unless you live in an area of the country riddled with potholes, we doubt you'll have any complaints. Wind and road noise levels are average as economy cars go.
Soft suspension tuning keeps the Forenza from being a sharp handler in the corners, but it's a capable car with predictable reflexes. After you negotiate the initial body roll, the Suzuki settles down and its 15-inch Hankook Optima tires provide more grip than you would expect. If you're the carefree type, you might actually enjoy tossing the Forenza around on the occasional back road. We did. The steering is progressively weighted, and feels tight and well connected to the road at high speeds. Its response time to driver inputs is about average for this segment. Notably, it's more accurate than the Aerio's steering. Overall, the Forenza's handling characteristics most closely match those of the Elantra. Discerning buyers will prefer the dynamics of cars like the Civic and Focus, but if you make few demands on your car, the Suzuki is unlikely to disappoint.
Equipped with a full set of disc brakes, the Forenza exhibited acceptable stopping power in everyday traffic. Pedal actuation could be more progressive, and our test driver noted that the pedal stiffened up quickly during emergency braking simulations at the track — making it difficult to avoid locking the wheels of our test car, which didn't have ABS. Our driving expert did get a 138-foot 60-to-0-mph stopping distance out of the Forenza, a solid performance from a car without ABS. Brake fade was not an issue under heavy use, and the car stopped straight in its lane every time.
Other than subpar gas mileage, questionable passive safety is the main thing that gives us pause about the Forenza. Side airbags are basically a requirement on the options list these days, even among economy cars. Add to that the Suzuki's middling three-star performance (out of five possible) in government side-impact crash tests. Certainly, it's better to avoid an accident in the first place, but when your own family members are going to be driving and riding in the car, it would be nice to know that they have the best protection possible. The Forenza fared better in frontal impact testing, earning four stars for both the driver and front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has yet to put this Suzuki through the 40-mph frontal offset test.
If you can live with so-so side-impact protection and 22 mpg in the city, the Forenza is packed with value. It's not an economy car that will appeal to enthusiasts or those seeking maximum refinement, but for the money, it gets the job done without making the driving experience the least bit unpleasant. Consider this alongside its comfortable, well-furnished interior, solid build and materials quality and long standard features list, and indeed, there are many good reasons to test-drive the Forenza if you're shopping for a small, inexpensive car. If Suzuki added some side airbags and variable valve timing (to improve fuel efficiency), this car would have no difficulty breaking into the leaders' circle.
Like the midsize Verona sedan, the Forenza is the product of General Motors' purchase of Daewoo Motor Company and Suzuki's ongoing partnership with the world's largest automaker. Badged as a Daewoo in other parts of the world, the Korean-built Forenza is essentially a replacement for the Daewoo Nubira that was sold in the U.S. from 1999 to 2002. The Nubira, too, was loaded with standard features and sold at bargain prices, but it suffered greatly for its unrefined driving dynamics and cut-rate interior materials. Since GM took the helm, the design and engineering budget has evidently increased, as the Forenza is light-years ahead of the Nubira in these areas.
But if you know anything about Suzuki, you know the company already sells a homegrown economy car called the Aerio (introduced for 2002). The Aerio and Forenza occupy roughly the same price territory, though an available all-wheel-drive system and a choice between sedan and wagon body styles make it likely that you'll spend more on an Aerio. Advantages to the Aerio include a standard 155-hp engine, a tall cabin design with generous headroom and good crash test scores. Disadvantages include sloppy handling, a dire lack of cabin storage and low-grade interior plastics.
Where does this leave the Forenza? Surprisingly, the younger Suzuki has the more balanced package: It rides well, handles well and has an upscale cabin with plenty of storage. Although its 126-hp engine looks unimpressive on paper, it gets the job done in traffic and falls midpack in the economy sedan segment. Unless you're looking for AWD or a wagon, we think the Forenza would be more satisfying to own than the Aerio. (Note that Suzuki plans to add a wagon to the Forenza lineup for 2005.)
But intrabrand competition ultimately counts for little in this large segment, where buyers will pit either Suzuki against mainstream cars like the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra among others. How does the Forenza stack up in this setting? Once again, surprisingly well. Just running down the standard features list tells you plenty, as the base S model costs just $13,349 and comes with four-wheel disc brakes, a height-adjustable driver seat, a padded center armrest, air conditioning, an eight-speaker CD stereo, steering wheel audio controls and power windows, mirrors and locks.
About the only basic amenity you can't get on the S is cruise control. The midgrade LX provides it, along with alloy wheels, foglights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a sunroof and keyless entry. Finally, the high-line EX is available for those who want leather upholstery, but it requires a four-speed automatic transmission (also available on the lower trims). Antilock brakes are the only option; they cost $500 extra on all trims. Missing in action are side-impact airbags, a feature that comes standard on the Elantra and is optional on all other competitors in this segment. Our manual-shift LX test vehicle did not have ABS and came in at $14,899 (including destination charge); however, buyers should note that a subsequent price increase has pushed that figure to $15,249.
Step inside and the Forenza doesn't immediately remind you how little you paid to get it. In fact, its cabin is just as nice as that of the $20,000 Verona. Instead of halfhearted fake wood inserts, though, Suzuki opted for faux aluminum trim in its new economy sedan. Soft green backlighting provides an attractive complement for the metallic look, and in the gauge cluster, soft blue light encircles the speedometer — a subtle touch that gives the interior a little personality. In comparison, the Elantra's cockpit seems a bit dowdy.
Fortunately, the Forenza backs up its style with quality materials and solid fit and finish. Designers covered the dash and door tops in a textured, soft-touch material that looks and feels good enough to be used in a more expensive car. The velour-type cloth upholstery is soft and inoffensive in appearance, and seems likely to stand up to everyday use. The door panels include large fabric inserts such that outboard occupants will always have a comfy spot to rest an arm. All but a few of the plastic panels are low in gloss, and all of the controls feel at least average in quality. The adjustable vents are particularly well executed: Metallic trim gives them a classy look, while their damped adjustment action returns an impression of substance.
Build quality was excellent on our test vehicle. We noted flashing (leftover from the molding process) on some plastics and a buzz from the front of the headliner, but didn't find one misaligned panel inside or out. Although you'll find higher-quality switchgear in a Civic or Corolla, the Forenza is definitely above average in the build and materials department.
Take a seat behind the wheel and there's a cloth-covered and padded center armrest to cradle your right elbow. Along with all the basic adjustments, the driver seat offers two-way seat bottom tilt and lumbar adjustment. Decent seat-track travel and a roomy footwell make the Forenza worth a test-drive for taller drivers who feel cramped in the Corolla or Mazda 3. The seats themselves are nicely shaped and offer enough firm support to get you through a road trip. A pair of large cupholders is conveniently housed in the center console, and you can stick a 1.5-liter water bottle in one of them without blocking access to the shifter.
Most controls fall readily to hand from the driver seat. An illuminated ignition assures that you won't be fumbling with the key in the dark, and a straightforward three-dial climate control setup makes it easy to get the cool air flowing on warm days. The stereo head unit is a little busy, as it's overstocked with buttons and extraneous features. Mastering the basic functions isn't too difficult, though, and the steering wheel controls make it a simple proposition to adjust the volume or advance a CD track. The cruise control buttons are also on the wheel. Fussy power mirror adjusters and the lack of retained accessory power (after you shut off the engine) are among our few complaints.
In the backseat, the accommodations aren't the best you'll find in the economy sedan class, but anyone under six feet tall should be OK on short trips. The bench is high enough to provide thigh support and the back cushion has a comfortable rake. The cushioning is firm but not unpleasantly so. Legroom is just average, but there's plenty of room to slide your feet under the front seats. A fold-down armrest houses the rear cupholders and gives your passengers some personal space. Three-point belts are provided in all three seating positions, as are head restraints.
Like the Elantra, the Forenza gives owners plenty of room for their personal effects. A large rubber-lined well under the center stack can easily handle your cell phone, sunglasses and garage door opener all at once. Additionally, spacious door bins are provided in both the front and rear, allowing everyone on board to stow maps and snacks. Trunk capacity measures 12.4 cubic feet, which is average among economy sedans. When you need to haul an assemble-it-yourself bookshelf, the seats fold not-quite-flat in a 60/40 split to open up extra room.
Obviously, a well-appointed interior wouldn't be worth much if the driving experience was unpleasant. And although the Forenza won't exactly make you forget you're driving an economy car, it proved to be an agreeable companion in the course of our travels. Power is provided by a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine rated for 126 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. We weren't enamored with the soupy shift action of our test car's manual transmission, but once the car was in gear, there was adequate low- and midrange torque to keep pace in L.A. freeway traffic. Rarely, in fact, did we wish for more power, even when passing and merging.
It took concentration to shift smoothly in the Forenza, but it's always nice to have full control over shift points when driving a compact car amongst SUVs and their sometimes inattentive owners. Still, most economy sedans — from the pricey Mazda 3 to the thrifty Elantra — offer more refined manual gearboxes.
In instrumented acceleration testing, the Forenza took 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph (and 17.1 for the quarter-mile), which puts it in the middle of the pack among economy sedans. Considering that most people opt for an automatic transmission in their budget sedans, a manual-shift Forenza is actually one of the spunkier econocars around. Refinement is not quite up to Honda and Toyota standards, as the Forenza's 2.0-liter engine has a gruff sound and drones a bit when cruising. Fuel economy is a serious weak point, as the Suzuki's 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway rating falls short of every other car in the segment, not to mention some midsize sedans.
Although the Forenza may not be the most efficient commuter car on the market, it is at least a comfortable one. A fully independent front strut/rear dual-link suspension smoothes out most road surfaces and floats lightly over the occasional bump or expansion joint. The ride can be a bit harsh over rough or grooved pavement, but unless you live in an area of the country riddled with potholes, we doubt you'll have any complaints. Wind and road noise levels are average as economy cars go.
Soft suspension tuning keeps the Forenza from being a sharp handler in the corners, but it's a capable car with predictable reflexes. After you negotiate the initial body roll, the Suzuki settles down and its 15-inch Hankook Optima tires provide more grip than you would expect. If you're the carefree type, you might actually enjoy tossing the Forenza around on the occasional back road. We did. The steering is progressively weighted, and feels tight and well connected to the road at high speeds. Its response time to driver inputs is about average for this segment. Notably, it's more accurate than the Aerio's steering. Overall, the Forenza's handling characteristics most closely match those of the Elantra. Discerning buyers will prefer the dynamics of cars like the Civic and Focus, but if you make few demands on your car, the Suzuki is unlikely to disappoint.
Equipped with a full set of disc brakes, the Forenza exhibited acceptable stopping power in everyday traffic. Pedal actuation could be more progressive, and our test driver noted that the pedal stiffened up quickly during emergency braking simulations at the track — making it difficult to avoid locking the wheels of our test car, which didn't have ABS. Our driving expert did get a 138-foot 60-to-0-mph stopping distance out of the Forenza, a solid performance from a car without ABS. Brake fade was not an issue under heavy use, and the car stopped straight in its lane every time.
Other than subpar gas mileage, questionable passive safety is the main thing that gives us pause about the Forenza. Side airbags are basically a requirement on the options list these days, even among economy cars. Add to that the Suzuki's middling three-star performance (out of five possible) in government side-impact crash tests. Certainly, it's better to avoid an accident in the first place, but when your own family members are going to be driving and riding in the car, it would be nice to know that they have the best protection possible. The Forenza fared better in frontal impact testing, earning four stars for both the driver and front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has yet to put this Suzuki through the 40-mph frontal offset test.
If you can live with so-so side-impact protection and 22 mpg in the city, the Forenza is packed with value. It's not an economy car that will appeal to enthusiasts or those seeking maximum refinement, but for the money, it gets the job done without making the driving experience the least bit unpleasant. Consider this alongside its comfortable, well-furnished interior, solid build and materials quality and long standard features list, and indeed, there are many good reasons to test-drive the Forenza if you're shopping for a small, inexpensive car. If Suzuki added some side airbags and variable valve timing (to improve fuel efficiency), this car would have no difficulty breaking into the leaders' circle.
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