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| 2005 Suzuki Aerio Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Final Word
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| Inside & Out | |||
Suzuki may be a little company making little cars, but the Aerio seems tailored for larger-than-life drivers. If the Aerio were any taller, it could dunk. The Aerio towers over all competitors, measuring in at an intimidating five-foot-one - a good half-foot up on most. Shaquille O'Neal might still need a sunroof (not available), but our six-foot-four, 250-pound CEO managed to cram his frame into the driver's seat with all blood still circulating at day's end.On the other hand, the Aerio's height seems to have liposuctioned from its length, which, at 171 (sedan) or 166 (wagon) inches, is stubbier than most compacts. Rear-seat riders pay the penalty in the form of the nearly 90-degree backrest necessary for adequate legroom. Also, tall roof means tall windshield, which lets the sun blind you earlier in the afternoon than usual. The height adjuster is a nice touch (as if drivers weren't high enough already), as are the adjustable cupholders and the radio controls on the leather steering wheel (which can't scroll through radio presets). The driver's armrest is a sturdy, clever design that reflects more effort than the simple stuffed center console covers found on some other cars; too bad the Aerio has no center console to speak of. Overall, though, the (front) seats are a nice place to pass the time. Cargo room, as you might expect from a wagon, is cavernous: 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down (59.5 for AWD Aerios). That beats the 51.9 in the Jetta wagon, the 54 in the Matrix/Vibe twins, and the 61.6 in the Impreza wagon, trailing only the Focus ZXW's 71.7. (No one seems to have measured the Kia Spectra 5 or Suzuki Forenza wagon's cargo specs.) It would be even more useful if the seats folded completely flat and if that permanently-attached fifth seatbelt didn't get in the way, but such is the price of safety. Speaking of safety, the Aerio just got a pair of standard side air bags. Casual observers who previously dismissed the Aerio on aesthetic grounds should take a second look. When it came to design and styling, Suzuki was obviously more concerned with doing it different than doing it right. The 2002-2004 Aerio's interior was cluttered with a triangular strip of digital displays, a protruding radio hanging out the front of the dashboard, graceless transitions between dashboard panels, and no place to put anything. This year, an enlightened team of designers fixed all that was wrong. Simple analog gauges that turn a racy red at night adorn the driver, the dashboard looks proper, the materials and shapes have more flair, and there's a big glovebox, CD holder, and cubby spaces all around. Similar revisions to the Aerio's outer shell have replaced crass with class. One change that deserves its own paragraph is the new stereo. Researchers have been yapping for years that young consumers crave powerful audio, and it's a relief that someone was listening. The Aerio now houses a double-DIN stereo with a 6-disc CD changer in the unit (not in the glovebox, or trunk, or anywhere else it doesn't belong). Attached to it is a set of seven speakers: the usual four plus two front tweeters and a booming subwoofer in back. The sound quality is above average, but there's a certain muffledness that makes it fall short of outstanding, and where's the MP3 playback capability? Still, the basic setup deserves credit. |
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