After retreating from the car market and concentrating on SUVs for a few years after the demise of the forgettable Esteem subcompact, Suzuki’s lineup is growing to include cars again.  This Japanese manufacturer has introduced three all-new cars in the two years, part of a plan to expand its sales presence in the United States over the next few years.  With distinctive Italian styling and aggressive pricing, Suzuki’s new cars should garner a great deal more attention than its last effort did.

The junior debutante is the subcompact Forenza, an entry-level sedan that aims to compete with the Honda Civic, Saturn ION and Toyota Corolla.  As such, it’s a plain, un-pretentious little commuter, and not much more than that. That isn’t damning with faint praise, though—considering the competitive nature of the low end of the market, it’s no easy feat to be an un-pretentious commuter these days.

The Forenza’s styling helps.  Thanks to input from legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina, the Forenza looks more “grown-up” than many small cars, with characterful styling and a three-element grille. In a market segment where it’s easy to be too derivative or too toylike, Suzuki’s smallest straddles the line between conservative and distinctive with elegance. The Forenza’s styling appears to have been borrowed from a larger car, in a good way. It’s a subcompact that doesn’t necessarily look like it was designed for college students.  The front bumper sweeps up into a character line that rises toward the rear, and large fender flares make the design more assertive.  The greenhouse has a European look, and our test car arrived with handsome 15” alloy wheels.  It all adds up nicely, and the Forenza’s got slightly more personality than the average small car.

This little car’s high point is its interior finish. The Forenza is very handsome and upscale inside, with nice materials and excellent fit and finish. The dash eschews the monochromatic-plastic look, with a contrasting-color top section and simple gauges. Satin chrome trim runs wall to wall, and the center stack reminds us of Chrysler’s handsome, flush-fit controls.  Power windows and door locks are standard equipment.  The tapered tail hides a 12.4 cubic foot trunk—large for this class. The seats are a bit short in the thigh for our taste. The Forenza also has some irritating car-habits; for instance, our test car’s CD player couldn’t remember what part of the song it was at when the car was turned off, and started over again each time. The heater and defrosters had a hard time dealing with some extremely cold mornings, as well.  We found ourselves wishing for heated seats.  And although it has nothing to do with the test drive, we must point out that our test car’s alarm featured the cutest chirp we’ve ever heard from a car.

We automotive journalists are pickier than the average entry-level buyer, so it shouldn’t be a turnoff when we say that the Forenza’s drivetrain lacks refinement. The 2.0 liter four-cylinder is large for a four, so torque is ample.  119 horsepower doesn’t sound like much in these days of 350-horse pickup trucks, but it’s enough power to get the Forenza around town and down the freeway with aplomb,. To our experienced ears the optional four-speed automatic transmission had a habit of holding gears too long, and the engine sounded thrashy under hard acceleration. Owners of older Escorts, Sentras and Saturns will not notice this; Toyota Corolla drivers will.  Like most economy cars, the Forenza is probably more civilized with the standard five-speed manual.  Around town, the little Suzuki was somewhat less economical than we’d hoped for, and that’s a black mark.  We saw about 25mpg, in mixed driving which is decent economy but not in the same league as many of the Forenza’s competitors.

Forget about the engine noise, and piloting the Forenza is a happy experience. Even without anti-lock brakes (ABS), we had no trouble keeping the Forenza on the road in inclement weather.  Four-wheel disc brakes are standard; ABS is an available option and features electronic brake force distribution for added stabilty.  MacPherson struts in the front and a dual-link rear suspension give this car predictable, stable handling.  For Snow Belt drivers who trust small front-drivers to be sure-footed in the winter, the Forenza won’t disappoint.

Suzuki is positioning the Forenza as a premium compact, in spite of the entry-level pricing, so it comes nicely equipped. With a base price of under $13,000, the Forenza offers a CD player with steering wheel controls, heated mirrors and a tilt wheel as standard equipment; these items are normally optional on low-priced cars, if they’re even available.  On top-of-the-line Forenzas, buyers can select options like leather seats and a sunroof and the base price is still under $18,000.  A 7-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty doesn’t hurt, either. If you’re looking for a decent subcompact that doesn’t look like it was designed by a bored engineer or a sci-fi director , the Forenza deserves a look.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Suzuki Forenza, which we tested.
Length:     177.2 in.
Width:        67.9 in.
Height:        56.9 in.
Wheelbase:    102.4 in.
Curb weight:    2756 lb.
Cargo space:    12.4 cu.ft.
Base price:        $12,499
Engine:     2.0 liter DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain:     four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:     119 @ 5400
Torque:     126 @ 4000
Fuel capacity:    14.5 gal.
Est. mileage:    22/30

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