2005 Suzuki Reno First Drive

It’s a tough trick to sell cars in America. Look to the left and you’ve got a mega-automaker popping out little SUVs like pez candy bits; peer to the right and watch while like-minded competitors offer everything and a full massage if you buy their cars. Buy our car and we’ll mow your lawn forever! As if. Point is, many mid-to-small automaker has a secret, a fickle combination that works sometimes and doesn’t work at other times. Suzuki is betting that value will work every time. The 2005 Suzuki Reno – and 2005 Forenza Wagon – is a value-based example. Not price, mind you, but value in the features it offers and the quality of its build. Price alone makes cars look cheap, and no one wants to buy a cheap car. Value is good, especially when the value is in equipment and protected by a great warranty. Judging from the 25 percent or so up-tick in sales that Suzuki has enjoyed of late, it seems that value is turning into a smart wager. But now for the hard part: to keep it going, and to transform the idea of Suzuki, carmaker, through new cars built to compete with the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. It’s happening, thanks to an assist from the bankrupt Daewoo – who originally designed the Reno and Forenza – and the GM Daewoo Automotive Technologies plant, where the cars will be assembled. So far, so good: with more cars scheduled to come to these shores, and based on the success of the Forenza compact car, Suzuki is indeed in the process of giving their car company a name based on value and design, and it starts with the Reno and the Forenza. Not with pez bits and low-down dirty deals.

Page 2: Style

It makes sense, and applies well to the building and marketing of cars: if you want people to think that something is special, make it look special. Which is what Suzuki has done with the Reno. The Reno is sharply edged and smoothly curved, a look that is sure to attract a young crowd. It has a racy look to it, which is more than the performance of the vehicle can claim. Most important is that, given the style of the Reno, there are plenty of aftermarket opportunities for the vehicle. With plenty of room in the back area, and a nice exterior design to work with, custom shops should have a field day with the Reno. With the planned debut of Suzuki Works Techno body accessories to the US market, Suzuki is off to an excellent start. Here’s hoping that Suzuki keeps some of that aftermarket thunder for itself, and we see the Reno at an upcoming SEMA show.

Page 3: Power

So the Reno is stylish. That’s a good thing – because with an underwhelming 126 horsepower, 2.0 four-liter engine, people will have plenty of time to look the car over. Zero-to-sixty times are not important, except as warning: never drag race, or challenge someone for pinks. It is better to look good than to drive fast, apparently, and so it goes. Now, if Suzuki were to develop a supercharged version of the Reno -- that would surely get the attention of the young crowd. And in the process, they’d be able to sell a few of the gutless wonders to weak teens happy to look like they are going really fast. As is, though, the Reno has almost-adequate daily driving power. It could use a little bit more of a boost on freeway, hills and while merging or changing lanes. The lack of power is critical enough, perhaps, to claim that it is the biggest reason NOT to buy the Suzuki Reno. But it is close enough to the competition that it’s not really a very good reason. The Reno offers much more in other areas, so as to make this lack of thump quite livable.

Page 4: Suspension

You can live with the ride, too – especially the Reno. It offers a nice, unoffending ride, courtesy of the independent front and rear suspension and what seems to be a nice front to back weight ratio. The feel from driver and passenger sides are nice and smooth. What is not so smooth is the view: from the back window, the view is compromised by the large center brake light and back seat headrests, creating a sliver of a window to look through.

Page 5: Equipment

Standard equipment is the name of the game for the Suzuki Reno. They’ve pretty much got it all -- side airbags, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows, locks and heated mirrors, tilt steering wheel, CD stereo with steering-wheel controls, and 15-inch wheels. The Reno adds a standard MP3 player. Trim-wise, all are offered in S, LX, and top EX models, and are powered in a 2.0-liter 4-cyl engine and 4-wheel disc brakes. Automatic transmission is standard for EX, optional for S and LX. Anti-lock braking is available. The LX trim also offers keyless entry, and the EX has leather interior material. Most cars in its class – except perhaps the Kia Spectra -- don’t offer such a wide array of standard amenities, and it’s a difference maker. With this kind of standard equipment, at that kind of a low price and with a warranty that covers everything ‘til the crows come home, the Reno should be on everyone’s list.

Page 6: Interior

So the Reno is a good buy from the cranial perspective. How, then, does the rump weigh in? To that end, the interior of the Reno is deceptive: the little car that could actually has ample room inside. Not to be confused with a family car, the Reno is perfect for two people, their stuff – and the occasional car-pooler. Front seats offer plentiful legroom, though it could become an issue if you’re much longer than 6 foot. At probably around 6’3”, ceiling and firewalls begin to introduce themselves. Most of the attention to detail has gone into the front area, and the payoff is there, with nice hip room, elbowroom and plenty of areas to put stuff – though another cupholder/changeholder area would be nice. The center console, between driver and passenger, could be upgraded, but does the job adequately. The back doesn’t enjoy the same attention, however – fewer places to put things such as a water bottle, a cell phone, or other gadgetry. While the quality of the materials is acceptable, the Reno does border on mediocre in a few important areas, namely the seats. They offer less support and structure than is ideal. Front seats seem flimsy from the back toward the front occupants’ backs. Plastics, though, are nicely executed – though more soft touch surfaces would be nice around the driver area. Suzuki’s efforts to reduce noise, vibration and harshness are notable, as the cabin was quiet enough to carry on conversations front and back, as well as listen the radio. With an engine working as hard as that little four-banger inside the Reno works, the calm and quiet inside the cabin is commendable. The hope, of course, is that all vehicles on the road would use the best possible interior materials, and create an environment that is rich in comfort, strong in support, built to last and ergonomically precise. That’s just not realistic. Automakers use a sliding scale of material quality to improve profit margins and increase vehicle content in other areas. Most strive hard to provide the best possible experience within the budgetary constraint they live under, and Suzuki is no exception. Within the context of a long list of standard equipment, Suzuki thinks that their interiors provide a nice and comfortable experience. They’re right, mostly, though improvements such as better seats would help look, feel and value over the long haul.

Page 7: Warranty

For young buyers, the long haul is what matters – at least in terms of how long it takes for them to pound the car into a useless lump of metal. That’s where the warranty that comes with a new car is very important, as it is likely the main protection they have in case of a breakdown or other malfunction. In fact, new cars with good warranties provide peace of mind that young drivers – and their parents – can’t normally get with a less expensive used car. In the case of the Reno, first-time car buyers get both: a competitive price, and one of the best warranties in the business. As with all Suzuki vehicles, the warranty offers 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage. This includes roadside assistance, and transferable 7/100,000 powertrain protection.

Page 8: Wrap

Reno has a good shot at success because it offers more content than most of its competitors, and at a lower or competitive price. Strengths include the style, MP3 player, audio controls on the steering wheel, and power everything. The weak spot is pretty much limited to the engine compartment. There’s just not enough power -- young drivers who want zippy performance will not be wowed. Still, it's not the weakest member of the compact set. The Scion xA offers less horsepower, for example. And if you assume that this lack of performance translates into good gas mileage, you would assume wrong: at a 22/30 city/hwy rating, the Reno is among the worse in its class. Consider too that real mileage will likely be worse, as the tendency will be to drive the engine hard for more power. By way of comparison, the xA does 32/38, according to the EPA, and the Mazda3, a more powerful vehicle, gets 25/32 miles per out of its 160 hp engine. The Hyundai Elantra also has more power and better gas mileage. The Focus ZX5 offers 136 hp at around 26/35 mpg. Despite poor power and fuel mileage ratings, the Reno offers young buyers a good value. A great standard equipment list, strong warranty and good looks – all for a low price – makes the Reno a serious part of the compact conversation. Balance that against less-than great gas mileage and a powder puff power plant, and young shoppers looking for a new car would do well to seriously consider the Reno. It’s a perfect complement to what is perhaps the best vehicle Suzuki currently offers – the Forenza compact. Add to it the emerging involvement of SWT – Suzuki Works Techno –and the Reno has the look, price, warranty and content that both parents and kids will want – without the free pez dispenser, or a gardener for Dad.

Page 9: FAQs

What does SWT designate? Suzuki Works Techno, which is coming to the US in an effort to make Suzuki more attractive to a younger audience. SWT will start with appearance packages and may one day move into performance enhancements. The hope is that Suzuki will do something with SWT in time for next year’s SEMA show. What did you like best about the Reno? I liked the combination of price, looks, equipment and warranty. It’s hard to beat a car that offers a combination like that. What did you like least about the Reno? Not enough power, and rear window view is a little compromised. Also, seats could be of better quality.

Page 10: Notes

MSRP: $13,449 - $16,949 Standard Engine: 2.0L I4 Standard Transmission: 5 Speed Manual Horsepower @ RPM: 126@5600 Torque @ RPM: 131@4000 Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy: 22 / 30 Curb Weight Manual Transmission: 2739 Curb Weight Automatic Transmission: 2783 Height: 56.9 Length: 169.1 Photos courtesy of Suzuki