Used 2007 Suzuki Forenza

The compact Suzuki Forenza offers a high level of standard equipment, a low base price and a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Though not as refined or fuel-efficient as the more expensive models from Honda and Nissan, the Forenza is certainly capable of taking on challengers from Hyundai and Kia. With an exterior penned by the famed Pininfarina Design Studio, the Forenza holds a certain European flair considered attractive by many buyers. Although quality and reliability reports appear favorable, the low-cost Forenza still lags behind its peers in offering such safety features as side-curtain airbags, as well as traction and stability control.

The Forenza feels fairly solid on the road, with good steering response and a smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission. The 2.0-liter engine is not big on power, but if it’s just you and one other person onboard, the Forenza’s acceleration should be enough to get you down the highway and around traffic.

The engine is a bit rough when pushed harder and lacks the refinement found in Honda and Toyota powerplants. The ride is relatively smooth, so long as the pavement remains civilized, and body roll and pitch are held in check in all but the most extreme maneuvers. The 15-inch tires are designed more for comfort than performance, which seems fitting for the Forenza’s mission in life.

Quality plastics, tasteful trim and large legible gauges highlight the Forenza’s handsome interior. Little touches, such as the double-seam stitching running along the armrest, show an attention to detail not found in other compact cars. We were impressed by the long list of standard features, which included a height-adjustable driver’s seat with manual lumbar support, a nice audio system capable of reading an MP3-encoded CD and a relatively comfortable rear seat. Interior sound levels were lower than expected, adding a quality feel to the Forenza when cruising at highway speeds.

The Forenza looks as though it might be a new Italian import rather than a Japanese entry-level car. The Forenza’s stylish exterior was designed in Italy, which explains the strength of the design as seen in the pronounced wheel arches, curved rear pillar and short deck. Color is an important factor in bringing out the car’s design. It was our observation that, in white and silver, the Forenza appears rather generic but, in red, blue and green, it truly stands out.

Color-Keyed Heated Exterior Mirrors
The Forenza’s standard heated mirrors are rare in this price range.

Attractive Metal Trim Dash
Attractive brushed-metal trim and steering wheel-mounted controls are standard.

The Forenza features a 2.0-liter engine, five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes, front side-impact airbags, rear defroster, dual heated power mirrors, AM/FM stereo with MP3-compatible CD player and eight speakers, power windows, power door locks, tilt steering wheel, split-folding rear seat, variable wipers, rear window wiper/washer (wagon) and full wheel covers. The Convenience Package adds cruise control and remote keyless entry with alarm, while the Popular Package adds a power sunroof.

The only available options are an automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes; oddly, the anti-lock brakes are available only on the base model.

The Forenza’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is not the smoothest engine we’ve experienced, nor is it very powerful. There is some vibration upon hard acceleration and better fuel economy might be expected from an engine this size.

2.0-liter in-line 4
127 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
131 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 (manual sedan), 22/31 (automatic sedan), 22/30 (manual wagon), 21/30 (automatic wagon)