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2006 Suzuki Forenza Compact Station Wagon
…Continued
Forenza Wagon drives like a cheap car, feels more expensive, Suzuki jumps on the bandwagon
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Another impressive feat is the amount of standard equipment Suzuki includes on the base model, the Forenza Wagon S. It comes from the factory with air conditioning, a CD/cassette player, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, and power windows, locks and mirrors. It's a perfectly livable car, not some stripped-down beater with crank windows that requires you to pony up more cash before you'll be comfortable in it.
Step up to the LX ($15,849) and you'll get remote keyless entry, cruise control, fog lamps, a power sunroof, 15-inch wheels and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The top-of-the-line EX adds an automatic transmission and leather seats for $17,449 (the automatic is an $800 option on other models).
All models come with the same 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes only 126 horsepower, which would feel sluggish with an automatic transmission. With a five-speed manual in the Forenza I tested, acceleration didn't pose much of a problem, although I did find myself pushing the engine all the way to redline more often than on most cars. It also sounded fairly rough and unpleastant at those high RPMs, so nobody will confuse it with the silky sound of, say, a Honda.
On a bright note, I couldn't find anything to complain about from a practicality standpoint. The cabin was roomy enough for a small family, and cargo room was cavernous whether the seats were up or down. It can carry 24 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up or 61 cubic feet with the seats down, which is enough space for virtually any shopping trip.
It also showed how wagons became so popular in the first place, offering the comfortable ride of a car with the cargo space that comes close to that in vans and SUVs. They're definitely coming back into style.
Let's just hope purveyors of parachute pants don't get the same idea.
Pros: It's oh so practical as a family car, offering a huge amount of cargo space but driving just like a sedan. It also has more standard features than you'd expect at its bargain price.
Cons: It drives like a 10-year-old car, wallowing through corners and taking its time accelerating. With 126 horsepower, it's a poor performer when the light turns green.
RATINGS (1-10)
- Style: 7
- Performance: 2
- Price: 10
- Handling: 3
- Ride: 4
- Comfort: 5
- Quality: 7
- Overall: 5
More Data
Where Built: South Korea
Major Options: Antilock brakes, Power sunroof.
Seating: 5
Number of Rows: 2
Length in Inches: 179.7
Warrantees: 4 years/50,000 miles Bumper to bumper, 7 years/100,000 miles Extended powertrain, 3 years/unlimited miles Corrosion protection, 3 years / 36,000 miles Free roadside assistance.
Weight in Pounds: 2849 - 2893 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not available.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 14.5
Destination Charge: $580
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