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2006 Suzuki Forenza Compact Station Wagon
Forenza Wagon drives like a cheap car, feels more expensive, Suzuki jumps on the bandwagon
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New Car Review of the 2006 Suzuki Forenza Compact Station Wagon
Base MSRP Range: $14,399 - $16,599
Base Invoice Range: $13,823 - $15,935
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MSRP As Tested: $15,849
Versions: Base, SX
Vehicle Category: Compact Station Wagon
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive
Standard Engine: 2.0-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 127 â€' horsepower at 5600 rpm and 131 lb-ft torque at 4000 rpm.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Automatic 21/30, Manual 22/30.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Five-speed manual.
Standard Safety Features: Dual front airbags, Front side airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes, Emergency inside trunk release, Daytime running lights.
Competition: Ford Focus, Mazda 5, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Matrix, Volkswagen Passat.
Wagon is no longer a dirty word.
A couple of years ago it seemed car manufacturers would go to extraordinary lengths to keep from describing any of their products as a station wagon, probably because wagons were flushed down the fashion commode around the same time as parachute pants and scrunch-up socks.
Instead, the car companies would come up with silly euphamisms -- using the words "active," "sport," "crossover" and "utility" in various combinations -- in a lame attempt to hide the fact their product was, of course, a plain ol' station wagon.
Well, wagons are making a comeback, and for good reasons. They offer SUV-like cargo space without the top-heavy handling, and they get the same gas mileage as a family sedan with a slightly spunky attitude. What's not to like?
One company jumping into the wagon mix is Suzuki, which offers a station wagon based on its mid-size Forenza sedan that starts under $14,000.
For that price you get a competent family car that's practical and actually fairly good-looking, but it drives like its price would suggest. The cabin gets noisy on the highway, its ride is a little bouncy and sloppy, and its performance is merely adequate. Nothing really stands out about it when you get behind the wheel.
Except, perhaps, what a bargain it is.
Yes, it drives like a Toyota from 10 years ago, but it also looks and feels more refined than you'd expect from a car with its ultra-cheap price. The dash is actually very nice looking and has a solid, well-constructed feel that many cars lack. The seats are perfectly comfortable, and none of the switches and buttons feel like they'll fall off if you press too hard, a problem all too common in low-priced cars.
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