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2004 Suzuki Verona
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| Sunshine on Suzuki |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:27:45 |
| Rating |
 443 ( -31 -6.99% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
2004 Suzuki Verona
Sunshine on Suzuki
Writer's Notes
2004 Suzuki Verona
MSRP: $16,499 - $19,499
The Verona S has standard automatic transmission, power windows and door locks, heated mirrors, cruise control and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. A tilt steering wheel and six-way (including lumbar support) adjustable driver's seat is standard.
The upgrade to the Verona LX includes automatic climate control, alloy wheels and ABS. The top-of-the line Verona EX includes a power sunroof, heated leather seats, and an eight-way adjustable power driver's seat. Traction control is offered as an option on the EX.
All Suzuki vehicles offer a 100,000-mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty that's fully transferable and free of deductibles for covered items. Other components of Suzuki's Open Road Promise include a three-year Roadside Assistance program and a Warranty Repair Courtesy Vehicle program.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
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xxx
San Diego, CA - The road before me is awash in gold. Behind, the San Diego sunshine beats a cruel and brilliant path, bleaching out where I have been and turning it into a garish portrait of road scars and heat waves.
It is never healthy to look behind.
What lies ahead is what matters, or so Suzuki hopes. The automaker, maligned in the past with a reputation for building vehicles that did not resonate with American buyers, has a new sedan in the mid-sized Verona that will likely accelerate their forward movement toward the short list for thousands of US sedan shoppers.
The Verona. So named to make people think of the small Italian village of Romeo and Juliet fame, the Verona really isn't all that Italian or suave. But as I navigate this new Suzuki through the hills and freeways of southern California I can tell that what comes next for Suzuki is promising, solid, and a little surprising. Available in three trim levels, the Verona starts at $16,499 for the S, climbs to $17,799 for the mid-level LX and tops out at $19,499 for the EX.
Obviously, this is not a retro-crossover like the Aerio, or another SUV like the Vitara. This is a good old-fashioned car, and a surprising good one at that, though a little light on the power side. It's good enough to give the Great Gods of the sedan, Toyota and Honda, a moment's pause. And certainly good enough to force other automakers to do a little looking back, just to make sure this upstart of a car with the fancy Italian name is not gaining too much ground. Watch out, Hyundai. Be careful, Kia and Volkswagen and all the other mid-sized sedan makers out there who comfortably fit into the value-oriented middle ground of sales. Suzuki seems poised and energized; ready to take a run at sales with an outstanding warranty and 9 new vehicles in the next five years.
It starts with the Verona. And never mind such talk of "sensual European design". While the sedan has a nice look that is more mature that Suzukis of old, terms like sensual don't seem to fit. Exterior styling is, to my eye, graceful, and well-executed, with gently sloping lines that accent the style of the vehicle.
It starts with the Verona. And never mind such talk of "sensual European design". While the sedan has a nice look that is more mature that Suzukis of old, terms like sensual don't seem to fit. Exterior styling is, to my eye, graceful, and well-executed, with gently sloping lines that accent the style of the vehicle. And while the style is nice, the big thing about the Verona is what lies inside. The quality of materials and the fit and finish is good; instrumentation is easy to read and nicely placed for ease of use. Equipped with more than enough storage spaces and cupholders, the Verona interior extras include an outside temperature display, a electroluminscent instrument array and a fold-down rear center armrest.
Though not quite Accord-level in fit and finish, or as intuitive as the Camry, the cabin of the Verona has a solid, comfortable feel. From sound dampening to the nicely done faux wood grain, the Verona has a quality feel from the front to the back. The best thing about the interior, however, is the space. The Verona's inline six-cylinder is transverse mounted, which allows for more passenger space. Based on a full day's driving in the vehicle, legroom front and rear is plentiful, as is elbowroom and headroom. In fact, the interior space is easily the nicest thing this vehicle has going for it. According to Suzuki, in fact, the Verona offers rear seat passengers more legroom than the 2003 Accord and more shoulder room than the 2003 Camry.
But back to that inline 6. The all-aluminum, double overhead cam, 24-valve, 2.5-liter six makes 155 horsepower, and a Variable Intake System (VIS) helps the 2.5-liter engine generate 177 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. According to Suzuki, the Verona engine features a maintenance free cam-timing chain and a direct ignition system that they claim optimizes combustion. While Suzuki boasts competitive power and torque, on-road experience reveals a need for more. This is a 6 that compares best with the top four cylinders in the class. During quick lane changes and passing maneuvers it felt a little groggy, though it does have some nice, smooth power on straight and gently curving roads.
The suspension that holds it all together is comparable or better than competitive sedans: MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement in back, with an anti-sway bar and gas-charged shock absorbers. On the road, the Verona is a polite, adept handler - neither sporty or sloppy. A key feature is the speed-sensing power steering, which based on vehicle speed adjusts the amount of steering assist. Perhaps most impressive about the engineering of the Verona is the way it shifts through its gears. The standard four-speed automatic transmission is computer-controlled, and features adaptive shift control which enables the transmission's computer to adjust to the driver's tendencies, and create shifting patterns.
Add it up with Suzuki's warranty: a 100,000-mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty, and the Verona is a serious player in the passenger vehicle market. Indeed, if the Verona is an example of cars to come from Suzuki, the road ahead looks very bright indeed.
--Story by Brian Chee |
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