1998 - 2002 Suzuki Esteem Wagon Pre-Owned Review

Good, Reliable Transportation

Want cheap, reliable, practical transportation? Look no further than Suzukis Esteem Wagon, and it looks pretty good too.

Its purely A to B transportation, with a back-to-basics interior and only a modicum of convenience controls. Still, those that dont consider the car as an extension of a persons libido should find it satisfactory for hauling friends, family and belongings from home to work, home to school, home to the grocery store, and back home again.

The Esteem Wagon came onto the scene in the fall of 1997 as a 1998 model, a year after the sedan. Both models ran for five years, with the wagon outlasting the sedan that bowed out after model year 2001.

While 6 inches longer than the sedan, the Esteem Wagon shares the 4-doors basic chassis architecture. Its additional length benefits the cars cargo capacity, aided further by split-folding rear seatbacks.

But cargo isnt the only thing enhanced with the wagon, as increased rear headroom at 38 inches benefits backseat riders. Shoulder and hip room, at 51.8 and 52.1 inches front and rear respectively for the former and 50.8 and 48.2 inches front and rear respectively for the latter is decent too, impressive for the Esteem Wagons compact external dimensions.

As previously mentioned, performance enthusiasts might want to look elsewhere unless their financial means dictate a more conservative ride, as the Esteem Wagon puts out an adequate but hardly stimulating 95 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 99 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm in 1.6-liter guise, the way fitted for the first two years of production.

Later in model year 2000, a standard 4-valve per cylinder, DOHC 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with 122 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 117 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm made the little family hauler much more enjoyable. Still, compared to todays base engines the little runabout would be at the bottom of the performance charts when comparing numbers at least. Actual performance is not too bad if not loaded with passengers and cargo, as the updated cars curb weight remained at an identical 2,359 to 2,513 pounds - depending on trim level and model year - when compared to the outgoing 1999 model.

The only negative that came with the added displacement and resultant performance is a noticeable increase in fuel consumption, from the miserly 1.6-liter Esteem Wagons 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway to the 1.8-liter cars 27 city, 34 highway rating.

The standard 5-speed manual gearbox is best for optimizing performance, with an optional 4-speed automatic for those not willing to shift for themselves. Both transmissions are good, with the automatic an especially smooth shifter.

Similar to the Esteems capabilities off the line, the cars maneuverability in the curves wont leave you breathless - that is unless you enter a tight corner too quickly and unsettle the chassis. Part of the problem is the tire sizes available, that unless opting for optional equipment on a later model that came with 15-inch tires and wheels either featured 13-inch or 14-inch alloys and rubber, depending on model year.

The slightly over-boosted power steering makes for easy parking, however, and the relatively soft suspension does a good job of smoothing out rough roads. Its brakes are decent as well, nothing heroic but still up to the job of stopping the Esteem in adequate distances. Top models offered ABS, which is worth opting up for if you have the choice - not always the case when buying used.

Suzuki did a good job constructing the little Esteem throughout the cars availability, which means it normally should hold up well, mechanically and aesthetically after the odometer ticks over 100,000, or even 200,000 miles.

While the Esteem Wagons list of standard equipment was long, it wont cost much more to get a fully loaded example being that the price of entry is already so low. Its up to you, of course, but why should you have to drive around this summer with the windows down in an attempt to blow dry the sweat off your forehead when air-conditioning (and all the goodies that go with it) can be had for a days wages. Even if you want to roll down the windows, youll be able to use the power controls instead of the standard handles.

And thats the beauty of the Esteem. Some cars are best to buy new, as the cost of monthly maintenance can deplete your savings making the lease payment on a new one seem reasonable by comparison, but Esteems usually run and run without a lot of serious expenditures.

After all, the fact that only one recall, that only affected vehicle equipped with block heaters in 1998 models, and no technical bulletins were announced during its 5-year tenure is exemplary. Theyre simple cars that were well engineered.

From a styling perspective, Suzuki updated the grille and trim in model year 2001, a year after the mechanical upgrades. It still looks good, even by todays standards, especially when compared to its somewhat awkward Aerio replacement.

If youre looking for a cheap, reliable, and attractive wagon, there is no better used car buy than a well cared for Suzuki Esteem Wagon.