2005 Suzuki Aerio Review

Specifications

Some Cars Have to Rely on a Good Personality

I am glad to say that my most recent experience with the Suzuki Aerio Fastback was much more pleasant than my previous one. The 2005 model comes with various exterior and interior upgrades which add to the cars overall appeal, although I still cant say I am a fan of its exterior styling at all.

To me, it looks like a rather unattractive spaceship! While no X-wing fighter or Enterprise for that matter, the updated 2005 model at least sports a new front bumper, grille, fog lamps, newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels and rear combination lamps, making it a tad less offensive than the outgoing model and somewhat sportier.

As of the 2004 model year, the Aerio received an upgraded 2.3-liter, 16-valve, DOHC engine boasting 155 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 152 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Aerio SX AWD is only offered with an automatic transmission (sigh) and therefore achieves a rather lethargic 0 to 60 mph time of 10.7 seconds.

Acceleration was quite good while ascending uphill or passing on the highway, but I found that at higher revs the Aerios engine tended to sound a bit loud and feel somewhat strained. Nevertheless, the spunky Suzuki offers commendable fuel economy, an estimated 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

On a practical note, throughout my test week I found the Fastback to be such an easy car to maneuver around. Whether loading it up with groceries, personal gear, children or friends, there was room for everything. I agree with Suzuki when they say “the Aerio SX five-door offers a unique set of attributes, led by the driving fun of a sports sedan, the command-of-the-road seating position with the easy entry/exit of an SUV, and the load toting capacity of a small wagon….. 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.” I definitely noticed the ease with which I could get in and out of the car, with or without a backpack, purse or whatever random item I had in my hands.

Another interesting, but at the same time functional feature I experienced in the Aerio Fastback was the capability of both front seats to fully recline. How I discovered this I dont remember, but I am sure this function would come in handy sometime.

Sitting behind the wheel with the seats upright is also a pleasurable experience. As mentioned above, the “command of the road” raised seating position allowed me to have a larger visual range out of the front windshield. I liked this concept not only because I had improved visibility, but I felt safer higher up.

When taking to the streets I found the Aerio to be a smooth performer. Its four-wheel independent suspension, with McPherson struts up front and strut coil springs in the rear, plus new-for-2005 P195/55R15 all-season tires on 15-inch wheels, made for a capable ride and handling combination.

Unfortunately, time constraints did not allow me to take the Fastback to the local ski resort to test out Suzukis optional QuadGrip all-wheel drive system in the snow, but the abundant rainfall showering my West Coast home town combined with slippery roads to provide adequately poor conditions - at least bad enough to see how well the system works. Unlike part-time four- or all-wheel drive systems, QuadGrip is always on, automatically activating when the front tires start to lose traction.

Under normal circumstances, almost all of the torque is distributed to the front wheels to maximize fuel economy, but in the event of lost adhesion to the road QuadGrip automatically begins the gradual process of distributing up to 50 percent of the engines torque to the rear wheels. Attempting tight turns on the slippery streets at a good speed allowed me to test the system, and as advertised, as soon as the front tires started to slip the rear wheels cut in and traction was restored. I could not feel it because of its smooth transition, but I knew it was working.

Of course, I was able to check out the brakes under a variety of conditions. Equipped with front ventilated discs and rear drums enhanced with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), the Fastback responded swiftly and surely when the brakes were applied on wet and dry surfaces alike.

While the 2005 Aerio Fastback SX AWD offers enjoyable driving dynamics, its interior also received a few nips and tucks on its way from last years car to this years. Still, the restyled cabin supports my claim of the Aerio Fastback looking like a spaceship. Included is a newly-designed instrument panel, plus a new steering wheel that incorporates fingertip audio controls for the cars upgraded integrated audio system - which is an AM/FM six-disc in-dash CD player with six speakers and a subwoofer. I must say, this system rocks and the steering-wheel mounted buttons are effective.

The new interior is sharply styled and features some tight lines, but when driving at night the buttons are almost impossible to read due to looking like little red dots. Their labels are small and hard to differentiate. After familiarizing myself with the layout, however, it was not so hard to find my way around; its just hard on the eyes at first.

The list of standard features on the SX AWD is an extensive one, and includes cruise control, power windows, heated exterior mirrors, power door locks and mirrors, keyless entry, tilt steering, halogen headlamps, driver-side armrest, and a lot more.

Overall, the upgraded 2005 Suzuki Aerio Fastback SX AWD is a fab car to drive. It handles well, scoots along nicely, includes a lot of standard features, yet despite its attractive specifications the oddball Japanese model unfortunately lacks the visual appeal to make it a head-turner, at least in the positive sense of the term.