17th Place:
Suzuki Forenza
Overview:
The Forenza makes a good first impression. It
has clean styling inside and out, decent
interior space, and a reasonable price. But in
far too many important ways, it falls far short
of the competition. The harsh, noisy engine is
neither peppy nor remotely fuel-efficient. It
neither rides nor handles well. Crash test
performance has been mediocre at best. The price
is low, but for not much more, much stronger
competitors are available.
Driving the
Forenza:
The Forenza rides comfortably enough over smooth
pavement, but anything else will reveal its lack
of composure; it is jittery over smaller road
imperfections, it slams over larger ones, and
recovers slowly. And it feels particularly
ungainly for its size, with excessive body roll
and numb, slow steering, the worst of any
current small car. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
returns an even more disappointing combination
of poor acceleration and the worst gas mileage
of the group -- lower than some V6-powered
midsize sedans -- and it is rough and noisy
while doing this. Road noise is noticeable as
well.
Inside the
Forenza:
The
Forenza’s front seats could be higher, but they
are comfortable and supportive overall, and
there is decent space. The rear seat is also a
bit low and the cushion is flat, but it is
comfortable enough. The interior is
well-constructed, one of the car’s few strong
points, though it could use a few more
soft-touch plastics. The instruments are
conveniently placed, and the gauges are large
and clear. Drivers sit comfortably, though a bit
too low. The rear head restraints partially
obstruct the rearward view, but visibility is
good overall. The door openings are a bit
narrow, and the seats a bit low, but the
well-shaped roofline contributes to generally
easy entry/exit. The trunk is reasonably sized
and conveniently shaped.
Forenza pricing:
The
Forenza is
one of the least expensive cars in this group at
$14,843, but it lacks side-curtain airbags and
offers little beyond the basics of luxury and
convenience features.
Conclusion:
Don't be
fooled by apparent competence. The Forenza's
value for the money is undercut by a lack of
feature content and poor gas mileage, and its
lack of power, refinement, and agility make it a
decidedly mediocre car in a highly-competitive
class. You can find cars with all of the
Forenza's strengths without its many flaws for a
similar price.
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