As an entry level wagon, the 2005 Suzuki Forenza offers budget-minded

buyers a spacious wagon with a good supply of standard features. But

as a debut vehicle, it's also unproven in the resale market and has

shortcomings that ideally define its position in the marketplace. My weekly test drive was the LX wagon, one of 10 available Forenza

models in 2005. The 2. 0-liter, 16-value, 126-horsepower engine has a

four-speed automatic transmission, the only option. The vehicle has good mileage estimates for its class, and the

wagon accelerates adequately in city driving scenarios. But it's sluggish

and needs a full-throttle jolt on the steady highway inclines or in a

quickly needed lane-change situation. The Forenza wagon isn't particularly quiet on the open road and the ride

quality is marginal, with bumps easily felt and the overall feel a little stiff.

But as an economically priced wagon, the Forenza also has several

features that warrant its consideration. The vehicle's exterior is designed nicely, with a contoured body,

alloy wheels, fog lamps, and a power tilt slide sunroof. My test vehicle's

test color was listed as "Fantasy Black," and the exterior was

complemented by cloth light gray seats. Several passengers mentioned that while Forenza looks small from the

outside, they were surprised by the interior spaciousness. One 6-foot-2

friend sat in the back seat and had more than a one-inch clearance. He

said the headroom was more than he's had in the back seats of some

SUVs. The same is true from the driver's seat perspective. As a 6-foot driver, I

had good head clearance and leg room. The spacious interior extends

to the cargo area, which is wide, easily accessible from the back seat

and has a convenient hatchback style entry. The interior of Forenza seemingly has one general theme - simplicity.

Radio controls and other instrumentation are easy to use and have a

straightforward design. The instrument panel numbers have retro-style

lettering, and the back panel has an attractive light green tone when

illuminated. Another nice feature is the dashboard design. Its textured

pattern looks like (and feels like) the surface of golf balls - if they

were black. The Forenza, like many vehicles, has remote keyless entry, and its

functionality is fine. But the high-pitched noise heard upon closing is

reminiscent of a rodent in pain. Considering its designation as a compact wagon, the Forenza has a

good supply of standard features: air conditioning, cruise control, AM/

FM/CD (eight speakers), tilt steering wheel with remote stereo controls,

60/40 split folding rear seats, power windows and locks and heated and

power mirrors. The car's one optional feature is its antilock brake system, which adds

$500 to the suggested retail base price of $16,649. Destination and

handling boost the price another $545 to $17,694? a strong argument

for consideration among economical buyers. And finally, while Suzuki may not yet be ready to battle its more well-

known competitors on several levels, the manufacturer's 7-year,

100,000-mile power train warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance

can't be easily dismissed. Suzuki Forenza Wagon 2005Safety features -- Driver and front seat passenger side airbags,

front seat passenger front airbags; 24-hour roadside assistance. Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 mpg (city), 28 mpg (highway). Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles;

Powertrain 7 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 3 years/unlimited miles. Base price -- $17,694. 00James Raia, a journalist in Sacramento, Calif. , is the author of the

syndicated automotive column, The Weekly Driver Review, and co-

author of the e-book "How To Buy A Car Without Getting Ripped Off. "To read more car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver ReviewTo subscribe to James Raia's free electronic endurance sports

newsletters, visit his web site: http://www. ByJamesRaia. com

Author:
James Raia