Road Test
Seems like gas prices are not about to go down soon. Our oil-hungry country has its hands on Iraq but doesn't seem able to get the spigot turned on. Could this be the time to buy a small car to ride out an era of more expensive fuel? Sure seems like it, particularly when you can get into a well-equipped vehicle for little financial outlay and drive that around until the situation changes.
Suzuki might be well placed in this scenario, since it has a range of compact cars and SUVs just waiting for downsizing owners. The Reno is a classic case in point. With its shape sketched by Italian trendsetting Italdesign-Giugiaro, the Reno fits into respectable neighborhoods arguably as well as any PT Cruiser does, and its five-door format provides the kind of versatility our bike-riding, big-box, shopping suburbanites will appreciate without shouting "Hatchback!" to the Joneses.
Okay, anyone who can read the S on the front of this rebadged Daewoo will know it's an inexpensive vehicle, but there are some critical features that can lend cheap cars a touch of class. These often make the big difference between acceptability and derision. Think VW Beetle, and you'll know what we mean. Styling is critical. The car can be cute or even ugly, but it should be novel in some way to avoid the econobox prejudice that has other road users chopping you up.
We think Euro-sensitized tastes will allow the Reno to pass. The rest will likely think it's just another quirky-looking import. But that's okay. The Reno has other virtues. It's well equipped for the price at every trim level. Even the base S has air conditioning and an eight-speaker stereo with a CD player and MP3 capability. All models have alloy wheels, four disc brakes, power windows and door locks, and power-adjustable heated exterior mirrors. There are steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and although they look somewhat added on, they are sturdily attached and perform as advertised.
The same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers all Renos (and Forenzas, for that matter, which share many mechanical components), and the same strut suspension and speed-sensitive assisted steering are found under the skin. A Reno S with a five-speed manual transmission will run you a little less than 14 grand, but it comes with a transferable seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty in addition to a three-year/36,000-mile full-vehicle warranty. Reno owners also benefit from roadside assistance and a warranty-repair loaner vehicle.
Our Reno LX test car cost $16,394, and that includes a $500 tab for anti-lock brakes. Although the LX is a mid-level trim model (the EX is the top dog), it's difficult to imagine anyone needing more stuff than is supplied on this car. In addition to the S model's standard features, the LX gets cruise control, remote entry, a power sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a passenger underseat storage bin, and a rear spoiler. Essentially, the only extra equipment provided by the top-level $17,494 EX model is an automatic transmission and leather seat and door inserts.
Inside, the Reno has a tidy two-tone dash design with soft-touch moldings and metal-tone accents. A U-shaped center console contains straightforward radio and climate controls, and the layout is generally attractive and uncluttered. The Reno also appeared to be tightly constructed and was rattle-free throughout the test. Although the seat cushion-fabric-covered in our LX-was a bit short for tall drivers, the seats were comfortable and provided fair support during hard cornering.
If the steering felt a tad numb in operation, the wheel was fairly well isolated from road vibration, and it provided better path control than its muted feedback might have led us to believe. The performance from the Kumho Ecsta HP4 tires was a pleasant surprise, too. Although their outright grip level was not terribly high (0.77 g), they allowed a willing turn-in response and demonstrated clearly readable midcorner behavior. Perhaps our expectations were not particularly high, but the Reno hung on longer and harder than we expected it to.
