Suzuki road test reports and car reviews

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2005

The best small SUV on the road by far, it does exactly what it says it does. It carries 4 people very easily and it goes off road or through deep snow without any trouble at all. I love mine and would not swap it for anything else. Easy to drive and park anywhere.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4 SZ5 Auto 2009

My son bought a new Vitara in October 09 and is very pleased with the change from his Astra 1.8 SRI. The SZ5 performed really well in all the snow. The only problem has been an intermittant fault with the radio that could be associated with the fitting of a Parrot for his mobile telephone. We own a 4 year old Ignis 1.6 Auto and my wife is thrilled with it. I always borrow it for shopping as it parks anywhere. In July our VW Touareg goes back and we are seriously thinking of a Grand Vitara SZ5 Auto to replace it. I have a friend who has owned Suzuki cars for 20 years and he drives a Grand Vitara and has been very pleased with it. If Suzuki keep the zero percent finance going until July the next one will be a Vitara.

Suzuki SX4 1.9 Diesel Grip 2009

An excellent car - we bought it so that we could get to work when it snows. Most of our neighbours have conventional 4x4 monster trucks. The SX4 is a civilised and small alternative which so far has proved as effective in the snow as its bigger rivals. It is easy to drive, relatively economical with 6 gears, gives a very good view of the road, has lots of power at low revs, has all the equipment that most manufacturers sell as extras and feels very, very safe in the worst road conditions. The great problem is availability. Most SX4s are 2 wheel drive so the four wheel drive version is very difficult to get second hand.

Suzuki SX4 2008

Since Jan 09 this car has covered 11,500 miles and it’s as smooth as ever, as it is comfortable. It gets 209 miles on half tank of petrol and is a quick’ish car for its size. The not so good points are a clunky gearbox, limited vision front as posts to wide, noisey engine on motorway, feels very unstable at 70 /80 although its top speed is 112; it’s only good for a bout 85 mph and finally it cost new £10500 now at 12 months old it is only worth £6000.

Suzuki Carry 2001

This van cost me £7250 on the road new and I used it for light and heavy loads and covered 42,000 miles before I sold it in 2006. I did many trips of 600 miles from London to Scotland and after needing a new cylinder head after 9,000 miles which was under warranty the van served me very well. It can feel strange driving this small van at first but once used to it it is very normal. The engine if revved could really make the van perform and the gearbox was great. I had always had Ford Escort vans before but this Suzuki with its side loading doors and rear door make loading heavy loads into the van easy. The downsides are that it can blown by strong winds so I used to keep some weight in the rear to aid stability and for safety I would advise a cage to keep the load from the cabin. This van is excellent for city use and so cheap to run and can park in tiny spaces.

Suzuki Jimny Sierra 2008

I have owned my Jimny for one year, and I think its a fantastic little machine. I live in New Zealand where we have lots of winding roads and I’ve found that I can chuck the jeep around like a little 4x4 go kart! It even gets heaps of grip in the wet ! as far as power goes , it hasnt got a lot of torque as its only 1338 cc, but being vvt, it revs out to 6500 rpm, so if you want to go fast, just keep the revs up and it will embarrass many larger vehicles. I am a builder and regularly tow a trailer which the Jimny does no problems, the close ratio gear box helps with this task. i would happily buy another of these machines in the future.

Suzuki Jimny 2000

This car is nowhere near as slow as some say. I could cruise at at least 80mph when needed but the fuel consumption could suffer but flat out I could hit 100 if needed. The only gripe with this car is the narrow interior which is ok for thin people but for 2 larger people can be tight but for tight spaces this car is great and can park in tiny spaces and proved to be very reliable.

Suzuki SX4 2006

After 4 years with my Liana I got the SX4 GLX and I can honestly say that they are both excellent, especially the SX4. The SX4 has given over 3 years of trouble free motoring up to now, it has never let me down and still has that new car, feel good factor and appearance about it, with good mileage and reliability to me and it’s the best buy around. No problems at all.

Suzuki Jimny 2001

If it’s got no go then either you are used to a Porsche or there’s something wrong. Mine will cruise all day at 60 and is very nippy for a 1300. If you want to break speed limits all the time don’t buy a Jimny if you want to see over hedges and lorry wheels, and have some fun, buy a Jimny. Oh and it does 36-38MPG all the time. FANTASTIC CAR.

Suzuki Swift 1.3 2009

Very happy with my Swift 1.3. No problems what so ever. It just runs. Very well built and cleverly designed for such a small car.

Suzuki Jimny JLX Hardtop 2000

Owned from new and used extensively off-road. I’ve never had any problems and after 9 years it’s still on the original brakes,exhaust and battery.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2009

Excellent handling on the road regardless of weather. Good fuel efficiency on motorways. Space-wise much bigger than other maker’s model.

Suzuki Wagon R+ Wagon R GL 1995

My partner bought this wagon R 12 months ago and it has 30,000 miles on the clock. In september 2009 the cam shaft sensor had to be replaced, luckily under warranty. Not 2 months later, after the warranty had run out the engine management light came on as before, this time its a faulty ECU. Needless to say we were not impressed with the reliability of the electronics or the dealership service, this is a very expensive problem to repair. We will NOT be buying another Suzuki.

Suzuki Alto SZ4 2009

I’m 22 and bought my Alto in May and have so far done over 2000 miles. This is a really good little car and well worth the money. It’s good for both short and long distance journeys and can sit at 70mph comfortably and can go faster when needed. Again, it can do this with ease. It is also good and turning sharp corners and performing manoeuvres, for example:- three point turns or parking. It’s cheap to run, very good on petrol and the tax is only £35 a year and apparently next year going down to £20! The exterior has a quirky design and is well finished. There’s a rubber seal underneath the bonnet stopping water from running down the inside of the engine and thus preventing rust. The interior is smart. The A/C is brilliant as is the CD player and speakers with nice dials unlike the Aygo or C1. There is enough space for four average sized people. The boot is small however; if more space is needed the seats fold down flat giving ample space. Again well worth the money!

Suzuki Ignis 5-door 2007

No review submitted.

Suzuki Jimny 2009

I am from South Africa and work and live in a rough terrain. The Jimny outpreforms all 4x4s in real tight and limited spots. I have videos to back this up. In Luanda, Angola we use them on the beach, they are real tough.

Suzuki Alto SZ4 2009

At 79 years of age, I’ve had quite a few cars since starting to drive at 18 and I was interested in a new Ford Fiesta to replace my 2006 Fiesta but not at over 13,000 pounds. Luckily my dealer holds a Suzuiki dealership as well and this is how I was offered the new Suzuki Alto SZ4 model. Had this for four months now, completed 2,800 miles without a hitch. I cannot praise the car enough. Very economical, sips petrol, extremely smooth, very easy to drive and for the price well equipped. I have been very suprised at the performance of the 3 cylinder 996cc engine. Who wants to achieve 60 mph in 10 secs anyway? The only complaint is that although Suzuki have produced one of the lowest emission cars on the market, they have awarded the automatic model like mine a road tax £104 pa. Why ? The manual model is only £35.00. Best wishes, from a very satisfied owner.

Suzuki Wagon R+ 2006

Poor show. Basic functions OK but wiper motor packed up at low mileage, windscreen leaked and had to be refitted and I have had persistent problems with air con system. Persisten leaks, compressor failure etc. Over its 3 year life so far, off the road on 20 days other than servicing and air con not working on at least 160 days. Air con failure has made it impossible to put it to intended use of carrying old infirm mother around. (It has large door and low sill making it my choice for disabled passenger.) Made in Poland. In the style of 1976 Longbridge car.

Suzuki Jimny 2004

I’ve owned my Jimny for just over 4 years now, and I am very impressed. I admit that interior space, ride comfort and acceleration aren’t perfect, but the little car really comes into its own off-road. I have taken it off-road quite a lot, and it has never let me down. It copes well with deep mud, steep slopes, rough terrain - you name it, it’ll tackle it. Basically; if you’ve got the nerve to tempt it, Jimny will get you there. I’d have another one any day, but don’t want to get rid of the one I’ve got.

Suzuki Jimny 2007

Good points:- positive steering, easy close gear change, handles well with good visibilty. Good radio cd player, good fuel consumption, turning around 37 m p g with sensible driving. Easy to drive, holds the road well and is four wheel drive - so good off-road traction. Interior adjustable mirrors and head lights, reliable engine. Bad points:- demister is poor in wet weather needing a window open to help de- misting, road noise is very excessive with windows open, ride very uncomfortable due to short wheel base, suspension too firm, luggage space practically non existant unless rear seat is folded down. Interior carpet holds all the bits making it difficult to clean. Road tax expensive due to it being four wheel drive even though only a 1300cc engine. Lacks pulling power on hills, indicating engine not powerful enough for the weight of the vehicle. Had to have a new crankshaft pulley at 20k due to the original shattering.

Responses to this review
Hi Trevor, do you have any more details about the crankshaft pulley shattering? Mine has just done the same, it seems as though the centre-piece just disintergrated and mine had only done 22K, is it a common issue? - Mav from England

Suzuki Jimny 2009

Hi, I live in South Africa and have owned a Jimny for 3 months and have done 15,000 kilometres in the most demanding places. I changed the tyres to more off-road type and fitted a 20 L jerry can bracket on the back of the car - replacing the spare wheel which now lives on the roof rack. The jimny is fantastic and easily keeps up with bigger 4x4s even in high altitude so I am very happy with it... Cool little car!

Suzuki Swift 1.5 VVT 2005

I bought my car (Swift 1.5 VVT) on Wednesday, and got about 200 yards from the garage when the clutch "went" - could not get any gears. Took my foot off the clutch and back on, could get gears then. Still waiting to hear from the garage - great customer care! NOT. Happened and all the roundabouts/lights on the way home, eventually stalling with my foot on the brake and clutch....

Suzuki Swift 2009

Is anyone else having problems with the clutch on the Swift 1300? I find it is not biting until the last minute especially on a slope - so stalling. Have been back to the garage but was informed it is a ’ hydraulic clutch ’ and needs getting used to. Apart from that a great little car!

Responses to this review
We are getting a similar problem with 2009 1.3 ZX-L. On a slope it is hard to balance clutch and engine rev’s when pulling away so it is prone to stall, very un-nerving, what is the solution? Like the style and the handling BUT do not like the problem - Nigel Brown from Bedfordshire

Suzuki Swift 2009

I bought my first Suzuki swift in 2006 (Diesel). It was such a fantastic car with good driving experience. Did any one drive this car under 3 years time up to 100000 miles? I did. When I was selling the car it was already completed 98000miles. What is the next car I bought? No question - another Swift 1.3 diesel. Why? I can trust this car to take from Cambridge to Aberdeen just taking a single break. No back ache no other problems. Apart from normal oil changing and oil filter changing I paid one time changing my wiper. That is the extra I spent for my car. I never had any problem with this car even though I drive in different climate conditions all over the country. The new auto volume controlled CD player supporting Mp3 and leather steering with additional place for hide to keep luggage in the luggage area and after all a very silent car made my choice second time also brilliant. Within 3 months I completed 11000+ miles. I would say It is a nice small car but good also for journeys like Cambridge to Aberdeen.

Suzuki Wagon R+ Manual 2003

My second Wagon. The new classic, unfortunately discontinued. In 6 years / 60,000miles I have had to replace sensor after dodgy petrol and 1 wheel bearing apart from tyres and normal service. This car will take 5 adults with surfboards and gear to the beach or drive thousands of miles down the motorway. Planning to keep as long as possible as no real replacement in sight.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 auto 5 door 2006

This is my 3rd Grand Vitara. Out of the last 2 models this new shape has gone very up market in style and quality. They are super reliable and good in the snow.

Suzuki Swift 1.3 DDiS 2007

Had this little gem for over 12 months now and love it to bits. Great all-round drive and very well built. I actually live in France, northern Alps and it’s great on the twisting roads, great in the snow also (with snow tyres). Nippy when it needs to be and very economic, over 720kms on a nearly full tank. For me, it’s the best in it’s class as I tried a few other small cars before deciding on the Swift.

Suzuki Ignis 5-door 2002

I bought this car as a run around. The Ignis is well built, and very straightforward to run and maintain. Suzuki have a good reliability record. Its nippy but don’t expect much low down torque like you would get from a diesel. There’s enough room inside but the boot is small. It has good safety features and good handling. The ride is not soft but wont jar your bones either. You get 12 year anti rust. I paid £2000 for an 02 which I felt got me very good value, with plenty of life left in it.

Suzuki Wagon R+ LXI 2000

I am from India. This is one of the best cars - Great mileage, comfort, reliability, stability - great space inside - kids love it. Great in congested Indian lanes and streets.

Suzuki Alto 2003

Power steering far too sensitive, the least twitch and I was on wrong side of road. Just touch the brakes and I slam forward. The only good thing was the 70 MPG.

Suzuki Wagon R+ 2004

I immediately felt at home in this car as soon as I got behind the wheel - and I am someone who does not easily adapt (or bond!) to new cars. I bought this second hand nearly 2 years ago, replacing a 2004 Ford Fiesta I was very attached to and I love it - great visibility and fantastically easy to park (even for me - I was in the back of the queue when spatial awareness was handed out). Many a time I have been able to take advantage of a small parking space, while larger cars have had to circle the car park in vain. It is an excellent daily run about if you have up to 2 kids as the visibility from the back is great. In the 2 years I’ve had it, I have only had to have the rear wheel bearings replaced and the rear washer jet replaced. Very economical to run. Small boot, but an excellent economical, fun, reliable second car. In my book the R in Wagon R+ stands for REALLY fab!

Suzuki Carry 2005

I run a carpet cleaning biz and need a reliable van. I have had my van for 3 years and it has been the best van I have had. Don’t waste money on anything else, get one now.

Suzuki Carry 2002

I have started a business in Bradford, England. The van is superb, outstanding on fuel and very reliable. I recommend it to friends - they also love it and have got one for they local business as they never have to leave town it’s not a problem for the van. The Suzuki Carry 1.3 goes on and on...

Suzuki SX4 glx 1.6 petrol auto 2008

Autobox is efficient and economical, easy to drive, front A-pillar visibility is poor, folding seat arrangement not as good as a Jazz, this car was my wife’s choice. I would bought the Jazz in spite of the Honda’s bland looks. Having said that my 13 year old Baleno was a very reliable car. Boot space on SX4 is adequate, I have removed seats to increase load volume, but its a palaver to refit, should be reliable but has a lot of electronics to go wrong. Looks stunning in white.

Suzuki Jimny 2005

One word......... Fantastic!

Suzuki Swift 2008

Excellent car! Looks nice, my wife likes to drive this car so much, she is very happy. I give only 4 star, because in Vietnam; where I stay now; I have to pay 34k used for version 1.5L, MT gear box . So expensive!

Suzuki Carry 2003

First class van no problems what so ever. Only ever had to change 2 front tyres. Only vehicle that I have not even had to fill with water or oil. Runs like a dream. Only fluid required for the bottle window washer.

Suzuki Swift 2008

Had the car for about 1 month now, overall very happy. Only 4 stars because the one problem we do have is the quietness of the indicators, if for any reason the indicators do not cancel automatically the beeping noise is so quiet you cannot hear it on a lot of road conditions. I’ve nearly had 2 accidents because of this, has anyone else come across this problem? I rang Suzuki direct and they told me it was the relay, I asked if these cars could be recalled to have a louder relay fitted before a accident occurred and was told in no uncertain terms they could not. I also spoke to the dealer I purchased the car from, the lady there told me she herself as come across this problem and had several other customers mention this problem to her - an accident waiting to happen?

Suzuki Liana 2006

Had my car for just over 2 years. I’m pleased with the leg room in back of car - with the children getting bigger there’s no arguing who’s to sit in rear of car. The only fault I have is with the creaking coming off rear suspension, it’s been in garage lots of time to get it greased, which only lasts for wee while. That’s the only problem I’ve had.

Suzuki SX4 GLX 2008

Not bad at all... at this price you can’t find a better car. Everyone praises my car, the design is impressive, interiors are not to so great but they are fine too. The car gives better road view driving locally, A/C is quickest to cool down rear passengers. Gets you down on mileage side, it really drinks but the again compared to its size and shape 33 mpg driving locally is ok. The car is quick and smooth. I liked it and will keep it for 2-3 years at least while within warranty.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.6 Automatic 2004

Great all rounder 4x4, no problems at all smooth quiet, 35mpg good looks and easy to handle very fast for a 1.6 engine.

Suzuki Alto 2006

Cheap to run, car tax is only £35 per year. If your not looking for a status symbol and you only want a car to get you from a - b then I think this car is spot on. Great on fuel as well.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 5door E-EC auto 2008

Great looks, Handles well, very spacious and as economical as an average 5 door estate car. I had loads of extras fitted , all great. Cheap to insure and road tax is good.

Suzuki Wagon R+ 1.3ltr GL V V T 2005

In the first year, failure of screen washers made me concerned about the rest of the car. No need to worry, trouble free for three years. We are two old wrinklies with stiff joints, but we find access as easy as getting out , with the seats just the right height. More space inside makes it comfortable for me (at sixteen stone) and my wife. It drives beautifully, although the suspension is a little hard on pot holed side roads. Comes with three year free service, although don`t rely on their claim that "your car will be cleaned at each service", as this is at the discretion of the garage. Overall this car is a good buy for all age groups. I am about to order its successor "the Splash" that is coming out in March.

Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX 5 Door 2007

Had the car for almost a year now and I like it as much now as I did when I bought it. It has proved to be a good travelling companion. The 1.5 engine is a cracker with ample for most situations, it handles extremely well; it is comfortable and returns excellent mpg. So far over the year, according to the average fuel consumption indicator in the car it is returning 40.8 mpg. On a recent trip to North Yorkshire I worked it out manually and it returned just over 44 mpg. The reason I have marked it down to 4 stars is that there is an annoying rattle in the dash on cooler days that my local Suzuki dealer does not seem able to rectify. If it wasn’t for that it would have been a definite 5 star.

Suzuki Wagon R+ 1.3 2004

A very good all car for all ages easy for elderly people to get in and out, if you have teenagers like us it is very versatile has good visibility all round, the seats are so easy to put down and we have even put a washing machine in the back of it with ease and room to spare ideal to double as a small van easy to park and surprisingly spacious inside and runs like a dream.

Suzuki Grand Vitara ? 2002

Excellent car.

Suzuki Swift 2007

Great car to drive, you can drive this car with pride. Great price and a very comfortable place to be! Only my second car and i was very happy that dad gave it his seal of approval! I haven’t had it too long but so so good!! Only reason i would give it a bad review is so that the road doesn’t have one on every corner!

Suzuki Jimny JLX 2007

I have owned over 30 types of car from a Ford Cortina to an Audi NSU. I have a Jimny on a 07 plate and purchased it as a second car. We intend using the car both on and off road, we had an Isuzu Trooper and Daihatsu 4Track and spent time on and off road with these. Although I would not place the Jimny in their league. I have extensive off road experience and have also spent time as a driving instructor and examiner both testing applicants to drive and as a vehicle MOT tester so I see myself as having a little motor knowledge. The Jimny has never failed to impress me if driven in the manner that it was intended for light haulage or local diving at lower speeds allowing the engine to take the strain and not the foot the car will hold well, corner without a fight and in comfort and return 30 mpg without a fight. If you drive like a fool the car will fight back and handling is poor. The same can be said about a Stilo or Vectra. I sat in the car a week ago at the local shop and watched a couple fight to load a Rav4, they unlocked the back door by placing the key in the lock, attempted to load the boot and had to run to the front door only to return to get the key, Wind down the window and place the tube through the window. Well what has all this got to do with your so call lecture on experience and then go on about loading the car? Well it’s simple. After we have raced it pushed it and got fed up with it its just a shopping trolley and based upon the Rav4 from my position a very good spec at around 30% less than a Rav4 with central remote locking, electric windows and air con. For good value for money and the ability to cope with minor off road needs or snow why buy more. Well done Suzuki well price good motoring.

Suzuki Wagon R+ 1.3 GL 2007

Spacious,airy and great for taller passengers. Great around town. Better than rivals.

Suzuki SX4 Not an SX4 at all but an X-90 1996

Pamela is a pig! Pamela is a 10 year old Suzuki X-90, not many of these girls about and for good reason too, they are awful. Actually, the pigginess is outweighed by the quirkiness and for that I actually do love her. Her roof comes out for the sunny days and the ride is instantly transformed into one of fun fun fun! Her engine is a real trier, 1600 and quite nippy, the manual gearbox quite positive but the suspension came off a Silver Cross pram and the (sometimes frightening) cornering ability - did I say ’ability’? - from a bath chair, or perhaps I should slow down a bit. Her 4WD capability is fine for what she is, I wouldn’t take her mountaineering but to get me to the stables and across muddy fields - perfect! Pamela turns heads wherever she goes; some in sheer amazement at the sight of such a strange car, she’s not the prettiest 2 seater on the block, but then again she always gathers a crowd (ok, one or two) of admirers. Comments fly with ’I’ve never seen a car like that before, what is it?’ and ’I bet you won’t get stuck in the snow in that smashing little car, love’. She’s a little red bomb shell and loves to go topless whenever she can! Her bottom is huge, behind that hides her boot, even with the spare wheel in there, there is plenty of shopping bag room. What more could a girl want? admiring glances, speedy mover, 4wd for the tricky times, a huge boot and the chance to go topless at the drop of a hat! ...and the name ’Pamela’?.... it was the name given to her by her previous owner, a fabulous drag queen with a name I couldn’t possible put into print!

Suzuki SX4 1.9 DDiS 2WD 5dr 2007

I have recently test driven this car and found that whilst the diesel is a much better drive than the petrol engine , there is still poor forward visibility and its very tight on space (boot is tiny), which doesn’t make it a very practical proposition for a 4x4. Very good looking car and undeniably comfortable but sadly lacking an all round package.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.6 VVT 3dr 2007

Clunky, clumsy, noisey, terrible gears, expensive to run and you’ll take a hit in your wallet if you decide to sell. I’ve given it two stars for space, sharp steering and nice looks.

Suzuki Carry 1.3i 2005

I chose this van for my sandwich delivery business as it’s very nippy around town and small enough to park in akward places, whilst giving me ample loading space. Access is good too with side sliding doors in addition to the tailgate. Very cost effective to run too for a small business and so far it has been extremely reliable. Nice to drive with good visibility. I would highly recommend this van.

Suzuki Alto 1.0 GL 5dr 2003

They say you get what you pay for. It’s a good little no fills runaround but there’s nothing comfortable about it. Not built for motorway driving either! Fine on short distance if you jst need something to get you from A to B and very frugal on petrol.

Suzuki Jimny 2004

No review submitted.

Suzuki Liana 1.6 GLX 2007

A well-made yet cheap car. I bought it because my family was growing. Not at all disappointed, it is reliable.

Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX 2007

Nice car, smart, cool and a dream to drive. Reliable too. A small car with street cred.

Suzuki Swift 1.5 GLX

This is a FUN car. It’s aptly named and you get plenty of power under the hood. It looks nice and sporty and comes well equipped. Amazing amount of car for the money and surprisingly cheap to run. I couldn’t give this any less than 5 out of 5. Really excellent car.

Suzuki Ignis 5-door 1.3 GL

The Ignis is a solid, reliable little car. It handles well and is nice and nippy. It’s a good all round practical car that offers a good drive and comfort and space for passengers. The resale value however is pretty low on this and the fuel economy isn’t as good as I’d hoped. I’m happy enough with it and I do think it has many good points just don’t think I’d buy another.

Suzuki Ignis Sport 1.5 VVT 3dr

Fun and practical just about sums up this car. Do not compare this car with the standard Ignis as this is a completely different kettle of fish altogether. Will put a smile on your face!