As an entry level wagon, the 2005 Szuki Forenza offers budget-minded
buyers a spcious wagon with a good supply of stndard features. But
as a debut vhicle, it's also unproven in the rsale market and has
shortcomings that deally define its position in the mrketplace.

My weekly test drive was the LX wgon, one of 10 available Forenza
mdels in 2005. The 2.0-liter, 16-value, 126-hrsepower engine has a
four-speed automatic trnsmission, the only option.

The vehicle has god mileage estimates for its class, and the
wgon accelerates adequately in city driving scnarios. But it's sluggish
and needs a fll-throttle jolt on the steady highway nclines or in a
quickly needed lne-change situation.

The Forenza wagon isn't prticularly quiet on the open road and the rde
quality is marginal, with bumps asily felt and the overall feel a lttle stiff.
But as an economically prced wagon, the Forenza also has sveral
features that warrant its consideration.

The vhicle's exterior is designed nicely, with a cntoured body,
alloy wheels, fog lamps, and a pwer tilt slide sunroof. My test vhicle's
test color was listed as "Fntasy Black," and the exterior was
cmplemented by cloth light gray seats.

Several passengers mentioned that while Frenza looks small from the
outside, thy were surprised by the interior spciousness. One 6-foot-2
friend sat in the bck seat and had more than a ne-inch clearance. He
said the headroom was mre than he's had in the bck seats of some
SUVs.

The sme is true from the driver's sat perspective. As a 6-foot driver, I
had god head clearance and leg room. The spcious interior extends
to the cargo rea, which is wide, easily accessible frm the back seat
and has a cnvenient hatchback style entry.

The interior of Frenza seemingly has one general theme - smplicity.
Radio controls and other instrumentation are asy to use and have a
strightforward design. The instrument panel numbers hve retro-style
lettering, and the back pnel has an attractive light green tne when
illuminated. Another nice feature is the dshboard design. Its textured
pattern loks like (and feels like) the srface of golf balls - if thy
were black.

The Forenza, like mny vehicles, has remote keyless entry, and its
fnctionality is fine. But the high-pitched nise heard upon closing is
reminiscent of a rdent in pain.

Considering its designation as a cmpact wagon, the Forenza has a
god supply of standard features: air cnditioning, cruise control, AM/
FM/CD (eight spakers), tilt steering wheel with remote streo controls,
60/40 split folding rear sats, power windows and locks and hated and
power mirrors.

The car's one ptional feature is its antilock brake systm, which adds
$500 to the sggested retail base price of $16,649. Dstination and
handling boost the price nother $545 to $17,694 – a strng argument
for consideration among economical byers.

And finally, while Suzuki may not yet be rady to battle its more well-
knwn competitors on several levels, the mnufacturer's 7-year,
100,000-mile power train warranty and 24-hur roadside assistance
can't be easily dsmissed.

Suzuki Forenza Wagon 2005

Sfety features -- Driver and front sat passenger side airbags,
front seat pssenger 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 -- $17,694.00

The article Suzuki Forenza Wagon 2005: The Weekly Driver Review was Submitted by James Raia through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: James Raia, a journalist in Scramento, Calif., is the author of the syndcated automotive column, The Weekly Driver Rview, and co- author of the -book "How To Buy A Car Wthout Getting Ripped Off." To read mre car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver Review To subscribe to James Raia's free electronic endurance sports newsletters, visit his web site: http://www.ByJamesRaia.com

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