2005 Suzuki Forenza EX Wagon
11/07/2004
Shahed Hussain
The Forenza is a truly global car: styled in Italy by Pininfarina, manufactured in Korea by Daewoo, and sold in the US by Suzuki. The addition of the Forenza (also available as a sedan) helps fill out Suzuki's model lineup.
Suzuki has made an impressive effort to cast the Forenza as a practical compact wagon for a young family. The interior is roomy, with ample room in the front and rear passenger compartments. The 60/40 split rear seats fold down, but not completely, for additional cargo space. A retracting cargo cover keeps the rear compartment contents hidden when the seats are up.
Comfortable seats are covered in an attractive gray velour fabric. Although the seats are not highly bolstered, the grippy fabric keeps passengers from sliding around when belted. Fit and finish levels are excellent. Interior plastics and trim are of high quality. Round HVAC vents are reminiscent of the Audi TT, but substitute silver plastic bezels instead of aluminum.
The nondescript AM/FM/CD audio system has surprisingly good sound, with clear treble and decent bass response. Tweeters mounted near the door handles improve stereo imaging. The steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls are very conveniently located. Soft leather covers the steering wheel and transmission shift lever.
Exterior styling is a definite strength of the Forenza. Of course, when Pininfarina does the work, one can hardly go wrong. The Forenza has a definite resemblance to contemporary Alfa Romeos, which is a compliment. Handsome 15-inch alloy wheels show off the standard 4-wheel disc brakes, which is a pleasant upgrade from the disc/drum norm in most competitive vehicles.
A 2.0L D-TEC inline-4, coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission powers the Forenza wagon. The engine is noisy and boomy under acceleration, but is much quieter at cruising speeds around town, and on the highways. To extract the best performance and economy from this motor, the 5-speed manual is essential. However, the Forenza EX is only available with an automatic.
The Forenza's handling has been tuned to favor comfort over sharp reflexes. Hard cornering reveals noticeable body roll and moderate understeer. The upside is a quiet, composed ride over potholed streets and lumpy highways. Fortunately, the suspension damping is not too soft, so the Forenza doesn't float and wallow over bumps.
Overall, the Forenza Wagon is an excellent value in its class. A combination of high equipment levels, attractive styling, and quality interior materials make this Suzuki a viable alternative to Japanese and US manufacturer's compact wagons.
