2008 Suzuki Forenza Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Car has a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine, and a 4-speed automatic transmission. Id say its comparable to a Kia Rio or similar economy car. Acceleration is about average. It stops well. Handling and ride are actually quite nice. Reviews I have read claim an average of 28mpg. I average probably around 35 and I have gotten 41 on long trips. It seems to have somewhat low gear ratios. I say this because at 70mph the engine is doing 3000rpm which is the top of the power band. The flip side of that is it does well in stop and go traffic. I have had to replace a head gasket because the engine was factory filled with GM Dexcool which was never changed and dissolved the gasket. That is the only major issue I have had with the car. The engine was pretty simple, so I did it myself in my back yard. Its actually quite reliable otherwise, and I have daily driven this car for 5 years. Its very easy to work on. The transmission fluid can be changed from 2 plugs in the transmission (drain and cold fill). For engine oil, the dipstick and fill cap are easily accessed, but the oil filter is in a slightly awkward place. I only tighten it by hand so it is easier to remove. It is too low to crawl under without ramps. Everything else is easily accessed with the hood up (coolant, PS, brake fluid, spark plugs). With the back seats folded down, I have 6ft 4in x ~3ft x ~1ft of cargo space. I have hauled lumber and moved using this car without too much trouble. Probably my least favorite part of the car is the road noise. You get used to it, but its much louder than any car I have driven. For an affordable daily driver, this car has been spectacular.

Interior is great, but the exterior took a while to grow. Driving is smooth, though it isn't quite fast enough for me. Pricey for me, but I splurged. I'd say it's fun. Decent on gas milage, or so I think