Test drive: 2005 Suzuki Forenza LX Wagon

There's a shortage of good compact wagons on the American and Canadian markets, so the Suzuki Forenza is a welcome addition. The Forenza wagon offers lots of space and equipment for a low price: $14,500 for starters, going up to $18,000 for all the bells and whistles. The whole shootin' match is covered by a 3 yr/36,000 mi warranty with 7 yr/100,000 mi powertrain coverage. It's a bit dull to drive, but that's forgivable. The Forenza isn't a runner, it's a hauler -- and a darn good one at that.

First Glance

I feel like a hypocrite. A few weeks ago I reviewed the Suzuki Reno, which is a 5-door hatchback version of the Forenza. I wasn't crazy about it. But I love this Forenza wagon, even though it's essentially the same car. As a hatchback, it's just OK, but as a wagon it's brilliant. The Forenza/Reno is a freshened-up version of the Daewoo Nubira, a Korean car that was sold in the US between 1999 and 2003. (If memory serves, I loved the Nubira wagon too.) Suzuki touts the Forenza's styling, which was originally created by Italian design house Pininfarina back in the Nubira days. The Forenza doesn't stand out in a crowded parking lot; it's more Susan Sarandon than Brad Pitt, but if you look over the car you'll see some rather attractive lines and nice details, particularly the head- and taillights. The subtle styling certainly fits the Forenza wagon's mission in life: Sensible, utilitarian transport, a great little family car for folks who don't really care what other people think. Goodness knows it's a wise economic choice. The Forenza is strong on safety equipment, and I'm particularly pleased that side airbags come standard, even in the entry-level Forenza S, and antilock brakes are optional ($500) across the range.

In the Driver's Seat

Also standard: A fantastic set-it-like-you-want-it driver's seat that includes adjustments for bottom cushion height/tilt and lumbar support. The interior is dressed up with decent-looking silver plastic bits and bobs, but the cheap, shiny plastic that covers the dash is one of the few reminders of its Korean bargain-basement roots. Another: The steering wheel has tiny horn buttons. Aren't we about ten years past that? Robin was sick this weekend, so I headed out solo with our two boys, Andrew and Robert, and my niece Madison. The Forenza wagon was the perfect size. The back seat is decent for adults and downright limo-like for kids. The LATCH anchor points for Andrew and Madison's car seats lined up perfectly with the left and right seating positions, so there would have been just enough room to squeeze Robert in between. But since the front passenger's airbag is automatically disabled if the occupant weighs less than 56 pounds (25 kg), I didn't have to submit him to that torture; he rode up front with me. Conspicuously absent: Grocery bag hooks in the cargo bay. When we did our luncheon-feast shopping, we got home to find our hot dogs, relish, onions, and apple juice rolling free of their bags. (The buns stayed put. Go figure.)

On the Road

For some reason, I found myself easily distracted in this car -- maybe it's the fact that the Forenza is so bland, somewhere between "easy to drive" and "dull". The Forenza has speed-sensitive power steering; steering effort is light when parking and driving around town and almost completely unassisted at highway speeds. This is one of those great ideas that doesn't quite pan out. Good, precise non-assisted steering is great on the open road, but the Forenza's steering isn't quite precise enough. There's a bit of free play on center, so the wheel turns a couple of degrees with almost no resistance, and then all of a sudden you're tugging against the heavy steering. The Forenza wanders side-to-size on the freeway, so I found myself making constant corrections, and after half an hour on the freeway my hands were starting to ache. I can't imagine taking this car on a six-hour drive and having to fight the steering all the way. Other than the steering, it's all good; the 126 hp 2.0 liter engine has plenty of power to propel the 2893 lb (1315 kg) Forenza wagon, even with a 4-speed automatic. Mileage (EPA 20 city/26 highway) isn't anything to write home about, but the engine goes about its business without making too much of a racket.

Journey's End

As a car the Forenza is just OK, but as a wagon it's wonderful. The cargo area isn't quite as generous as wagons like the Ford Focus and VW Jetta, but it offers more room than the new generation of "sport wagons" such as the Toyota Matrix -- and besides, it clobbers 'em all on price. The $14,494 Forenza S includes A/C, front and side airbags, CD player, power windows and locks, tilt steering column, rear wiper, and a windowshade-style cargo cover. My test car was an LX, standard with alloy wheels, sunroof, cruise control and remote unlocking (poorly designed -- read my complaints in the Reno review, link below) with optional antilock brakes ($500) and automatic trans ($800), the MSRP was a reasonable $17,694. The EX, $800 more, adds leather seats. And the warranty is fantastic. All in all, it's a good deal on a great wagon that's perfectly suited to a family of four. Would I buy one? No, but mostly because Madison spends enough time with us that we're effectively a family of five. Plus the steering would drive me bonkers. But for a smaller family that frequently plies the local roads, the Forenza wagon is a near-perfect kid-hauler and grocery-getter (remember, no hooks -- better tie those bags closed). I highly recommend it.