First Glance
The Reno is fast enough, roomy enough, comfortable enough, reliable enough, and good-looking enough. What more does one person need? I'm sorry Aaron has deemed himself above the common folk who just need basic transportation. (Editor's note: BJ has never seen my own car, a 1989 Honda CRX that qualifies for federal disaster aid.) There's nothing wrong with vanilla ice cream, voting middle of the road, or having 2.3 kids.
I like the hatchback look. I grew up with one (a Ford Pinto, but don't spread that around) and think they're practical and cute. So it doesn't have big 18" wheels and tires (the 15s were more than adequate and looked proportional) or is dripping with technogadgets. It does have foglamps and a power tilt/slide sunroof as standard, which is more than a lot of its competitors.
If you do want to personalize, take a cue from Suzuki's own modified Reno, the Suzuki Tuner Concept, with 17" 7-spoke black Primax wheels, custom paint, custom cross-drilled disc brake rotors, and a Yoshimura custom cat-back exhaust system. This just proves the theory that the best looking models are the ones that start out relatively plain. Oops! I'm slipping into my import tuner mode. Let's get back to discussing the production version.
In the Driver's Seat
I love the word standard, and apparently so does Suzuki, since it uses it a lot on the inside of the Reno LX. Standard A/C, tilt and leather-wrapped steering wheel (with redundant audio controls, I might add) floor mats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, power heated mirrors/windows/door locks, front and side airbags, cruise control and CD audio with MP3 player are all welcomed at this entry price level. We're talking $17,194 out the door, folks.
On top of all this, the interior is extremely attractive. All the materials appear high quality, and the color scheme is pleasant, not trendy. I wish some of the more expensive vehicles looked this good inside.
I thought the design of the instrument panel was clean and contemporary, and showed a lot of effort went into consideration of the sport compact aftermarket because even if you upgraded to some interior goodies, the IP could stay and would easily blend in with the aftermarket pieces. Plus, the seats are comfortable, entry and exit are easy, and there's enough room in back to pack a whole lotta stuff. I had the BMW 6-Series convertible the same time as I had this Reno, and as much fun to drive as the BMW is, the Reno was so much easier to just hop in a go. And that I did.
On the Road
You'd think because the Reno is a small car, the ride would be choppy, but although it looks small, it has a decent 102.4-inch wheelbase, which helps smooth out the highway ride. It was comfortable, thanks to the supportive seats and impressive leg and head room, and relatively quiet at speed. The 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine produces 126 hp and 131 lb-ft of torque, which won't cause your eyes to water from 0 to 60 mph, but because it's relatively light (on par with its competitors) the Reno scoots off the line quite well.
The one area I need to nitpick is the automatic's Mercedes-like gated shifter, which gives the Reno an upscale look to the interior, but more often than not I shifted into 3rd instead of Drive, and had to back up a gear just about every time. Fix that little problem, and all is well.
Four-wheel disc brakes stop the Reno in good time, and the speed-sensitive power steering actually transmits road feel without being overboosted.
With most entry-level vehicles, things tend to feel cheap: the shift lever in your hand, the thinness of the steering wheel, the tinny sound from the bad audio system and bad acoustics. I heard and felt none of this inside the Reno. It's the little things that impress me most.
Journey's End
There are a lot of vehicles in the subcompact segment. Both domestic and import manufacturers know that this is where the brand loyalty starts for a lot of customers. Get them in a product early at the high school/college level, and if they're happy, you might have just earned a customer for life. The basic Reno starts at $13,449 (even as low at $11,949 now with some rebates happening), but that still includes a long list of features like the four airbags, disc brakes, air conditioning and power stuff with heated mirrors.
I briefly mentioned the warranty in the introduction, but I think it's worth revisiting. A loaner vehicle for warranty repairs? That's going above and beyond, and caring about the customer. It's been fun watching Suzuki come up with bigger and better products, and I know for a fact (but can't quite share with you right now) that there are exciting products on the way from this competitive manufacturer.
If you like working a 9 to 5 job because you have your weekends free, or think it's fun to spend evenings at home with the family and not at some trendy hot spot, and prefer a calm, sane lifestyle versus always chasing the next fad, look at the Suzuki Reno; it might just be your true hero vehicle.
