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Compact car; Built in South Korea
  • 4-door hatchback
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $3,000 – $6,500*


2005 Suzuki Reno


2005 Suzuki Reno


2005 Suzuki Reno


2006 Suzuki Reno

Pros:
  • Cargo room
  • Instruments/controls
Cons:
  • Acceleration (auto. trans.)
  • Noise

Reno offers an impressive list of standard equipment and affords better interior and cargo space than many compacts. It trails top competitors in performance and refinement, but its lower resale values aid those in the used-car market, as does Suzuki’s generous transferable warranty.

Overview

Suzuki introduced a 4-dr hatchback version of the Korean-built Forenza compact sedan for 2005. Called the Reno, it came in S, LX, and top-line EX models, all with a 126-hp 4-cyl engine. S and LX came with manual transmission. Automatic transmission was standard for EX, optional for S and LX. All had front side airbags and 4-wheel disc brakes as standard. ABS was optional. Also standard were air conditioning, power windows/locks/heated mirrors, tilt steering wheel, CD stereo with steering-wheel controls, and 15-inch wheels. LX added cruise control and keyless entry. EX had leather upholstery instead of cloth. Like other Suzukis, the factory warranty for Reno included roadside assistance and transferable 7/100,000 powertrain coverage with provision for a free loaner car.

Yearly Updates

2006 Reno
Model names were changed to Base, Convenience, and Premium. The Base model’s equipment was similar to that of the former S, but ABS was no longer optional. Convenience added cruise control, keyless entry, and a sunroof, but again, no optional ABS. Premium added ABS, fog lights, a rear spoiler, and alloy wheels. Leather upholstery was no longer available.
2007 Reno
Reno lost its available sunroof in 2007.
2008 Reno
The 2008 Suzuki Reno got no changes of note for what is likely this compact hatchback’s final model year.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

A 2.0-liter 126-hp 4-cylinder engine with 131 lb-ft of torque was offered with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

dohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 126
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 131
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic		 23/30
22/31

Road Test

A Reno equipped with a manual transmission is the only model made available for testing. There’s good acceleration from a stop, though less so as speed rises, and highway passing power is lacking. The transmission shifts smoothly but has a rather long shifter throw. The extended-use-test Reno LX averaged 23.4 mpg over 10,094 miles-not great for a small car with manual transmission. Suzuki recommends regular-grade fuel. Reno doesn’t match the best in this class for ride comfort, as it’s somewhat stiff and bouncy over larger bumps. There’s noticeable body lean even at modest cornering speeds, but the steering is light and responsive. Four-wheel disc brakes provide fine pedal feel, but we recommend getting a Reno with ABS, which isn’t available on all models. The engine roars under acceleration and turns buzzy at higher speeds. There’s some pounding over bumps, and a fair amount of wind noise at freeway speeds.

Audio and climate controls are clear and easy to reach and use, though they’re mounted just a bit low. Materials befit the car’s price. There’s plenty of front head and leg room, and the standard tilt steering wheel and height-adjustable driver seat allow most people to find a comfortable driving position. Visibility is generally good, but is hindered to the back corners by the rear headrests and thick roof pillars. In back, there’s adequate head, leg, and toe room for adults as long as the front seats aren’t more than halfway back. Entry/exit is good for a compact. A generous liftgate opening allows easy access to the cargo hold, which can be enlarged by folding the standard split folding rear seatback.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2005 Suzuki Reno hatchback, man.

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 3
30%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 6
60%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 50

Specifications

4-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
102.4 169.1 67.9 56.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
45.4 14.5 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.1 37.9 42.0 36.7
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Brake noise
Description: Rear brake noises are corrected by installing revised brake pad springs on the calipers. (2004-05)
Cold-starting problems
Description: The idle may jump to as high as 2,000 rpm when coming to a stop on vehicles with manual transmissions, or it may idle rough or stall with an automatic while the engine is cold after cold soak, requiring a computer flash. (2004-05)
Cold-starting problems
Description: The engine may not start as quickly as normal when the weather turns cool and low volatility fuel is in the tank requiring recalibration of the powertrain control unit. (2006–07)
Oil consumption
Description: Excessive oil consumption and blue smoke from the exhaust may be due to a broken or missing PCV restrictor in the valve cover requiring a new valve cover. (2006)
Windshield washer
Description: The rear window washer may not spray because the hose cracks or detaches due to the material from which it was made. (2005-08)
Electrical problem
Description: Damaged insulation on wiring harness between left fender and its liner results in short or opens, causing various components (from lights, fuel pump, rear defogger, etc.–about 40 circuits in all) to quit working. (2004-05)
Electrical problem
Description: The key may not come out of the ignition lock due to a problem with the shifter lever not making electrical contact when shifted into park. (2004-06)
Transmission problems
Description: Harsh 3-4 downshift on automatic transmission, accompanied by a check engine light, requires reprogramming the transmission control unit. (2004-05)

Recall History

2006-07
Description: The front seat belt tongue will not latch into the buckle and, in rare cases, even the locked tongue will pop out by low stretching force. Dealers will replace the front driver and passenger seat belt buckles with the improved part.
2006-08
Description: Headlamp low-beam or Daytime Running Lights function may be inoperative due to a melted splice pack on the wiring harness. Dealers will splice the power circuit wires for the low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on November 6, 2014.
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