Pininfarina, the Italian design studio that has shaped some of the most beautiful cars in the world, worked out the original body styling for Suzuki's compact car. It emerged in 2004 as a four-door notchback sedan but in 2005 a five-door wagon variation showed up. For 2006 both versions return with FWD orientation but a restyled face with new fascia, grille and multi-reflector headlamps. Forenza for 2006 comes as a base sedan and wagon loaded with gear and one upgrade from a premium package.

Powertrain is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plant achieving 126 hp and teaming with a five-speed manual or four-speed-automatic transmission. In the cabin contoured bucket seats mount up front on either side of a padded console, while the rear bench, notched with seats for two but space for three, has a seatback that splits and folds in two sections.

Suzuki's sleek compact-class hatchback acts lively and looks rather cool. It has four doors for passengers and a hatch lid at the tail to access a cargo compartment. The cabin is spacious with room for five on comfortable seats and ample convenience features are aboard. Also, the shapely body appears slick and sophisticated, thanks to sensuous styling by Pininfarina's Italdesign studios. Reno rides on the same platform that underpins Forenza and it carries the same mechanical equipment, including the 2.0-liter four-in-line engine.

Standards on 2006 Reno models range from air conditioning and power windows and door locks to 15-inch steel wheels, frontal air bags and seat-mounted side air bags, a rear window defroster and a premium audio kit with eight speakers plus CD/MP3 deck. Optional equipment covers ABS with EBD, cruise control, a remote keyless entry device and a power sunroof.

Suzuki's subcompact Aerio series skews in formats of a conventional sedan or unconventional four-door hatchback. Both share a chassis, powertrain and mechanical hardware. The sedan and SX the hatch for '06 appear in a single trim loaded with standard features with either FWD orientation or Suzuki's QuadGrip all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for sticky traction on slick pavement.

Advanced frontal and side-impact air bags apply to every Aerio, as does a twin-cam 2.3-liter four-pack engine that develops 155 hp. A short-stick manual five-speed stick is the norm, but an electronic automatic four-speed transaxle is available. The cabin layout shows a pair of bucket seats in front followed by two bolstered seats sculpted into a bench and divided by a fold-down armrest. Seatbacks on both sides of the bench drop forward independently to increase the size of the rear cargo compartment. (...BACK)