New Car Review of the 2006 Suzuki Aerio Compact Economy Sedan and Wagon

Base MSRP Range: $13,999 - $16,999

Base Invoice Range: $13,439 - $16,319

MSRP As Tested: $15,079

Versions: Base, SX

Vehicle Category: Compact Economy Sedan and Wagon

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive,All-Wheel Drive.

Standard Engine: 2.3-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 155 -horsepower at 5400 rpm and 152 lb-ft torque at 3000 rpm.

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 25/31.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Five-speed manual.

Standard Safety Features: Dual front airbags, Front side airbags, ">Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, Daytime running lights, Emergency inside trunk release.

Competition: Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Toyota Matrix.

My wife drives a 10-year-old Nissan Altima that still has the original shocks, and they're starting to make a wretched, squeaky, squishing sound every time you hit a bump.

You'll be driving along, minding your own business, when you hit a speedbump and hear the old shocks squeal like they ran into a mugger in a dark alley -- "CREECH!" -- before they gain their composure and drive silently along, like nothing ever happened.

It's time for new shocks.

Why am I mentioning this lapse in maintenance? Because the 2006 Suzuki Aerio I tested came with shocks that sounded exactly the same. That's not a good sign.

Granted, this Aerio was a member of Suzuki's press fleet and had seen more than 7,000 hard, auto-journalist miles in which we wannabe race drivers flogged it as hard as we could to test its limits. After that, you'd expect it to have a lot more wear and tear than the Buick your grandma uses to drive to church once a week.

Still, it's not encouraging to have a new car with 7,000 miles that sounds precisely like a decade-old car with 70,000 on the odometer.

It lacks refinement in other areas, too, like the cheap-feeling, clunky plastics that cover the dash and poor handling with too much body roll.

The only question is whether you'd rather have cash in the bank or a more refined car, because the Aerio is a darn good buy. It starts around $14,000 for the sedan and $14,500 for the SUV-like SX version.

Both body styles offer a lot of space for the money, with a front seat that's almost as roomy as a mid-size family car and a back seat that's perfectly livable. It's more comfortable than most cars in its price range.

While the Aerio sedan looks like a dull, run-of-the-mill family car, the SX seems to have a totally different personality. It looks spunky, youthful and very Japanese with a body that's shaped like a shrunken minivan, and I heard more compliments about its looks than I usually do about an inexpensive economy car.

A 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine -- the only one available for the Aerio -- feels surprisingly peppy with 155 horsepower, enough to have a little fun and zip around in city traffic with ease. It's a good match for both the standard five-speed transmission and the four-speed automatic.

Driving at highway speeds isn't exactly quiet, but it's not unbearable, either. The suspension transmits quite a bit of noise into the cabin and 18-wheelers sound a tad scary when you pass them, but it's not bad for a commute. You just wouldn't want to spend 10 hours on the Interstate in this car.

Best of all, even the base models come with a good level of standard equipment, including automatic climate control and a CD player with MP3 capability. Other standard features include power windows, locks and mirrors, keyless entry, a rear spoiler, tilt wheel and outside temperature gauge. That's a lot for the money.

For people who need good traction in the winter, the Aerio is the cheapest all-wheel-drive car on the market for about $2,000 more than a basic, front-wheel-drive version.

All in all, the Aerio offers a lot of car for the money, but it doesn't have the kind of refinement you'd expect from, say, a Honda or Toyota -- or even a Nissan. Whether you buy one should depend on how picky you are and how much you're willing to pay for little things.

Things like decent shocks.

Pros: You get a lot of car for the money. It has a roomy cabin and lots of standard features starting around $14,000, and it's the cheapest all-wheel-drive car you can buy.

Cons: It's not nearly as refined as most new cars. The interior feels cheap, handling is poor and it lacks an overall feeling of quality.

Ratings (1-10)

• Style: 6
• Performance: 6
• Price: 10
• Handling: 3
• Ride: 4
• Comfort: 6
• Quality: 3
• Overall: 5

More Data

Where Built: Japan

Major Options: No factory options. Options available as dealer-installed accessories.

Seating: 5

Number of Rows: 2

Length in Inches: 166.5 - 171.3

Warranties: 3 years/36,000 miles Bumper to bumper, 7 years/ 100,000 miles Extended powertrain, 3 years/unlimited miles Corrosion protection, 3 years / 36,000 miles Free roadside assistance.

Weight in Pounds: 2689 - 2661 lbs.

Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not available.

Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: Not available.

Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not available.

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 13.2

Destination Charge: $580