2004 Suzuki Verona EX TC

Vehicle Type: Mid-size Sedan
Base Price: $16,499
Price as Tested: $ 20,499

Overview:

The Verona is Suzuki’s answer to the Accord and Camry’s of the world. There are 3 models, base, LX and EX. Our test car was the top of the line EX TC. The only option on this car is Traction Control, hence the ‘TC’ It’s loaded with features and priced thousands less than it’s competitors but how does it stack up?

Scorecard:
Engine & Driveline: The main problem here is size, only 2.5 liters. The inline 6 was developed with Porsche and features dual overhead cams but its 155 hp is not enough to move the 3400- pound car with much authority. Acceleration is average at best with lots of annoying ‘gear hunting’ in the mountains. One curious feature on the Verona is a ‘Hold’ button to hold the car in one gear. The problem is that it prohibits downshifting. A simple overdrive lockout is what is needed. No manual transmission is offered on this front driver, and the automatic is a 4-speed. Most competitors are offering 5-speed autos these days. MPG estimates are 20 City and 28 Highway. Not great for such a small engine.

Ride and Handling: Ride is a strong point on the Verona. The 205/55/16 tires are mounted on attractive alloy wheels and absorb bumps better than expected, giving the car a solid feel. Because the suspension is tuned for comfort over handling there is a fair amount of body roll around corners. I noted this even on the sweeping curves of I-70 on the way to Idaho Springs. The Verona’s 4-wheel ABS Disc brakes performed well. Speed-sensitive power steering is one of the Verona’s many standard features, enabling more boost at low speeds and better ‘road feel’ at highway speeds. The overall driving experience is quite good.

Loaded with features:
Here is where the Verona really shines. For $20,000 you can’t beat the long list of standard equipment. The EX comes with leather, heated front seats, power driver seat, power sunroof, CD, remote keyless entry and heated power mirrors. Let’s not forget climate control, cruise and steering wheel mounted stereo controls. The afore-mentioned speed-sensitive steering and ABS are standard too.

Comfort and convenience:
The Verona is said to have more interior room than the Camry. It certainly is comfortable with plenty of room for 4 adults. Front and rear seats are quite comfortable. The large trunk has a low lift-over and comes with a standard power remote release. A full-size spare is standard. The rear seats fold forward for more cargo area. The interior itself is nicely designed and tastefully decorated especially the wood grained plastic and leather treatment on the center console and shift knob. Nicely done!

On the downside, some of the controls and switch gear look and feel cheap. The large round analog instrument cluster’s white faced gauges are well laid out except the fuel gauge can be a little hard to see in the upper right corner, depending on how you’ve got the wheel tilted. There seems to be a difference on the night lighting between the instrument cluster and the stereo/climate control lighting. They don’t emit the same amount of light and you can adjust them separately.

The Verona offers a good seating position and outward visibility over the low dash is good. The power driver’s seat and tilt wheel help. We did notice a fair amount of wind noise in our test car. The 6-speaker stereo sounds ok but not outstanding. It offers both Cassette and CD.

Other Considerations:
The Verona offers a ton of standard features for the money and most of it works quite well. One is tempted to give the car high marks for ‘Value’ but there is more to this equation than a long list of standard equipment. Resale value for Suzuki vehicles has been among the lowest in the industry. The industry-leading 7-year 100000-mile transferable power train warranty will calm some of those fears, but reliability and resale values are still an area of concern. What happens if you breakdown in the middle of Wyoming? Parts availability could be an issue. Kudos to Suzuki for offering the long warranty and 24/7/365 roadside assistance.

Bottom line:
Judged strictly on its merits, the Verona is a comfortable and competent car. Major drawbacks include mediocre power and relatively poor fuel economy. Will it’s low price and long list of features make a dent in this most contested class? The Verona is a good car in a class of great cars. Those on a budget should consider this car.

Tom Collins
1/19/04
tomcollinsaam@yahoo.com
www.theautoanswerman.com