Overview:
This week I jumped from a $50,000 Hummer H2 (overstated, impractical, gas guzzling super SUV) into one of the most practical of family passenger vehicles on the planet. This week I tested the 2003 Suzuki Aerio SX. I guess you could view it as a “mini-wagon”.

In spite of the fact that most men secretly want to own the H2, they would be hard pressed justifying it to mama and the kids. Of course I’m not making mama out to be the hero here, because if the truth be known and she had her way she would buy a Jaguar for her and the “Kids”. 

We all know we shouldn’t drink, smoke and chase fast women, Bill Clinton, but we are weak and fall to temptation. So, go out and buy a Jag for her and a H2 for him and forget practical cars like this Suzuki Aerio SX. Just kidding. Anyway there probably isn’t enough in the checkbook anyway, dear.

Handling & Performance:
Naturally small cars are easy to zip around town in. It was a major production to just run up to the store for a quart of milk while driving the H2. It would be easier to walk or I could take the Toyota Corolla or the Suzuki Aerio.

Styling:

The Aerio reminds me of the Pontiac Aztek that so many said was ugly. Ok so I agree it isn’t pretty but neither was the girl next door when I was a kid. I wonder what ever happened to her. She was practical, well constructed and would have been a great mom to the kids, and an unlimited warranty. I wouldn’t have noticed back then. I was into different styling. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder and it had a different meaning - then. I probably needed glasses back then and didn’t even know it.
 

Fit and Finish:
Good, like most Japanese cars tend to be.

Conveniences:
Austere – basic and boring to some, while adequate and cheap to others. Life is a series of tradeoffs, eh? My favorite saying, “Enough is abundance to the wise”, speaks volumes.

Cost:
Hard to imagine what you’d do with all the extra money by not buying that Jag or Hummer. Let’s see, the Hummer could cost as much as $112,000 so if I bought this Aerio I could bank about $100 grand. Or consider financing. Payments with 10% down, 7%, 5 years on each would be $267 on the Aerio and $1980 on the Hummer. Then there’s the consideration for repairs and operating costs. Gas consumption on the Aerio at an average of 30mpg vs. the Hummer at an average of 10mpg. You do the rest of the math and you will likely come up with a monthly cost to own the Hummer at about $2,500 and $350 for the Aerio. Pretty sizeable trade off.

Consumer Recommendation:
It is said, “A budget is something we stay within when we go without”. Only you know what you should really spend on transportation. The bus may be the best alternative. Or if you’re a health and fitness nut, buy a bicycle and save money and live long enough to spend it on other things.

The Competition: (in order of average price)
Suzuki Aerio SX $14,999, Chrysler PT Cruiser $17-26,000, Ford Focus $13-19,000, Ford Focus Wagon $17-18,000, Kia Rio Cinco $10,750, Mazda Protege5 $16,635.

Good News:
Good gas performance and priced well, great transferable power train warranty.

Bad News:
No ABS brakes, styling only a mother could love.

Standard Equipment:
2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder 145 horsepower engine, 5-speed manual transmission, power steering, alloy wheels, fog lights, power windows, locks and mirrors, rear defroster and washer wiper, air conditioning, audio with 6 speakers and 6-in dash CD changer, Cruise control, tilt wheel, 5-passenger seating, covered rear storage area, split folding rear seat, 100,000 – 7 year transferable power train warranty with courtesy vehicle program.

Gas Stats:
26 City and 32 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $14,999.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@autolove.com
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