So I ended up driving off the Suzuki lot with a soiled fastback, and a bitter taste in my mouth due to this particular Suzuki dealer's pitiful customer service (to put it nicely). What's more, this is the second incident with this woman in three weeks (the first time she was merely rude and nothing was wrong with the car other than it not being there when I was told it would be). Dealers should keep in mind that when people purchase a car, they buy more than a hunk of metal and plastic with wheels. They buy a total package that includes service.
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| Is the Aerio good enough to stand out in a world of Hondas and Toyotas, not to mention Mazdas and Mitsubishis? (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
While it would be fun to say that the Aerio is a "crappy" car best left to the birds, it clearly isn't. But is it good enough to stand out in a world of Hondas and Toyotas, not to mention Mazdas and Mitsubishis? That depends on what you're looking for. Driving dynamics? Honestly, I found nothing that alluring about it. It got me around town, the seats were comfortable and all the controls were where they needed to be and worked without problem. The suspension is not too hard or soft, so it delivered a pretty smooth ride, but overall it didn't amaze me. The steering wheel is comfortable to grip, much like that in its sibling Swift+.
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| The suspension is not too hard or soft, so it delivered a pretty smooth ride, while the 4-speed automatic transmission is simplistic, yet capable. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
Its 4-speed automatic transmission is a simplistic affair, but it worked well, shifting when needed without much commotion. I had no problems when gearing down to second on hills because it featured a straight PRD32 gearbox unlike the gated gearbox in the Swift+ that I found a bit confusing. Personally I would have preferred the vehicle's standard 5-speed manual but then I wouldn't have been able to try out the all-wheel drive version - an auto gearbox comes standard with this drivetrain.
How was it? Fine, I suppose. I didn't really have a chance to head up to the ski hill to see how it handles in the ice and snow, but it made haste in rainy conditions without breaking a sweat, so my guess is it will do better than front-wheel drive when outside temperatures drop below zero.