Above and parallel to attractive color-keyed side moldings with chrome inserts the Verona's waistline creases in varying degrees across its profile, passing through a set of chromed door handles on each side before melding into the rear bodywork. The rear styling follows the same graceful motif as the front, with a steeply raked rear window tapering onto a fairly tall decklid. The taillights are triangular in shape, currently a common styling theme but in this case very well executed. While not as bold as Nissan's Altima its overall styling theme is also not as bread and butter as Ford's Taurus. The Verona is an inoffensive design that should strike a chord with up-and-coming professionals and young families alike.
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| From what was seen at the auto show, the Verona looks roomy and comfortable. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The new sedan seats five adults, with a back seat that is surprisingly roomy. Of course if it was any other brand I wouldn't have been surprised, but it's a Suzuki car no less. Normally only their SUVs have this much room. To be specific the new sedan is wider than the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima and offers more front legroom than the Camry and more rear legroom than both the Altima and Accord. Visibility seems good too, as far as I could tell from looking around inside while it sat on its auto show stand.
While some of its measurements are larger than the top selling Japanese competitors how will it perform on the road? At 2.5-liters in displacement the Verona's 24-valve, DOHC inline 6-cylinder engine produces only 155-hp. First of all there's nothing wrong with 155-hp. My 1990 BMW 525i had only slightly more and I made out OK. But compared to the cars in the midsize class that Suzuki chose to compare its interior volume with, it comes up extremely shy. For instance, the Toyota Camry's base 4-cylinder sports 157-hp while Honda's Accord produces 160. The Altima leads all with 175-hp.
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| Although lacking in horsepower, the Verona is more comparable to others in its class when it come to torque. (Photo: Suzuki) |
But compare the Verona's standard 177 lb-ft of torque and things take a slightly different turn. While the Altima still maintains its top position with 180 lb-ft, the Camry only offers 163 and the Honda even less with 161 lb-ft of torque. Of course I'm comparing 4-cylinder power with the Suzuki's V6. As soon as the competiting V6 engines are factored in all is forgotten, with the Camry recently upgraded from 192-hp and 209 lb-ft of torque to 210 and 220 respectively, the Accord at 240-hp and 211 lb-ft, and the Altima stomping all over everyone's parade with 245-hp and 246 lb-ft of torque.