That's a lot of negatives, but there are some positives that need to be highlighted. First, the freeway ride is fairly quiet and relaxing. The seating position is superior and the initial acceleration is good. The trunk is usable and there is adequate rear seat room. Of course, there are a significant number of other pluses. You get an inline six where the competition offers a four-cylinder power plant, four-wheel disc brakes, and it is a nice looking car, too.
Overall, the Verona is an attractively priced for a compact sized vehicle, but I would opt for the upscale EX you have automatic climate control, larger wheels, a six-cylinder engine, and the recommended antilock brakes. The top of the model line EX, which was our test vehicle, had a power sunroof, heated leather seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-way adjustable power driver seat. However, it costs five thousand dollars more than the base model.
In terms of safety, the Verona offers daylight running lights, a 34.8 feet turning circle, a Toyota Camry sized heft, and dual front airbags. I would have liked side airbags, especially in a new model such as this.
Dad's view: One way or the other you are going to pay and buying the Verona is a classic case. The price is great, but the resale isn't. For example, the very usable Aerio loses nearly 50 percent of its value in two years. This is despite the fact that the Suzuki warranty is transferable, something that not all manufacturers offer.
Driving the Verona is interesting. It truly has two characters. When cold the four-speed automatic transmission isn't smooth and you get a lumpy ride going downhill waiting for the car to warm up. Once online, the 155-horsepower inline six-cylinder, transverse-mounted engine is responsive. The unit is all-aluminum, with dual-overhead cams, 24-valves, and 177 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. You get the best acceleration at low speeds. So around town or when cruising everything is fine. When you need more speed, cornering, or stopping power you soon realize where Suzuki saved money. The transmission is slow to downshift, the engine suddenly feels like a four cylinder, and the ride is cushy. For me this is a good car if you want basic transportation and comfortable is more important than performance.
Young working male's view: Not a bad looking car and it has plenty of room in front. The storage areas in the center console, glove compartment, and doors were fine. I got about 24 in mixed driving on unleaded regular and was satisfied. The only item that significantly bothered me, outside of the languid acceleration, was the shift gate that made it difficult to get the car into reverse. It reminded me of the old Jaguar shift gate in that you had to move the lever both to the side and down to reach the reverse notch. I liked the Verona, but I had to keep reminding myself of the price when it came to the spirited driving I prefer. In fact, for the same money I would opt for the Suzuki Aerio which has more power, more room, and is more fun to drive while costing nearly the same. Of course, it borders on weird looking whereas the Verona is simply non-offensive.