| In January, 2004, the automotive industry arrived | | | | level wagon.The SX model has 15-inch alloy |
| at another unique plateau. For the first time, the | | | | wheels as a standard feature, but the larger |
| average price of a new car in the United States | | | | wheels are an option for the standard 14-inch |
| surpassed $30,000. Ironically, it was also only a | | | | wheels on other models. The Aerio has a spacious |
| few years ago, the same amount designated the | | | | rear cargo area and a surprisingly roomy cabin. |
| minimum amount of a luxury car.It's also likely a | | | | The car's wheelbase is only 99.6 inches, among |
| safe assumption that many car buyers still can't | | | | the shortest in the compact vehicle glass. Yet the |
| afford a $30,000 vehicle. Suppose, for example, a | | | | rear cargo area measures 63.7 cubic feet. That's |
| new car buyer has only $15,000 to spend. What's | | | | third largest to the Ford Focus Wagon (73.0) and |
| available? And what's a prudent purchase in the | | | | Chrysler PT Cruiser Wagon (64.2). All Aerois have |
| price range?One good choice is the 2006 Suzuki | | | | split rear seatbacks. They lay flat when the |
| Aerio SX. The 4-door economy wagon has a lot | | | | headrests are removed and with seat bottoms |
| to offer. With every available option, the vehicle's | | | | flipped forward.The Aerio also has above average |
| price is only slightly more than half the national | | | | steering and handling, a particularly tight turning |
| average of a new vehicle.My test drive for the | | | | circle, and its instrumentation console features |
| week was the four-cylinder, 155-horsepower | | | | clearly marked gauges and easy-to-use controls. |
| Aerio with a five-speed manual transmission. The | | | | The automatic climate controls are standard, an |
| vehicle's standard features alone warrant a long | | | | unexpected feature for the price range.The |
| look for economy shoppers: air conditioning, | | | | Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Toyota Matrix are chief |
| power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt steering wheel, | | | | rivals and all have good legacies and good value in |
| AM/FM/6-CD changer and split folding rear seats. | | | | resale markets.But the Aerio should not be |
| For the first time in 2006, Antilock brakes (ABS) | | | | overlooked as an option. With Suzuki's 7-year, |
| are standard throughout the line.But the Aerio | | | | 100,000-mile warranty, the little car with the |
| offers a lot more -- surprisingly quick acceleration | | | | unique name has more going for it than the |
| to superior cargo room, substantial head room to | | | | half-car status its price indicates.2006 Suzuki |
| an estimated 30 mpg on the freeway. | | | | Aerio, The Weekly DriverSafety features -- Dual |
| The Aerio is available in three models and with | | | | front and side impact airbags.Fuel Mileage (mpg |
| more than a dozen configurations, the base sedan | | | | estimates) -- 25 (city), 31 (highway).Warranty -- |
| ($13,999) to the SX with All-Wheel-Drive and a | | | | Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; |
| premium option package ($16,999).My vehicle | | | | Powertrain, 7 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 3 |
| featured the nice exterior color of Tech Blue | | | | years/unlimited mileage; Road side assistance, 3 |
| Metallic, complemented by a black cloth interior | | | | years/36,000 miles.Price range -- $15,199.00James |
| with a silver-toned instrument console. The car | | | | Raia ia s freelance writer, author and publisher in |
| zipped around town, shifted smoothly and had a | | | | Sacramento, Calif. |
| little "attitude" despite its lowly status an entry | | | | |