2004 Suzuki Verona
03/16/2004
Shahed Hussain
The mid-size Verona sedan is the largest car sold by Suzuki. Daewoo makes the Verona for Suzuki in Korea. Suzuki positions the Verona as a value-priced competitor to the larger Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
At first glance, the Verona impresses with its understated, yet attractive exterior styling. The round quad headlamps add character to the front fascia. Crisp, creased lines give an air of sophistication to the Verona. Alloy wheels and 4-wheel disc brakes confirm that this is no base model.
The interior features nicely textured low-gloss plastics. The obviously artificial 'wood' trim along the dash, front console, and doors, detracts from the general feel of interior quality. The tested Verona had a small hole in the console 'wood' trim (near the 12V power outlet) that appeared to be a molding defect.
Heated leather seats are a surprising extra in this price range. The seats are reasonably comfortable, but lack bolstering and support. The fat leather-wrapped steering wheel has a pleasantly tactile feel. Backlit gauges are very legible at night. Rear headroom is compromised for passengers over 5'-9" due to clearance required for the sunroof. Rear legroom is adequate for those under 6 foot.
Suzuki powers the Verona with an unusual transverse-mounted 2.5L DOHC inline-6. The engine is very smooth and quiet, but it is coupled with a sluggish 4-speed automatic that is reluctant to downshift at full throttle. The transmission is slightly more responsive when shifted manually through the doglegged shift gate. The Verona will eventually move at a decent clip if one is patient. A short blast up to an indicated 110 mph revealed stable handling, with low wind and tire noise. The engine was relatively quiet at that speed.
The Verona is stable in corners, but the low tire pressure (28 PSI) specified by Suzuki prevents crisp turn-in response. Nevertheless, the Verona doesn't understeer excessively under most circumstances. The ride is well damped, and doesn't get floaty at highway speeds.
Overall, the Verona is a great value for the money. Attractive styling, a standard 6-cylinder engine, coupled with a high level of standard equipment, makes the Verona a worthwhile midsize contender.
