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2003
Suzuki Aerio

Starts at:
$13,499
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New 2003 Suzuki Aerio
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn S 2.0L Manual
    Starts at
    $13,499
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn S 2.0L Auto
    Starts at
    $14,499
    26 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Manual
    Starts at
    $14,699
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Manual
    Starts at
    $14,999
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Manual w/ABS
    Starts at
    $15,199
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Manual w/ABS
    Starts at
    $15,499
    26 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Auto
    Starts at
    $15,699
    26 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Auto
    Starts at
    $15,999
    26 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Auto w/ABS
    Starts at
    $16,199
    26 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Auto w/ABS
    Starts at
    $16,499
    26 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Auto AWD
    Starts at
    $16,699
    24 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Auto AWD
    Starts at
    $16,999
    24 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS 2.0L Auto AWD w/ABS
    Starts at
    $17,199
    24 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SX 2.0L Auto AWD w/ABS
    Starts at
    $17,499
    24 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio 2003 Suzuki Aerio

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Expert 2003 Suzuki Aerio review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

A Quick Ray of Sunshine
2003 Suzuki Aerio SX

It came in the midst of a reluctant spring, when the calendar said fair weather but the gray day and slow rain said something else.

It was a racy red 2003 Suzuki Aerio SX, a small station wagon with an SUV’s swagger and a sports car’s soul. That explains the SX part of the Aerio wagon’s name. It means “sport crossover.”

There were other test vehicles in the driveway — a desert-gold Chrysler Pacifica of mixed identity — part minivan, part wagon, part SUV — and a totally plush Toyota Sienna minivan of similar hue.

There also was the black-on-black Jaguar XK-R convertible I had driven a few days earlier before spring turned fickle, withdrew its sun, and dumped thoughts of love and romance into a cold shower. Looking at it through my picture window, with the background music of water flowing through house gutters, was disconcerting.

I had to go into the city. I took the Aerio, and I liked it so much I drove it the rest of the week.

The Aerio is a swift, gutsy, exceptionally agile little wagon — an urban street fighter if ever there was one. It easily slips in and out of tight creases in city traffic, and it’s equally adept at fitting into legal, minuscule parking spaces on city streets.

But its practical virtues aren’t its strongest selling points. People expect small cars to be practical, sensible, which is why those who buy small cars buy them.

Yet, small cars do not sell well, not even when gasoline prices are rising, war is raging and the national economy is heading south. Practicality doesn’t speak to the heart, stir the soul. It’s a gray suit in a world desiring pastel colors.

Thus, the composite goodness of the little Aerio SX is that it’s willing to carry you and your stuff, save you money at the dealership and the gas pump — and give you one heck of a good time.

The latter attribute is derived from some old-school alchemy — stuffing a relatively powerful engine, 140 horsepower in this case, into a tiny, lightweight body. The Aerio SX, available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive, has a short wheelbase, 97.6 inches. The tested front-wheel-drive version of the wagon, equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, weighs 2,630 pounds.

Of course, it isn’t enough to have a hot-to-trot engine to make a fun car. A well-balanced suspension helps, and the Aerio SX has one. It includes independent MacPherson struts with coil springs and stabilizer bars front and rear, with lower control arms up front. Fifteen-inch-diameter wheels complete the handling package.

It is a refreshing little car, very pleasant road company in good weather and bad.

2003 Suzuki Aerio review: Our expert's take
By

A Quick Ray of Sunshine
2003 Suzuki Aerio SX

It came in the midst of a reluctant spring, when the calendar said fair weather but the gray day and slow rain said something else.

It was a racy red 2003 Suzuki Aerio SX, a small station wagon with an SUV’s swagger and a sports car’s soul. That explains the SX part of the Aerio wagon’s name. It means “sport crossover.”

There were other test vehicles in the driveway — a desert-gold Chrysler Pacifica of mixed identity — part minivan, part wagon, part SUV — and a totally plush Toyota Sienna minivan of similar hue.

There also was the black-on-black Jaguar XK-R convertible I had driven a few days earlier before spring turned fickle, withdrew its sun, and dumped thoughts of love and romance into a cold shower. Looking at it through my picture window, with the background music of water flowing through house gutters, was disconcerting.

I had to go into the city. I took the Aerio, and I liked it so much I drove it the rest of the week.

The Aerio is a swift, gutsy, exceptionally agile little wagon — an urban street fighter if ever there was one. It easily slips in and out of tight creases in city traffic, and it’s equally adept at fitting into legal, minuscule parking spaces on city streets.

But its practical virtues aren’t its strongest selling points. People expect small cars to be practical, sensible, which is why those who buy small cars buy them.

Yet, small cars do not sell well, not even when gasoline prices are rising, war is raging and the national economy is heading south. Practicality doesn’t speak to the heart, stir the soul. It’s a gray suit in a world desiring pastel colors.

Thus, the composite goodness of the little Aerio SX is that it’s willing to carry you and your stuff, save you money at the dealership and the gas pump — and give you one heck of a good time.

The latter attribute is derived from some old-school alchemy — stuffing a relatively powerful engine, 140 horsepower in this case, into a tiny, lightweight body. The Aerio SX, available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive, has a short wheelbase, 97.6 inches. The tested front-wheel-drive version of the wagon, equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, weighs 2,630 pounds.

Of course, it isn’t enough to have a hot-to-trot engine to make a fun car. A well-balanced suspension helps, and the Aerio SX has one. It includes independent MacPherson struts with coil springs and stabilizer bars front and rear, with lower control arms up front. Fifteen-inch-diameter wheels complete the handling package.

It is a refreshing little car, very pleasant road company in good weather and bad.

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
3 years
Powertrain
7 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Consumer reviews

3.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 3.6
Performance 3.5
Value 3.9
Exterior 3.7
Reliability 3.6

Most recent

  • Expensive upkee

    Brand new tires on all 4, less then 2months later the rear tires were bald, 1 with the steel coming through..... Periodically dies , quite often with violent jerkiness,for lack of a better word
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 2.0
    0 people out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Very smooth and reliable

    Have had the car for awhile now and haven’t ran into any issues and it’s smooth , clean and great on gas. Service engine soon light came while on a road trip but I just disconnected the battery and reconnected and it went away. Great car
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • 12,000 KM in 3 weeks and 35 states.

    I bought this car because I was commuting 400km each way from my home in Kelowna BC down to Vancouver every week. My previous car, after 214,000 thousand km, blew a cylinder on the way to Kelowna, and the time had come to finally relax that. aFinally the day came when I had to remove that The drive included driving over two mountain passes, one almost 11,000 feet, in which a snap blizzard could happen. I did this in the Suzuki fri almost a year. Never had one single problem. We moved down to the coast in 2003, and in 2005, my 15 year old son and I took a Discover America 2005 road trip. Starting in Vancouver, Seattle, Boise, Vegas, Santa Fe, San Antonio, New Orleans, Florida, Savannah, DC, NYC, Boston, Smoky Mountains, Mephistopheles, Nashville, Denver then home. Almost 12,000 km in 3 weeks, 35 states. The car was ah-mazing. Not a single problem, AC worked like a charm, comfortable ride, fast enough, handles well, and we saw only one other Aerio on the entire trip, and that was in Seattle, a day from home. I loved that Aerio so much that I traded up for a 2005, with the reimagined dash, bigger motor and AWD. It was if I had pimped out my old car. The 2005 Aerio was even more awesome, although I didn’t need to commute anymore, and no more road trips, it was big enough with a great back seat to handle all five of us, with 3 large 20 somethings sharing the back seat. Traction was amazing, but when I had to buy new tires, I got these asymmetrical tread tires Nokia WX something. They were warranted until 100,000 Km. And are considered snow tires if you got stopped in the mountains. These things made that little Suzuki literally into the Sherpa of cars. One block over is a street with about a 10% grade that if there’s a whiff of snow the city barricades the road. I drove around those little barricades, gunned the car....and without any wheel slip! headed up that hill. Two of the best cars I’ve ever owned.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • I purchased my beloved Aerio, Jet, in 2003.

    This little car suited me to a T. Loved the way it performed until I got it paid for. Soon thereafter the ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON MORE THAN IT STAYED OFF. Countless times I took it to the dealership for this problem. I spent money on it continuously. Finally in 2013 it the engine started cutting off while driving. I was terrified. Found out the COMPUTER had died in it. Couldn't be fixed. Scrap yard gave me $113.00 for it. I cried...
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 2.0
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  • Was a very reliable car, until timing chain broke.

    Good, reliable transportation for comuting to and from work. Good gas saver ..lots of leg room and room for 5 to 6 people for travel.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
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  • Aerio review

    I currently own this vehicle. If they still made them, I would purchase another. I have had very few problems with this vehicle.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
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  • Amazing car

    After test-driving a slew of "competitors", which all disappointed me, I purchased my yellow Aerio SX in July 2002. Twelve years later I still enjoy driving this very-well-designed versatile vehicle. It's driven through every Indiana season (-20 this past winter, 105 two summers ago), across the Appalachian Mountains, down to New Orleans, around Chicago. Easy to drive & park, great steering, great road-feel, great visibility, peppy, easy to get in-and-out-of, lots of passenger room (high headroom!), comfortable seats (most cars' seats give me back-aches, but not my Aerio), excellent AC and heating, tons of storage (my lawn-mower fits in the SX, without folding the handle). I love the giant speedometer numbers (only car where I don't need to take my mind off the road to know what speed I'm going). A few laments: no sun-roof, and hard to find tires (but they are find-able). My wife later purchased a Subaru Forester, which is NOT as good as my Aerio in several ways (but the Forester does have heated seats and AWD). Even this past summer, strangers have come to me and asked "How do you like your new Honda Fit"?, and they're dumbfounded when I tell them it's a 12-year-old Suzuki Aerio SX, which they've never heard of.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • Mostly Love It

    I've had my Aerio for 117,000 miles. Other than routine maintenance, I've never had to do anything to this car. I was even rear-ended on the freeway a couple years ago, totaling an expensive Mazda, and I had only minor cosmetic damage. The car has good power, wonderful visibility and interior space and lots of nice features. The only two things I don't like much would be handling in the wind (high roof, lightweight car, narrow body) and the black interior. But I've taken this car literally all over the country in all different seasons. This car has taken a real beating at my hands. And it has behaved so well I'm finally going to go invest about $1K in a new exhaust system because I think the old girl is actually worth the investment. Everything else is still running great. A very durable little car...
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
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  • Worst car ever

    At first I loved my car. But in three years I have had 4 transmissions. 5th gear keeps popping out and Suzuki does not have a clue how to fix it, they have tried several different things with zero success. And now that my warranty is done they do not want to take responsibility at all. The car rattles and shakes, the oil is always way to low too soon. I have learned to service my car 1000 km sooner otherwise I'll be on empty. It dents and dings so easily it's like driving a car made out of tinfoil. I do not recommend this car at all!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 2.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 1.0
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  • Very good car, except for one thing ...

    I've got 66,000 miles on my 2003 Aerio crossover, and overall it's a very good car. Fun to drive, handles well, smooth ride for a small car, has adequate pickup, excellent all-wheel drive, etc. My reason for this review is to warn you about one thing: at 63,000 miles the engine started sputtering and stalling out. I took the car to the dealer, and was told that the "mass air flow sensor" had falied, and that the only way to fix the problem was to buy a new "throttle body chamber" on which the sensor was installed. The cost to fix this problem was about $1,200, and since then the car has worked fine. The place from which I bought the part (the dealer sent me there to save me some money) said that I wasn't the only Aerio owner with this problem. This is the only expensive repair I've had for this car, and I would still buy another one (now it's called the SX4). However, I'd also look at the Subaru Impreza.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 4.0
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  • Loved My Little Aerio!

    I purchased my 2003 Aerio in spring 2004 and drove it until January 2010 when it was completely crushed and totalled by a semi truck. Before my car was "killed" I never had any issues! When I bought the car it only had 30,000 miles on it and had around 250,000 when it "died". I was ROUGH on this car and really didn't take as good of care of it as I should have but it never gave me any issues as a result. This car is 100% reliable and I would reccomend it to anyone. It is a steal for the money! I'm now looking for a Suzuki SX4 to replace my Aerio because it is suppose to be its replacement or upgrade.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • CUTE CAR FOR GREAT PRICE!

    This car is Great fun. This is my First car and I'm in love with it! I get Great gas mileage and a smooth drive. The Car has a Great sound system. I read the reviews on here and was scared to buy it but I love it and glad I went and got it! For the Money it is a great Car! perfect for any first car!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2003 Suzuki Aerio?

The 2003 Suzuki Aerio is available in 3 trim levels:

  • GS (6 styles)
  • S (2 styles)
  • SX (6 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2003 Suzuki Aerio?

The 2003 Suzuki Aerio offers up to 26 MPG in city driving and 32 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2003 Suzuki Aerio reliable?

The 2003 Suzuki Aerio has an average reliability rating of 3.6 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2003 Suzuki Aerio owners.

Is the 2003 Suzuki Aerio a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2003 Suzuki Aerio. 68.2% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

3.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.0
  • Interior: 3.6
  • Performance: 3.5
  • Value: 3.9
  • Exterior: 3.7
  • Reliability: 3.6
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