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Suzuki’s newest Aerio reflects one of the hottest trends in the compact segment: tall-roofed vehicles that package a spacious interior into a vehicle with a fairly small overall footprint.

Styling is a cross between a mini-SUV and a street fighter, with a deep front spoiler and body side sills. Some older customers might think the styling is a bit much, but the younger buyers to whom it is aimed won’t necessarily share that view.

The Aerio, with a 97.6-inch wheelbase, is slightly smaller than the Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus and Pontiac Vibe, for example, but conceptually it is much the same. There are two models, the Aerio sedan and the Aerio SX, a “sport crossover” in Suzuki’s parlance. The sedan has two trim levels, but the SX, priced at $14,999, comes loaded with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, AM/FM/CD player, cruise control, tilt steering wheel and anti-lock brakes.

In the case of the Aerio SX, which seems like the more practical of the two, the styling is reminiscent of a tiny minivan, a look that is quite popular in Europe and Japan. The SX is effectively a station wagon whose interior is as functional and versatile as a small SUV. The wide tailgate pivots up to reveal a nice-sized cargo space. With the seats folded down, the SX can swallow a generous amount of gear. Folding the back seat, however, requires tipping the bottom seat cushion forward and removing the headrest from the seatback. For ease of use, I prefer rear seats that fold forward in one easy motion.

The rear seat has a center armrest with cupholders built in, and child safety seat tethers are standard. No side airbags are available.

Two storage bins, one under the front passenger seat and one under the cargo floor, provide space to hide small items from prying eyes. A removable cargo cover is standard, as well. One of the benefits of a tall roofline is an upright seating position that makes getting in and out easy. There is no shortage of headroom, either.

The instrument panel is attractively designed, but the digital instrument readouts are crowded into a tiny eyebrow-shaped window. The speedometer is big enough, but the secondary gauges are pretty small. The rest of the instrument panel is dominated by controls for the stereo and HVAC.

The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels puts out 141 horsepower, enough for reasonably brisk performance in a vehicle that weighs 2,668 pounds. With four valves per cylinder and dual-overhead cams, this engine is energetic and yet fairly thrifty. It is rated at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway. Total horsepower is adequate, but a bit more midrange torque for pulling up hills or passing slower cars would be welcome.

The five-speed manual transmission is quite easy to shift, but the linkage could profit from a more substantive feel. Of course, an automatic is also offered.

The SX is the kind of vehicle that makes sense for active people who like to carry bikes, camping gear or simply want the ability to carry home a TV from the discount store.

Price
The base price of the test vehicle was $14,999. Floor mats were the only option, and that brought the sticker price to $15,574 with freight.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: The Suzuki Aerio SX packs a good amount of interior space into a small package, courtesy of a tall roof and fairly upright seating. It has sporty looks yet is as functional as a mini-SUV when it comes to cargo. The price is right and it sips fuel.

Counterpoint: The digital instruments are crowded into a small space, it needs better sound deadening and the engine would profit from more midrange torque.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.0-liter, 141-hp 4-cyl.
Transmission: Five-speed Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 97.6 inches
Curb weight: 2,668 lbs.
Base price: $14,999
As driven: $15,574
Mpg rating: 26 city, 32 hwy.
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