The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Suzuki has made quite a name for itself building sturdy, inexpensive sport utility vehicles.

Most car buyers don’t realize that Suzuki builds a small car called the Esteem.

That’s why the Esteem, which evidently doesn’t merit any in buyer’s eyes, is being replaced by the new Aerio. The Aerio is being sent into battle against some formidable competition, including the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, three cars that do a great job of offering economic transport.

The Italian-designed Aerio follows the small car formula as does its competition. Slightly taller and longer than the Esteem, the Aerio is available as a sedan (in S and GS trim levels) and a fully-trimmed wagon called the SX.

This test covers the sedan. The car’s styling seems a bit more expressive than the Esteem, with slab sides and jewel-like lamp lenses, giving the car a decidedly up-to-date look.

The drivetrain also follows the industry standard. It’s front-wheel-drive, with a 2-liter double-overhead-cam in-line four-cylinder engine. The engine makes 141 horsepower at 5,700 rpm. The power comes on strong in the high revs, making the five-speed manual transmission the obvious choice over the four-speed automatic.

Nevertheless, power is surprisingly strong, with more horsepower than the Aerio’s more popular competition. Handling is typical of the breed, with a firm ride and some body lean as speed approaches anything challenging. The engine gets louder as speed builds and road noise filters in, again, typical of the breed.

It won’t set you into fits of ecstasy, but as a small commuter car or second car, the Aerio would serve admirably.

If you’re safety-conscious, look elsewhere. Side air-bags are not available. Anti-lock brakes are optional, however, to augment the power front disc/rear drum brakes.

The interior is roomy, with chair-height seating. Interior materials are durable, although strictly in keeping with the price of the car. Suzuki does its best to dress up the dash with simulated aluminum trim accents. It helps.

The most unusual part of the dash is the wedge-shaped instrument cluster, which squeezes a mess of gauges into a tiny space. This digital readout is a triumph of form over function, although it looks really different.

The 14.5 cubic-foot trunk is surprisingly roomy for the class, just like the interior.

It adds up to a conservative, stylish package at a very affordable price.

The test car came equipped with an automatic transmission and ABS. The $15,999 base price included air-conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/CD stereo, tilt wheel, split folding rear seats, driver’s seat height adjuster, alloy wheels, fog lamps, power windows, power locks and power mirrors. The only option was floor mats for $75.

That’s quite a value in the small car arena, something in which Suzuki excels. Any buyer looking for a smal l car will view the Aerio with some esteem.