Memo to Honda and Toyota from Suzuki: Guard your flanks of Accord and Camry owners. Verona has entered the turf war for sedan buyers.
The all-new Verona is built and equipped to compete strongly against top-sellers Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. These are two big names with established credibility for dependability and value. So when a newcomer like the Verona enters the fray, it better be buffed for the slugfest.
After a test drive, I came away with the impression that Suzuki is well prepared to come up against these two Japanese titans. There are several reasons: First is style, second is substance, and third is value.
The Suzuki Verona looks like it belongs in the class of contenders for midsize sedan shoppers. The styling is played safe — in the middle of the road — but it is visually pleasing without being bland. The bodylines are sleek and dynamic; the chrome grille is sporty, anchored by jewel-type headlamps and punctuated by front fender flares for an aerodynamic appearance. Verona is available in three trims: Base model S, the midlevel LX and the top-of-the-line EX.
I was seated behind the wheel of the EX when the thought crossed my mind that Suzuki took a design cue from Honda by incorporating the “greenhouse” look. The steeply raked windshield flowed to the well-raked rear window and all around the passenger-side windows. Visibility is one of the strong elements in the Verona. For drivers who want to use this sedan for their active, recreational lifestyles, the Verona comes with built-in roof-rack slots that allow for carrying snowboards, kayaks or bikes.
Substance is under the hood. Suzuki built its sedan with an inline six-cylinder engine that is the basis for a smooth, quiet ride. Verona models come with an all-aluminum, 24-valve dual-overhead-cam, 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 177 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. It is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission featuring an adaptive shift control that studies the operator’s driving behavior and adapts shift patterns to optimize performance.
The front-wheel-drive Verona offers a smooth, vibration-free, quiet ride made possible by the inline six and a sophisticated suspension system.
The Verona has MacPherson struts in the front, as well as an anti-sway bar that keeps the car flat during cornering. During my drive, the speed-sensitive steering provided an on-center feel that allowed me to feel in command of the car.
For safety, Verona comes equipped with four-wheel disc brakes and anti-lock brakes on the LX and EX models. Traction control is optional on the EX.
On the inside, the Verona is a roomy five-passenger sedan with lots of amenities as standard equipment, which I found surprising for a vehicle priced just over $15,000. All Verona trims come with power windows, door locks, heated mirrors, keyless entry, an in-dash CD player, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter.
The Verona EX tester, priced at $19,499, included leather seats, eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, fog lamps and a power tilt/slide sunroof.
As for value, the Suzuki Verona buyer will get a well-styled, midsize sedan with a six-cylinder engine starting at $16,499. The LX is offered at $17,799. The Verona comes with a 100,000-mile/seven-year powertrain warranty that is transferable to succeeding owners. Style, substance, value. Suzuki has hit all the high notes for in a practical four-door sedan.
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