Suzuki Reno / Forenza
The Suzuki Reno and Forenza were rebadged Daewoo products marketed under the Suzuki brand after Daewoo pulled out of the US car market in 2002, together with the Suzuki Verona/Daewoo Evanda. This helped Suzuki to quickly and cheaply broaden their US line-up with compact and mid-sized cars, but the low quality and reliability of the South-Korean products ended up hurting the image of the Suzuki brand in North America, and was one of the reasons for the brand’s pullback from the market. These statistics include sales data of the Suzuki Forenza sedan and station wagon and of the Reno hatchback.
Suzuki Reno / Forenza Overview
The Suzuki Reno and Suzuki Forenza were compact cars sold in the U.S. market during the 2000s. They were part of Suzuki’s collaboration with the South Korean automaker Daewoo. While branded and sold under the Suzuki nameplate in the United States, the Reno and Forenza were essentially rebadged versions of Daewoo cars, a result of General Motors’ stake in both Daewoo and Suzuki at the time. The vehicles were manufactured by GM Daewoo (now GM Korea).
The Forenza was available both as a sedan and a wagon. It was essentially a rebadged version of the Daewoo Lacetti. The Reno was a 5-door hatchback variant and was essentially the hatchback version of the Forenza. It closely resembled the Daewoo Lacetti hatchback. Both the Reno and Forenza were powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four engine. They were available with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Both models were marketed as affordable, entry-level vehicles. Their interiors and features reflected a focus on value and practicality. Even the base models came with a decent level of standard equipment, including power windows, power locks, and air conditioning.
Both the Reno and Forenza received criticism for their relatively lackluster driving dynamics and the quality of their interiors. However, their affordability and the inclusion of standard features made them attractive options for budget-conscious buyers. Reliability and build quality were areas of concern for some owners, especially when compared to rivals in the same segment.
Suzuki Reno / Forenza Sales Figures
The Suzuki Reno and Forenza represented an attempt by Suzuki to strengthen its presence in the U.S. compact car market through collaboration with Daewoo. While they offered value in terms of affordability and standard features, they didn’t particularly stand out in terms of performance, driving dynamics, or build quality when compared to competitors. Their presence in the U.S. market was relatively short-lived, and Suzuki eventually ceased its car sales operations in the U.S. in 2012.
Suzuki Reno / Forenza U.S Sales Data & Charts
US Annual Sales
| Year | Sales Units |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 633 |
| 2004 | 24,796 |
| 2005 | 41,394 |
| 2006 | 48,579 |
| 2007 | 42,113 |
| 2008 | 20,796 |
| 2009 | 3,769 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 1 |
