1.8 L engine, Japanese engineering, good as Toyota and Honda but a lot less expensive. Durable vehicle...

Base model does not have goodies like power windows, locks, things like that. But who needs it...

I have shopped around for American and Japanese vehicles. Suzuki came along as the best value for the buck. Thank GOD. I have both the sedan and the wagon. Try it out for yourself! Look price matters in this economy! Why should we pay more?

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Honda Civic, CRV, Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan, and Hyundai.

Great car, trouble free

N/A

This is the most reliable, trouble-free car I have ever owned. Runs excellent, gets great mileage (over 40 mpg) and has a lot more room than you would expect!

Mileage build quality reliability speed

noise dated control placement not a completely flat cargo floor the most antiquated cup holders on the planet.

I have put over 60k on my Esteem wagon since new last year and it has been flawless. The Esteem is not a flawless design, it is rather dated compared to the competition ie Focus. The Focus is a much smoother more fluid handler and a package more people would probably be happier with. The Suzuki has less sophisticated handling and it's switchgear placement is strictly late '80s. It is noisier than the Focus. However, the Suzuki is an extremely honest design. The seats are non spectacular but I can drive for 11 or 12 hours in a day and not get uncomfortable. I found my right leg getting sore after 1 hour in the Focus. I bought the Suzuki because I hoped it would be extremely reliable and give good gas mileage. Double check on both counts. Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing has gone wrong with the car. Being out in the country, I get around 45mpg (Imperial gallon, ie around 36 mpg US). The Focus I rented got in the mid-30s. It was an automatic but that still was not very good. I drive it over washboard dirt roads and it still is rattle free. The paint is chipping more than I would like but seeing it is getting hit by stones, I really can't complain. The car goes like stink if you wind it out. Incredibly, you can't get power windows or locks unless you get the automatic. Hello Suzuki!! This car is what it appears to be and I am looking forward to many years of use. I would expect to get over 300k (kilometers) from the little beast with very little grief. I use synthetic oil and it is great but I made the mistake of putting it in after 3000km instead of waiting for 10k or so. I wanted it in for a long trip. I think the motor took untill 40k to break in. I change the oil every 10k with the 100% synthetic. Despite night time temperatures of minus 35, I have never had to plug in any car I have used synthetic oil in. The Esteem may not be the prettiest girl at the dance but you can live with her for a long time and she will get the job done without complaints. I understand they are dumping the Esteem wagons now in here in Canada for the equivalent of $8500US. This is simply a great deal

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Focus Subaru Legacy and Loyalle Golf Civic

Maintains the Estimated MPG from when it was new even with over 60k on it. Would Like more after market parts for it. So far the only this I have seen is a NOS system for it.

No after market sports upgrades. Interior to dark for the arizona desert.

I have owned this Great little car for a little over a year. Bought it used with 56,000 and now have over 75,000. Even though it looks like a Grandma car ,but drive like a bat outta hadesZippy at the lights and maintans speed without a lot of engine noise. Trunk has more than enough room for luggage or what ever you might need to carry in it. May look overseas for after market parts for it as the Baleno is the same model just right hand drive.

Engine pick-up, styling, cornering.

A bit noisier than expected.

It grows on you!

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Mazda GLC

standard CD player, rockin AC, great pick-up, and simple, but classy styling

a bit noisy and suspension is rough at times, blown around some on highway winds

I was unsure of the vehicles reputation, as there is not many write-ups on this vehicle...but having purchased it, I have been pleasantly surprised. It has great pick-up and passing abilitites, great AC, and it is a sharp looker...

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Mazda GLC-very good car Toyota B12-piece of junk

compact, easy handling, large trunk space

work on engine is difficult, every mechanic and auto stores unfamiliar with products and services for this type of car, no power steering, sits too low to the ground

I bought this car used with 50,000 miles, and have had it now for 4 years adding an additional 73,00 miles. The only big things i have had to replace were the air compressor and O2 sensor. The factory radio and speakers were very good although i have upgraded to a cd player now. A bigger gas tank would be nice, but still gets good gas mileage. the seats fit 4 comfortably, but does also seat 5 easily.

Nice Interior, Nice Body, Cool head lights, zippy when it counts, looks really small on outside yet you can fit 5 in there if you have 2.

Not enough Aftermakert parts. Needs bigger gas tank. Needs more power. next car is going to be V6 mabye a Audi,Honda Accord,Toyota Avalon,Nissian skyline?

This car is really good for me at this point in my life. I put a Kenwood Double Din CD/DVD/Tape player and it the weekend I got the car last September. Suzuki has some things to offer that Ford or Honda dont have yet I dont think my Next car is going to be a Suzuki. See with Honda you can get all kinds of aftermarket parts for and Iam kinda Dissapointed on how there is not more things for the Esteem. It drives well and it beats a Hyundai and although I Ford Focus looks goofy, I wish the Esteem had a 2.0 rather than a 1.8 liter engine.

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Focus looks bad has more power. Neon looks better and has more power. Honda Civc nice but to small.

Comfortable front seats for short or long hauls. Great low end power. Good handling.

Small radio controls. Styling becoming dated.

Best unknown value around. Can get this car at great lease prices if patient. I''ve leased 2 of these over the past 4 years for less than $160/mnth.

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Hondas

Overall, just a great little wagon to drive with adequate power and smooth operation. So far very dependable and enjoyable to drive.

Our 2001 needs to go in for a radio repair and the transmission doesn''t like to shift into 4th gear when the car is cold. This is all covered under warranty. The dealer''s service Dept. is barely adequate.

We had a 2000 Esteem 5-speed wagon with 34,000 miles and got nailed in two hailstorms so took the insurance money and traded it on a 2001 Esteem wagon with auto transmission for $1500 difference. I have owned many Japanese brands and the Suzuki is as good as any. The so called auto experts are biased against Suzuki and won''t give this car a chance. According to a dealer, Suzuki is dropping the Esteem after 2001 which is frustating.

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Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda GLC wagon, Dodge Colt.