From its clear-lens headlamps to its large taillights, the Suzuki Esteem presents itself well. The black honeycomb grille looks sharp and the car, especially the wagon, is well proportioned.
The wagon doesn't look as if its longer roof was tacked on as an afterthought for the utilitarian minded. Indeed, with the two-tone paint option ($200), the wagon is arguably the snazziest Esteem of the lot, and there is no appearance penalty for the extra utility. We even got some admiring looks from teenagers, no doubt prompted by Speedline five-spoke alloy wheels and low-profile Yokohama tires.
A remote fuel door release is standard, and the wagon's liftgate is locked and unlocked by the central locking system. A handle under the license-plate light unlatches the gate, which lifts to 45 degrees above horizontal. The gate opening and low roofline guarantee that anyone taller than 5'8'' will have to duck while loading cargo, but liftover height is only 22 inches. The load floor is flat and the strut towers intrude only minimally on cargo space. There are storage bins under the carpet and room in the right quarter panel to add a CD changer or store a first aid kit. A cargo cover, often an option, is standard on all Esteem wagons.
Slip into the driver's seat and you'll notice that the Esteem GLX+ seats are full-size, with full thigh support and excellent lateral support in the seatback. Driver and front passenger have generous leg- and elbowroom, though the sunroof steals a few precious inches overhead. That's more critical in the back seat, where space is tighter all around. Technically, the rear seat has capacity for three abreast, but children will be happier in the back than the average adult male, who is left with little wiggle room.
The instrument panel is well designed and legible and the ventilation system is easy to operate. The Clarion radio, however, has small buttons that can be difficult to decipher and adjust. While the steering wheel is soft to grip, its covering is slippery. There are several small bins in the dash and map pockets in the doors.
The only interior color is a light gray. The seat upholstery has accent panels with a zigzag pattern that matches the fabric used on the door panels.
Under the hood, the new-for-2000 1.8-liter twin-cam four makes 122 horsepower at 6300 rpm, a whopping 28-percent increase over last year's 1.6-liter engine. Maximum torque is 117 foot-pounds at 3500 rpm; the relatively low torque peak promises less downshifting and thrashing of the engine to get around town. The 1.8-liter engine uses a timing chain instead of the more common belt.
The Esteem's 1.8-liter idles with a vibration typical of four-cylinder engines, adding a slight but noticeable shake to the steering wheel. It smoothes out under acceleration and in normal driving. Around town, the 1.8 is a willing servant and provides ample, worry-free power. The automatic transmission delivers the same no-worries operation.
Open the throttle fast, however, and the engine announces its presence with a roar, propelling the wagon forward at a brisk clip. The transmission shifts at about 5000 rpm, well below the power peak, if left to its own devices. But hold the automatic in gear by hand (the console-mounted shifter has Drive, 2 and 1 on the quadrant, with an overdrive cutout button on the shift lever) to reach the 6700 rpm redline, and the transmission shifts so slowly that the engine hits the rev limiter. It also seems that the automatic absorbs some of the Esteem's steam. The standard transmission, available in the still-quite-nice GLX, would not only save $1000 in purchase price but also eke out another EPA-estimated 1 mpg in city or highway driving. It will also take full advantage of the engine's power band.
In highway driving, the engine emits a constant hum that's noticeable, if not objectionable, and the windshield pillars and roof rack generate a constant rustle of wind noise. The cargo area amplifies this sound, though it isn't so loud as to annoy or impede conversation. The added torque of the new 1.8-liter engine is appreciated, but the automatic still must downshift often to maintain speed through hilly terrain.
A quick steering ratio and short wheelbase make the Esteem responsive to steering input. Although there's a bias toward comfortable understeer, the Esteem will zip down a twisting road almost as quickly as the motor will pull it. The suspension is generally supple, soaking up bumps and ripples, though longer pavement waves, such as those on older concrete slabs, can induce a rocking-horse motion. Unlike many vehicles, the Esteem wagon uses the same suspension offered in the sedan, with fully independent MacPherson struts at each corner. Typically, this provides a better ride than the beam-type rear axle on many front-drive wagons.
The low-profile tires add to the responsiveness of the chassis, and their extra grip imparts confidence on cloverleaf ramps and curves. The tires are an excellent choice of rubber for an inexpensive car. The brake system uses discs in front and drums in the rear. Four-wheel antilock brakes are offered only on the GLX+.
The base sedan and wagon are designated GL. The GL sedan is powered by a single overhead cam 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine ($12,399) or the new 1.8-liter double overhead cam four ($12,899). The 1.6 has a 2-mpg edge in EPA testing, but the 1.8 is rated at a healthy 122 horsepower compared to the 1.6-liter's relatively measly 95 horsepower. The GL wagon ($13,399) comes only with the 1.8-liter engine.
The GLX comes with larger tires and alloy wheels, a tachometer, passenger vanity mirror, front seatback pockets and a host of power features. The GLX sedan lists at $13,899. The wagon adds a roof-mounted rear spoiler to help keep the rear glass clear of rain and snow, and lists at $14,399. A sport package, including a rear spoiler, fog lamps and any color as long as it's black, is available on the GLX sedan ($14,499).
Esteem GLX+ adds four-wheel ABS, cruise control and an automatic transmission at $15,699 for the sedan. On top of all that, the GLX+ wagon includes a sunroof and retails at $16,399.
GL and GLX models are available with the 4-speed automatic (instead of the standard 5-speed manual) for an additional $1000.