Suzuki from Japan delivers six distinct products to North America for 2007. Forenza is a curvy four-door sedan featuring sensuous Italian styling, with a five-door hatchback variation spinning off named Reno. Suzuki's subcompact sedan returns under the badge of Aerio, and there are two sport-utility vehicles labeled XL7 and Grand Vitara. Expect a complete make-over for XL7, which gets a new unibody structure, deluxe cabin appointments and optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. And SX4, a new sport compact in five-door format, lands with standard AWD.

Suzuki's largest SUV switches from a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) body-on-frame structure to a front-wheel-drive (FWD) unibody scheme and becomes a mid-size crossover wagon. This new XL7 shows strong styling on a two-box body, crafts a spacious cabin with optional seven-passenger seating and offers FWD or AWD traction. Powertrain is a dual-cam 3.6-liter V6 with 252 hp through a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Premium and Luxury trims apply with standard safety content like curtain-style air bags, anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), even a non-skid device dubbed electronic stability program (ESP).

Suzuki's new fun-to-drive sport compact five-door crossover arrives with standard AWD traction. It's assembled at a Suzuki plant in Japan and employs a rigid unit-body structure. For zippy strength but sippy fuel consumption, SX4 packs a sophisticated dual-cam 2.0-liter four-in-line engine which delivers more than 140 hp and links to a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic with manual shift control. The intelligent tri-mode AWD system in SX4 mounts switch gear on the front console so the driver can select to run in FWD, AWD or AWD Lock mode.

Suzuki's compact-class SUV begins with a rigid monocoque structure typically used to make sporty cars. Grand Vitara has class-leading safety features and options for dual-range four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction. It feels frisky with a 2.7-liter V6 aboard pushing 185 hp. Suzuki builds Grand Vitara in only one well-stocked trim but offers three separate equipment packages -- Premium, XSport and Luxury. The XSport adds gear like fender flares, roof rails and a seven-speaker stereo audio kit. Upgrades for 2007 range from key switch enhancement and a standard hard-shell spare tire cover to a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Pininfarina, the Italian car design studio, worked out body styling for Suzuki's FWD compact cars, which conform as a four-door notchback sedan and five-door wagon. Both formats return in '07 loaded with features. Powertrain is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plant achieving 127 hp and teaming with a five-speed manual or four-speed-automatic transmission. In the cabin, bucket seats mount up front on either side of a padded console, while the rear bench, notched with seats for two, has a seatback that splits and folds in sections. A keyless remote entry device is Forenza's latest option.

Suzuki's compact-class hatchback acts lively and looks cool. It has four doors for passengers and a lid at the tail to access the cargo bay. The cabin is spacious with room for five on comfortable seats and ample convenience features are aboard. Reno rides on Forenza's platform and carries similar mechanical equipment, including the 2.0-liter four-in-line engine. Standard content on Reno for 2007 lists air conditioning and power windows and door locks, speed-sensitive power steering, frontal air bags and seat-mounted side air bags, rear window defroster and a premium audio kit with eight speakers plus CD/MP3 deck.

Suzuki's subcompact Aerio series for 2007 skews in the format of a four-door sedan. There's a single trim loaded with standard features and either FWD orientation or Suzuki's QuadGrip AWD system for sticky traction on slick pavement. Advanced frontal and side-impact air bags apply to Aerio, as does a twin-cam 2.3-liter four-pack engine that develops 155 hp. A short-stick manual five-speed stick is the norm, but an electronic automatic four-speed transaxle is available. The cabin has a pair of bucket seats in front followed by two seats sculpted into a bench and divided by a fold-down armrest.