Summary:
Safe, reliable, cheap
Faults:
Door locks seize up periodically and need to be oiled or else they can't be opened from the outside. After 2 years the driver's side door lock seized completely and even the dealer could not fix it.
A sensor in the transmission has failed twice, preventing the car from shifting. It's a cheap fix, but annoying.
The electrical system malfunctioned and the cause has not yet been determined. This is after 140,000 miles though, so I cut the car a little slack.
General Comments:
I have had almost no serious problems with this car. It has been incredibly reliable for the last 5 years. It is getting old now and little problems keep popping up, little engine hiccups, etc. but that is to be expected after all the miles I have put on it.
The ride in this car is very smooth. The interior is quite roomy, even for 4 people. I drove from upstate New York straight down to Florida with 3 passengers (4 total people) plus all of our luggage, and the trip was quite easy.
Handling is great. The car feels very nimble, especially for a mid-sized. Indeed, I prefer the handling on this car to that of many smaller cars that I have driven.
Gas mileage is great. I average around 28mpg, even with city driving, which is better than I was told I would get.
The acceleration has never been that great, and it has gotten a bit worse each year. Passing on a two lane road is always interesting.
The speaker system in this car is actually very good. The bass is powerful and the sound is crisp. I have made no upgrades to the system.
Overall I can't say enough about this car. It has been more reliable than I could have dreamed. It survived 4 winters in the Adirondack mountains with hardly a complaint, several cross country trips, and it is only recently (120,000+ miles) that problems have started appearing. Its certainly not flashy or all that powerful, but it's a sure bet.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 15th November, 2006