Faults:

Jerking when accelerating at low RPM, lack of power, and the engine bogs down.

High-pressure pump failures. The engine enters limp mode, fails to exceed certain RPMs (fuel cut-off at around 3,000 rpm), and sometimes fails to start.

Unstable idle and stalling/choking.

As with any vehicle over two decades old, faults in the camshaft position sensor wiring, burnt-out instrument cluster lights, and natural wear on suspension and brake components are common.

General Comments:

Some might not consider the design attractive, but I like it. The one I owned was a hatchback, similar to the Renault Laguna (in the same segment).

With rounded lines and a conservative look, it stands out for its practical approach. The cabin is spacious, and the folding rear seats enhance cargo capacity. However, the interior design and upholstery reflect the understated aesthetic typical of Japanese vehicles from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Without being overly luxurious, it has everything necessary for a car in its segment: power windows on all four doors, ABS brakes, air conditioning, and even a sunroof.

Inside, it is comfortable, the seats are soft (unlike those in other Japanese cars) and it is relatively spacious.

The 1.8-liter engine produces 122–125 hp, offering a progressive and flexible response. It reaches a top speed of around 200 km/h (at least according to factory figures) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds (a verifiable figure). Regarding fuel consumption, it averages about 5.7 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle and around 7.0 l/100 km in the combined cycle (impressive figures for its time). Its power delivery is linear rather than sporty.

I really like how it handles on the open road; it is truly very comfortable to drive at speeds above 140 km/h, with excellent sound insulation. The car feels very comfortable at that cruising speed. I’ve taken several long trips in it, and I can say it is a truly pleasant experience.

Very reliable; the only thing I replaced on the car was the timing belt—otherwise, just the required maintenance. Fortunately, it was a car that didn't give me any major problems.

I rate it very highly.

Faults:

Nothing, 2:nd gear a bit funny when cold started at 0 degrees Celsius, only the first shift. After that it's OK.

Nothing else has happened other than normal wear and tear, such as a pair of headlight bulbs and batteries for the remote control.

Some vibrations noise/rattling has recently appeared around the dashboard, not much, but it's there.

General Comments:

I like this car because it's a good blend of comfort, economy and drivers environment. It's sleek, elegant and has low drag/wind resistance.

It has pretty much everything one can want in a car, being reasonable. It has full climate control, electric windows, electric rear view mirrors and a very nice automatic gearbox. The car runs quiet even at high speeds.

It's relatively cheap for it's class, perhaps due to it's simple choice of materials in the cabin. Nevertheless it's comfortable and classy. Insurance is reasonable and the fuel economy is outstanding.

Average fuel consumption figures as follows, 5.7 liters/100km (90km/h) on the highway, around 6.6 liters/100km mixed driving and 7.4 liters/100km in city traffic.

For an upper mid class car with a automatic gearbox, that's pretty good wouldn't you say?

One of the things that made me decide to buy this car is that it has a good driving environment, simple meters and gages that are easy to monitor when you drive. Exemplary design of the climate control, it's a breeze to manage even in traffic. The whole car breathes user friendliness.