Faults:

Nothing other than a bit of an annoying rattle from the dashboard.

General Comments:

This is the 'family car', and it does what is says on the tin. Its got loads of space with five proper seats and a boot big enough to fit a travel system plus shopping. However, if you're after an inspiring drive, stick to your hatchback. Motorway cruising is a pleasure, but pottering around the town is a different story. High and narrow bite point on the clutch along with splodgey steering and suspension mean that it's less than desirable.

Faults:

Front suspension roll bars replaced 40,000 miles.

General Comments:

Well built and very reliable, if a little dull. Steering is not well damped and uncomfortable, especially when front tyres wear to legal minimum.

Faults:

Nothing.

A dealer recall to replace rivets in the exhaust heat shield the only problem.

General Comments:

A very practical and comfortable vehicle.

Easy and stress free to drive

The interior is a bit bland to say the least, but this has improved in later models.

The only niggle I can find is that the rear seat belts rattles against the door if they are not retracted properly.

Much better vehicle than the Scenic I owned previously, cheaper too.

Faults:

A few things have been done under warranty, but they are trivial. Generally very reliable so far.

General Comments:

The Premacy is enjoyable to drive with its fluid gear change and sharp well weighted steering that provides plenty of feel. It is also a comfortable car with a good ride quality and impeccable build quality.

The things that could have been done better are to:

1.) include a few more handy cubbies.

2.) make the engine less coarse and more quieter especially around 4000rpm.

3.) improve the front end grip very slightly (the handling other wise is very taut).

4.) make the interior more classy (the facelifted MK2 version is better).

5.) reduce the levels of road and wind noise at speed (most under £17K Japanese cars suffer from such problems because in Japan the roads are just so quiet, smooth and the Premacy is sold mainly in Japan).

Overall it is a good looking car especially with the optional body kit that we've got. A few more extras on the options list like leather seats, satellite navigation, cruise control and heated seats would have been nice, but otherwise it is a really sound car that I strongly recommend instead of a Renault Scenic or Citroen Picasso, which are both built out of old French baked bean tins. One thing that has to be mentioned is the cars excellent pulling power (torque?), stick it in 5th gear at 15mph an it will pull smoothly right up to its 115mph limit.