Hi, Guest
09-27-2006, 10:20 PM
Well, from what I've seen and briefly experienced, it's a small SUV that tries to be a car and somewhat fails at both.
In the SUV department, it can be found with AWD but the base offering has FWD - great for economy but terrible for SUV-ish stuff. In the car department, it has the weight of a (smaller) SUV to contend with at all times. Although it has a 200HP V6, the performance isn't exactly "sparkling". Fuel economy is 23 MPG on the highway, but that's the US's EPA rating, which is either better or worse than the subject vehicle in reality.
It seats 5 people, tops, and while it does well in crash ratings and can be found with a raft of options... does it really warrant moving away from a 2001 ZTS? Unless you're hauling a 2000-3000 lb trailer or in dire need of AWD, I'd say no.
If you want AWD with about the same performance, better fuel economy and much better handling, go find yourself a Subaru Impreza RS or TS.
It's also a good thing you're looking upscale in the offerings, because the 2.0L offered in base models is the Zetec (which performs even worse than in the Focus, obviously). 2005 and up models get the 2.3L Duratec from the Focus/Fusion with 153HP, which would make more sense for an economy / performance balance.
In the SUV department, it can be found with AWD but the base offering has FWD - great for economy but terrible for SUV-ish stuff. In the car department, it has the weight of a (smaller) SUV to contend with at all times. Although it has a 200HP V6, the performance isn't exactly "sparkling". Fuel economy is 23 MPG on the highway, but that's the US's EPA rating, which is either better or worse than the subject vehicle in reality.
It seats 5 people, tops, and while it does well in crash ratings and can be found with a raft of options... does it really warrant moving away from a 2001 ZTS? Unless you're hauling a 2000-3000 lb trailer or in dire need of AWD, I'd say no.
If you want AWD with about the same performance, better fuel economy and much better handling, go find yourself a Subaru Impreza RS or TS.
It's also a good thing you're looking upscale in the offerings, because the 2.0L offered in base models is the Zetec (which performs even worse than in the Focus, obviously). 2005 and up models get the 2.3L Duratec from the Focus/Fusion with 153HP, which would make more sense for an economy / performance balance.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.