Faults:

Hood insulation pad stated sagging in middle. Dealer replaced it with improved version.

General Comments:

Performance - The car's performance is quite excellent. It'll hit 60 in 7 seconds and easily accelerate to triple digit speeds. The 3.0 pulls strongly from off idle to 7000 RPM.

Interior - the interior is quite classy, inviting, and elegant. Seats are very comfortable on long trips. Fit, finish, and quality of the materials used are top notch for this price range. Leather seating is standard on this model. A big plus for this model is its huge trunk space - much larger than most of its competition.

Handling - The vehicle has standard all-wheel-drive. However, the car behaves like a rear drive under normal conditions. The car handles ice, snow, and heavy rain with no drama. Overall, the car seems to handle as well as any in its class. The 4 wheel disc brakes have excellent feel, short stopping distances, and don't fade under heavy use.

Body - The fit and finish of this vehicle are exceptional even for this class. The paint work is the best I've ever seen on a production vehicle. The styling is retro - giving the car a very sleek "classic' appearance.

Fuel economy - The car requires premium fuel because the engine is high compression. In city driving, my car delivers a consistent 20 MPG. On long interstate trips, running usually at 70 - 75 MPH, she delivers 27 MPG.

Overall - I drove most of this car's competitors before selecting it. At its price point, they just don't compare. The car gives the feeling that its built like a tank, and, goes about its business with quiet elegance. Give it a good dose of throttle, the 3.0's exhaust note will rise to a pleasing snarl, and the speedometer will quickly wind to the car's electronically limited top speed.