General Comments:
I really liked this car. I've rented plenty, but this was the first one I kind of wish I hadn't had to give back.
The dash is gimmicky, no doubt about it. I miss the temperature gauge, but there are a lot of cool-enough features, even in the stripper rental model. Compass and thermometer, anyone? The blue LCD is easier on the eyes than previous vacuum-fluorescent LCD displays, and the numbers are clear and easy to read (should be, the speedometer is huge).
The seats are comfortable and mildly supportive, though I did find that on longer drives, they started to enforce a 3-hour rest break through numb-butt. The radio controls are very far away, though not totally out of reach, as long as you're taller. The seats had a good range of adjustment, and even adjusted for height (still not as common as it should be in this market). The trunk is a cavern, but is only accessible through a somewhat short hole. The hatchback probably doesn't have that problem. Just don't expect to fit a full-sized cooler or a chest of drawers through without a fight.
The transmission and engine get along very well, though a couple of times I was left sweating from a low-speed start for the transmission to pick up. The engine idles quietly and very smoothly, and does get decent use out of a tank of gas: 8.7L/100km average (in a rental car) by the trip computer's running estimate.
But most of all, this car was fun to drive and comfortable, something most of the newer rental cars lacked. It only took a few hours to get used to every control before I could drive the car without thinking about it. The car loved all of the corners I threw its way, taking them all in stride.
Too Long, Didn't Read? I liked it. It's fun to drive.
6th Dec 2013, 13:55
I would hope there are no issues with only 900 miles on it.