it's a foregone conclusion that anyone who buys a vehicle of this size is not expecting rocket launches. So measurements such as 0-to-60 mph performance are fairly irrelevant. Incidentally, the Metro requires almost 12 seconds to make that trip, but a more important consideration is whether the car possesses sufficient passing power. And the Metro compensates by delivering the goods at freeway speeds. At 60 mph, the tachometer hovered at 2800 rpm (in fifth gear), and we didn't hear the engine winding out unnecessarily or being unduly overtaxed. During freeway slalom maneuvers, there was a bit more play in the wheel than we would have liked.
Overall, the ride, if not exactly smooth, was assured and road noise was surprisingly unobtrusive for a small car.
We also found that our Metro possessed enough grit to escape from a possible collision situation. The first day we tested the car, still unfamiliar with its capabilities and dimensions, we spun into a boulevard turn at a speed that was admittedly a bit too brisk for traffic conditions - and for a car of this size. We were forced to simultaneously brake abruptly, negotiate the turn and avoid both the curb and the vehicle in front of us.