In motion, the del Sol runs true to the family traits: light, nimble, almost race-carlike. honda's signature double-wishbone suspension is standard, and contributes to the characteristic responsiveness. Some torsional rigidity is lost, of course, because of the targa top, but the car still feels solid and under control.The del sol's nimble platform is a shortened version of the Civic's (a 93.3 in. wheelbase vs. 103.2 in. for the Civic coupe). The S model, with its softer suspension, 13-in. wheels and disc/drum brakes, is less sporting than the Si and VTEC versions, which have 14-in. alloy wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes and front stabilizer bars.
The VTEC has even larger, speed-rated tires, stiffer suspension settings and a rear stabilizer bar in addition to ABS. Consequently, the Si and VTEC have a firmer ride and flatter cornering than the S models to go with their sizeable horsepower advantage.
The VTEC engines are interesting pieces of technology that require some adjustment by American tastes and sensibilities. These babies develop remarkable amounts of power; at 160 hp, the 1.6-liter VTEC engine produces more horsepower per liter than any other normally aspirated engine, which made our test car one very hot little number. And it boasted a surprisingly high level of fuel efficiency: The VTEC gets 26 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.