Pedals are well placed, if not especially conducive to heel-and-toe downshifts. The steering wheel rim is thick and contoured for comfortable and confident grip at the recommended 9-and-3 positions. The shift lever falls readily to hand. Shifts in the manual, while not exactly rubbery, could be a bit more precise, and downshifting with confidence takes some practice. The Sportshift gate is where it should be, toward the driver; push the shifter forward for upshifts, pull back for downshifts.
The sloping hood makes for improved forward visibility. Good-sized rear quarter windows minimize the blindage from the C-pillars. Thin sails leave room for an expansive backlight (rear windscreen) that fills the rearview mirror.
The bottom portions of the door panels hold fixed map pockets, limiting flexibility of use. Front and rear seats get two cup holders. There's a net for magazines attached to the front seatback. The center console isn't especially commodious, but it has an auxiliary power outlet for cell phones, leaving the lighter outlet in the base of the C-stack for a radar detector. The sedan's trunk is fully finished, with its gooseneck hinges enclosed to prevent inadvertently smashed groceries. The station wagon cargo area boasts two covered storage bins. Next Page