Driving Impressions
reviewed by
There's no question that the Autostick makes the Vision TSi more fun to drive than
its LH counterparts with a regular automatic transmission. Set the shift lever in
Autostick mode and you just waggle the shifter to the left for upshifts, right for
downshifts.
It's easy to get used to, and there's no clutch pedal hassle. If you want to let
the car shift for itself, you simply switch back to full automatic mode.
Good steering and handling have been LH strong suits from the beginning. The
Vision is very agile, particularly for a sedan of its size, and it attacks tight
corners with very little body roll.
Though firm, the ride is comfortable, even on bumpy road surfaces. Original LH
models, particularly those with stiffer suspension packages, could be a trifle harsh
on nasty pavement, but Chrysler has softened the hard edges.
Our Eagle TSi tester was also relatively quiet at most speeds. Here too Chrysler
has made improvements over the years, though some noise is still noticeable over rough
pavement, transmitted to the interior through the suspension.
We liked the performance of our TSi's 3.5-liter V6, made more enjoyable by the
Autostick transmission. Though the basic 3.3-liter V6 is adequate for getting around
town, it won't knock your socks off, by any stretch. The 3.5-liter V6 lends a lot more
verve and much better punch for passing on rural highways.
There is a minor penalty in fuel economy for the TSi engine. The base engine is
rated at 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, while the more potent engine gets 18 miles
per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway, though these numbers
are still respectable for a large car.
Next Page