Introduction
reviewed by
Remember the term "economy car"? It used to mean a stripped-down box with barely
enough power to get out of its own way. Options included little more than a sideview
mirror, floor mats and an AM radio.
Well, those days are long gone. Economic realities being what they are, it's hard
to find a truly inexpensive automobile these days. But those that do qualify for the
economy car descriptor are surprisingly sophisticated, with dual airbags standard and
antilock brakes and CD players as your options.
The Geo Prizm is one very good example of how much you can get for your money
these days--with careful attention to the options list. It's a car that offers at least
some of the performance and handling attributes you used to expect only on a much more
expensive automobile.
Many customers see the Prizm as the best of both worlds. It is primarily of
Japanese origin, a very close cousin to the Toyota Corolla. Both cars are produced at
the NUMMI assembly plant in Fremont, California, operated as a joint venture between
Toyota and General Motors. So you get the benefit of some excellent Toyota components,
and if Buy American is a priority, you've got that going for you, too.
There are two levels of Prizm, base and LSi, both 4-door sedans, both front-wheel
drive. The differences between the two aren't really apparent unless you're in the
showroom loading up your option list.
If you're looking for a little more power, then the LSi will probably be your
choice, with a 1.8-liter engine that offers much stronger low-rpm performance. It was
our choice for this report.
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