HONDA
ELEMENT
BASE PRICE: $16,100
BEST FEATURE: Enough interior
space for a dorm room on wheels.
This mixed breed will stand out on a
crowded freeway for its boxy, yet innova-
th- e and weird-looking, profile. Honda
designed the Youth-oriented four-seater
compact-size vehicle as part pickup, part
car and part sport utility, with a flat floor,
maximum interior space and hauling
capability. They left out the B-:pillar so
that center-opening side cargo doors cre-
ate a wide opening for loading. Rear
seats flip to the side to make way for
bikes or other gear, or the four seats can
be folded flat.
The 2.4-lit r, 160 horsepower four-
cylinder engine, -latched to front-wheel-
drive or optional four-wheel-drive, five-
speed manual or optional automatic
transmission, achieves EPA fuel econo-
my ratings from 20 mpg city to 25 mpg
highway for front wheel drive. Four-
wheel-drive versions offer an optional
removable back skylight so passengers
can stand up and change their clothes.
MAZDA6
BASE PRICE: $18,530
BEST FEATURE: Ride comfort plus
sporty performance.
This lively and stylish five-passenger
sport sedan incorporates an elite list of
quality items. They include a wide track
and low center of gravity for handling
ease, anti-whiplash headrests, front seat-
mounted side-impact airbags and stain-
less steel exhaust system with dual thuf-
flers and tailpipes. Mazda6 boasts class-
leading roominess on its midsize, front-
wheel-drive platform. Touching a handle
in the luggage area lowers rear seat cush-
ions into the floor and seatbacks then
fold to create a flat rear surface. A 2.3-
liter, 160-horsepower four-cylinder
engine powers the Mazda6i, 220-horse-
power 3.0-liter V-6 drives the NIazda6s.
Fuel economy varies from 19 mpg city to
32 mpg highway. An optional Sport
Package contains features like five-spoke
cast aluminum wheels and magnified
road-holding and steering response.
VOLVO XC90
BASE PRICE: $33,350
Volvo's first SUV replaces traditional straight-lined styling with smooth curves. The luxuri-
ous, full-size XC90's world firsts include a Dolby Pro Logic II audio system for superb sound.
Other firsts focus on safety: a Roll Stability Control system takes over when rollover threatens
during an extreme maneu-
ver. World first =3 is an
integrated child booster
cushion on the second seat
for a child too big for an
infant seat but too small for
a lap-shoulder belt.
Other world firsts: inflat-
able side curtains to protect
every passenger in a side
impact or rollover; and pre-
THH 648
tensioners at seven seating
positions to reel in safety
belts in an accident. A 2.5-
liter, five-cylinder, light
pressure turbo engine
comes with front wheel
drive or optional all wheel drive, while a 2.9-liter, 268 horsepower, 6-cylinder twin-turbo pow-
ers an all-wheel-drive model. Fuel economy for XC90 varies from 15 city for the six-cylinder
model to 24 highway for the five-cylinder. It goes on sale in spring 2003.
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