Chrysler's 2.4-liter four-cylinder provides just enough vim to keep the scenery passing, but lead-footed drivers will probably be disappointed. The five-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly. The continuously variable transmission takes a few moments to reach its powerband, but it delivers adequate performance once there. High-speed stability is good.

Interior materials are sub-par, and the climate controls aren't particularly intuitive. Front seats offer ample cushion support, but some of the manual adjustments take considerable effort.