Vehicle: 2002 SAAB 9-5 Aero sedan with 5-speed auto tranny.
Performance: The Aero is powered by a 2.3L high-ouput turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that bumps out 250hp @ 5500 rpm and 258 lb/ft @ 2500 rpm. With impressive numbers like these, power is never an issue. The throttle tip-in is linear. Off-the-line response is brisk. [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon SE with leather package and 5-speed stick shift
Handling: The most impressive aspect of the original Tiburon was its entertaining handling. With the latest redesign, Hyundai has given the new Tibby a stiffer chassis, firmer suspension/springs and quicker steering; the result is one of the best handling sports coupe I have [...]

Toyota Matrix XR FWD 4-speed auto short review
==================================
Matrix has a very sporty suspension and suspension tuning that is able to provide an enthuisastic driving experience considered its driving position and center of gravity. However, its dynamic traits got hammered back by the rather overboosted steering that’s lack of feel both on and off-center. The steering [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Toyota Corolla S with 5-speed stick, sports cloth seats and white instrumentation.
Performance: The new Corolla is powered by a 1.8L VVT-i engine that bumps up 130hp @ 6000 rpm and 125 lb/ft of torque @ 4200 rpm. While the numbers are not particularly impressive on paper, it works impressively on “real life”. [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Mercedes SL500 with SBC, ABC, ESP, Xenon and 5-speed Speedshift.
Performance: It is powered by a 5.0 liter 24-valver V8 that bumps out 302hp and 339 lb/ft of torque. It has to be one of the fastest V8s I have ever driven. The throttle response is brisk and linear. With the wondefully smooth [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Infiniti G35 with luxury & premium package
Performance: There is a wonderful VQ35DE sits underneath G35’s bonnet. With 260hp and 260 lb/ft of torque, its throttle response is quick without being overly sensitive. The drivetrain is smooth, refine and rev-happy as with typical VQ engine series. The acceleration is amazing all through the [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Cadillac CTS with 5-speed auto and sports suspension
Performance: CTS is powered by a 3.2 liter V6 engine that bumps out 220hp and 218 lb/ft of torque. The instant throttle response is quick and linear. The low-end torque also performs relatively well, however, this engine tends to run breathless at high rpm. That [...]

Vehicle: 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 stick with sunroof but no ControlTrac/ABS package
Performance: The Focus feels more than adequate with its Zetec 2.0 that has 130hp and 135 lb/ft of torque. It feels responsive at bottom end while the top-end doesn’t feel too shabby either. Going 100 km/h @ 2600 rpm is quite a surprise [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Mini Cooper S with sports package (sports seats + sports suspension + DSC-3), leather and sunroof
Performance: With 163 hp and 155 lb/ft of torque wrapped in a somewhat lightweight body, the performance is nothing short of amazing. Throttle response is quick and linear. The supercharger ensures proper delivery of horsepower and torque [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Honda Civic SiR with side airbags
Performance: SiR’s i-VTEC is based on the same unit as the one you found in the RSX. It got 160hp @ 6500 rpm and 130 lb/ft of torque @ 5000 rpm. Honda has emphasized more on low-end torque with the new i-VTEC although it still feels torqueless [...]

Audi A4 1.8T Multitronic sedan short review
===============================
Unlike the W8 I just reviewered, the A4 FrontTrak Multitronic is a true driver’s car even in basic 15″ wheel and standard suspension. The body rolls and understeer are almost non-existence through the corners, just like the Quattro sport version I drove last year. Steering provides excellent feedback both [...]

Vehicle: 2003 VW Passat W8 sedan with 5-speed Tiptronic
Performance: The W8 is powered by a 4.0L W8 engine that pumps out 275hp and 273 lb/ft of torque. The throttle response is instant and linear. The torque delivery is better than average, however, it lacks the seat-of-the-pants feel of W8’s 6 bangers or even [...]

Vehicle: 2002 Toyota RAV4 with optional package B and 4-speed auto transmission
Performance: The RAV4 is powered by a 2.0L 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with Toyota’s VVT-i, which is basically their version of variable valve timing. Toyota has upgraded the hp to 145hp and 142 lb/ft of torque. This engine feels adequate, to say the least. [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Subaru Forester 2.5XS with 4-speed automatic
Handling: With Subaru’s expertise in excellent chassis and suspension tuning, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Forester handles like a sports car. With a new stiff chassis, a proven all-wheel drive system and well-sorted out suspension. The Forester handles like its on-rail. The steering provides [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Suzuki Aerio SX hatchback with 5-speed stick
Performance: With a 2.0L 16-valver DOHC engine that bumps out 141hp and 135 lb/ft of torque, the Aerio’s performance is more than adequate considered its weight and size. There are enough torque for daily driving and freeway merging. The engine provides power in a more flexible [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally edition with 5-speed stick, optional ABS and sunroof.
Performance: Lancer is powered by a 2.0 that bumps out 120hp and 130 lb/ft of torque. The performance is adequate for the most part, however, it tends to get tiresome as I pushed through the redline. This engine seems to lack [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Limited Edition with 4-speed manumatic
Performance: Sharing the same 165hp and 166 lb/ft 2.5 H4 as Impreza, Outback and Forester. The Legacy GT responds decently with its 4-speed manumatic tranny. Although it can’t describle the 2.5 as a breathtaking performer, this engine is more than adequate for daily driving. The [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 Elegance with 5-speed Touchshift and Panoramic roof
Handling: One of the best attributes of the new E-Class has to be its handling dynamics even in standard suspension form. Combine a bank-vault chassis with very well-balanced suspension, the E320 is a joy to drive. Unlike the outgoing E-Class which had a tendency [...]

Vehicles: Honda Accord 2.4 LX-G and V6 EX with 5-speed automatic
Performance: The 4-cylinder Accord has the same 2.4 i-VTEC DOHC found in CR-V and Element. It bumps out 160 hp and 161 lb/ft of torque. Honda has put a lot of efforts on improving the 4 banger NVH issue on previous Accords. All the buzzy [...]

Vehicle: 2003 Kia Sorento EX-L
Performance: Sorento is powered by the same 3.5L V6 DOHC engine as the Sedona minivan. With 193hp and 217 lb/ft of torque, power is never an issue. The throttle response is quick and linear. The refinement of this Hyundai/Kia V6 engine series has the ability to match the best of [...]