So, if you want a manual transmission Esteem with cruise control or ABS, you're out of luck. The styling of the 2000 Esteem sedan is certainly better than it was in 1998. It's an attractive car, and the rear spoiler and front foglights spice things up a bit. But other than the large grille, it still doesn't have any defining characteristic to separate it from other Japanese or Korean subcompacts. The Esteem's interior is similar in that it's functional, but not exactly memorable.
Controls are easy to use and the gauges are legible.
Seat comfort is fine with good side bolstering, but the seatbacks don't adjust far enough in a vertical position to satisfy people who like to sit upright. There's also no provision for height adjustment, exacerbated by a lack of tilt or telescope adjustment on the steering wheel. Like you would expect, the main interior materials used on the Esteem are plastic and cloth. We didn't find them to be cheap, but we weren't impressed, either. The sound system is the same one found in the Grand Vitara, with small radio preset buttons.