And it's cheap, compared with the competition. To discern the disadvantages of the Esteem wagon, you have to drive it for a week. At 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, the fuel efficiency is good. And it's quieter than some of the Suzuki engines I've tested in the past. But it's just too underpowered, especially when coupled with the four-speed automatic transmission.
Time stands still as the car gets up to highway speed.
There's just not enough oomph when you stomp on the gas pedal in a dicey situation. On the poor to great scale, this one pushes the needle to barely adequate. The transmission shifts smoothly, and the car has a ride comparable with other vehicles in its class, but the puny engine is a major drawback. Another one, strangely enough, is the stereo system. I love music, but I'm not picky when it comes to car audio.