Stupid name, though we admit it is appropriate. The 2.5-liter, 176-h.p., 20-valve, 5-cylinder engine is energetic yet rated at 20 m.p.g. city/27 m.p.g.highway. And while the odd-number 5 cylinders usually means the activity underthe hood can be noisy, the Vigor’s 2.5 is rather quiet.
Vigor is a performance sedan with sports-car appeal. There’s ample room andcomfort and a healthy serving of performance. The suspension system allows foraggressive maneuvering without lots of body swing or sway.
Vigor has been a victim of circumstance. Sales have not done well largely because the rising value of the yen has put the base price at a hefty $27,250 to which you have to add $385 in freight.
Our test car also came with the standard 5-speed manual transmission that’sout of place in a sedan that tickles $30,000.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch, all-season tires that hold the road exceptionally well and complement the four-wheel, double-wishbone suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars and speed-sensitive power steering; power brakes with antilock, power windows and door locks, dual, body-color power mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM stereo with power antenna, dual air bags, power moonroof with sliding shade, power driver seat, rear defroster, side window defogger, carpeting, leather-trimmed seats and door panels, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, wood-trimmed dash and door panels, passenger-side illuminated vanity mirror, digital clock and remote trunk and fuel filler door release.
