In fact, everything about the car we drove was quiet and smooth. The suspension soaked up rough Mississippi cotton-farm roads with aplomb, and kept the car straight and flat without a lot of pitching and body roll.
The steering was reasonably quick and precise, but without much real road feel, although better than previous models of this same car.
With the V6 engine, the driveline exhibited torque-steer at full throttle. Stand on the gas when turning at low speed and you'll feel a tug on the steering wheel.
Braking action and performance was on par with anything else in the class of vehicles and trustworthy in panic situations.
The hybrid is considered a mild hybrid and uses a belt-alternator-starter, or BAS system, to stop and start the engine when needed. It shuts down completely at stoplights, and can add 3-4 kilowatts or about seven horsepower to the gasoline engine's output when needed.
The LS comes with an Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and the old four-speed overdrive automatic transmission, an economical alternative that promises cheap insurance and low operating costs. The base model also comes with electric power steering, to saved drag on the engine, while the V6-powered models come with hydraulic power steering.