The rear bench is split 50-50, with each section able to be slid forwards or backwards individually. Alternatively, folding or detaching the rear chairs provides a large and flat storage area. The rear seats can also be flipped downward to form a pair of beds. Because the gearshift is column-mounted there is no transmission tunnel, thus enabling oocupants to walk between front and rear seats.
Initially available with the 'Orion' 1.5 L GDI powerplant mated to an INVECS-II 4-speed auto, a smaller 1.3 L version (without GDI) and a larger 4G93 1.8 L version were introduced with a facelift in 2000, as well as Mitsubishi's INVECS-III continuously variable transmission.
The comment for its styling is quite polarised. The large and angular headlamps look sophisticated, so is the front bumper, but the basic profile of the whole car is quite odd. It’s simply too boxy, without the sleekness of Scenic or the futuristic character of Fiat Multipla. Japanese stylists still have a long way to go.
Like Scenic, accommodation is limited to two rows and 5 seats. The rear row is 50-50 split and can be slided forward and backward individually, or can be detached, or can be folded to the back of front seats to enable a large and flat storage area rivalling an estate. Alternatively, the rear seats can be flipped downward and form a pair of beds together with front seats. Because of the column shifter, there is no transmission tunnel thus enable walk-through between front and rear seats. |