The Lumina's biggest-and most welcome improvements snapped into sharp focus the moment we got rolling. The redesigned car was much quieter than the first edition. In most operating situations, hardly a trace of road, wind or engine noise found its way into the passenger compartment.And ride quality was on a par with anything in the midsize class. This car soaked up small bumps and potholes far more effectively than the old Lumina. Besides enhancing all-around comfort, the retuned suspension also helped keep small road shocks from translating into interior noise. Chevy's chassis engineers achieved the new Lumina's contemporary ride without compromising handling response. The Lumina isn't a sports car, but we found it capable of making quick avoidance maneuvers without excess body roll or unwanted drama. And its power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering combined a lighter touch with better road feel, enhancing our driver's sense of control. Even with its increased horsepower, the Lumina's acceleration was only average. This is a heavy car by current midsize standards. But it was far from sluggish, and we experienced no difficulty in keeping pace with urban traffic or passing on two-lane country highways. Braking, enhanced by our test car's ABS, was swift and sure in all kinds of conditions. The car's size played a part here, too-the more mass you set in motion, the more difficult it is to stop. But the new Lumina's fatter tires helped in getting braking power onto the pavement, making the system's all-around performance another plus. |
