1996 Chevy Lumina Base Engine & Drive Test

fully independent suspension that prevents bumps beneath the left wheel from jouncing

the one on the right. Supple springs and shock absorbers also contribute to the base

Lumina's smooth ride. The penalty for those soft settings is considerable lean through

tight turns and a fair amount of wallow over dips.

That's where the optional FE3 suspension comes in. Available only on the LS, this

add-on includes firmer springs and shocks that greatly reduce the floatiness base cars

exhibit without ruining the ride. Along with the firmer suspension, our LS test car

had wider, grippier P225/60-16 Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires that sharpen the Lumina's

response to emergency maneuvers and work surprisingly well in the wet. Those are

probably the best reasons to opt for the uplevel LS.

Then there's the twin-camshaft V6--a $1095 LS-only option. While the base engine pulls

smartly off the line, the bigger engine size and two more valves per cylinder help the

larger V6 breathe deeper and rev higher for added power. The result is an instant,

reassuring thrust at the highway speeds where the basic V6 runs out of breath. And

unlike some multi-valve engines, the Lumina's is relatively smooth and quiet, pulls

powerfully around town and purrs contentedly on plain old 87-octane gas.

What's more, both powertrains now have 100,000-mile platinum spark plugs, 5-year

coolant and lifetime transmission fluid for the maintenance-averse.

Extended seat time in both the base and LS Lumina also revealed what may be this car's

one drawback--its front seats. Even the uplevel buckets on the LS are too soft in the

center, and offer little side support through deer-in-the-road manuevers. We tried

raising, lowering, tilting and reclining the $300 power driver's seat to

compensate--all to little avail. But considering the Lumina's low price, you should

have enough left over for a lifetime supply of foam seat wedges.