Pros
Sleek styling, solid chassis, composed ride, comfortable front seats.

Cons
Heavy recirculating ball steering, tiny backseat, large blind spots in convertibles, some low-grade interior switches, intrusive traction control system.

What's New for 2002
A convertible version of this hot coupe debuts, adding the joy of open-air motoring to its scintillating performance

Powertrains and Performance:

The four-cylinder engine found in the RS and GS models displaces 2.4 liters and produces 147 horsepower (142 hp with the automatic). The GT model comes equipped with a responsive 3.0-liter V6 engine making 200 horsepower. The GTS is slightly more muscular than the GT, as it sports 210 horses. All models can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, with GS, GT and GTS automatics featuring a sequential-shift Sportronic mode.

Three major safety features -- antilock brakes, side airbags and traction control -- are only available on the top trim level, the GTS. In the government crash tests, the Eclipse scored four (out of five) stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts and five stars for side-impact protection.

Featuring a symmetrical cockpit, the Eclipse's interior is lackluster in appearance and heavy on low-grade interior materials. There is, however, a unique top-mounted display for the audio system, but you still have to look down to fiddle with the buttons on the stereo, so it doesn't help much. The front seats are softly padded, which is a nice feature for long commutes, but more aggressive drivers will be begging for additional side support. Rear passengers will want more of just about everything, including headroom, legroom and thigh support.

Eclipses, particularly with the V6 engine, are pleasant to drive, thanks to a smooth power delivery and a compliant suspension. Power from the four-cylinder is certainly adequate, and the V6's torque curve makes it an easy car to drive around town and on the highway. In terms of handling, the car is better suited for cruising rather than hard driving. The suspension is softly tuned, and driver involvement is minimal.

The four-cylinder engine found in the RS and GS models displaces 2.4 liters and produces 147 horsepower (142 hp with the automatic). The GT model comes equipped with a responsive 3.0-liter V6 engine making 200 horsepower. The GTS is slightly more muscular than the GT, as it sports 210 horses. All models can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, with GS, GT and GTS automatics featuring a sequential-shift Sportronic mode.

Three major safety features -- antilock brakes, side airbags and traction control -- are only available on the top trim level, the GTS. In the government crash tests, the Eclipse scored four (out of five) stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts and five stars for side-impact protection.

Featuring a symmetrical cockpit, the Eclipse's interior is lackluster in appearance and heavy on low-grade interior materials. There is, however, a unique top-mounted display for the audio system, but you still have to look down to fiddle with the buttons on the stereo, so it doesn't help much. The front seats are softly padded, which is a nice feature for long commutes, but more aggressive drivers will be begging for additional side support. Rear passengers will want more of just about everything, including headroom, legroom and thigh support.

Eclipses, particularly with the V6 engine, are pleasant to drive, thanks to a smooth power delivery and a compliant suspension. Power from the four-cylinder is certainly adequate, and the V6's torque curve makes it an easy car to drive around town and on the highway. In terms of handling, the car is better suited for cruising rather than hard driving. The suspension is softly tuned, and driver involvement is minimal.

The four-cylinder engine found in the RS and GS models displaces 2.4 liters and produces 147 horsepower (142 hp with the automatic). The GT model comes equipped with a responsive 3.0-liter V6 engine making 200 horsepower. The GTS is slightly more muscular than the GT, as it sports 210 horses. All models can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, with GS, GT and GTS automatics featuring a sequential-shift Sportronic mode.

Three major safety features -- antilock brakes, side airbags and traction control -- are only available on the top trim level, the GTS. In the government crash tests, the Eclipse scored four (out of five) stars for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts and five stars for side-impact protection.

Featuring a symmetrical cockpit, the Eclipse's interior is lackluster in appearance and heavy on low-grade interior materials. There is, however, a unique top-mounted display for the audio system, but you still have to look down to fiddle with the buttons on the stereo, so it doesn't help much. The front seats are softly padded, which is a nice feature for long commutes, but more aggressive drivers will be begging for additional side support. Rear passengers will want more of just about everything, including headroom, legroom and thigh support.

Eclipses, particularly with the V6 engine, are pleasant to drive, thanks to a smooth power delivery and