All things considered, the 2.4L K24 is quite an amazing motor. Rated at 160hp at the crank, we have strong suspicions that it is underrated by a good 10-15hp, and our dyno testing seems to confirm these suspicions (more on that later).

Capable of mid 7-second 0-60 times (slightly traction limited in our testing), the car is certainly no slouch in traffic either. The K24 delivers a fairly even, steady stream of torque from just off idle all the way to around 5800 rpms, where it begins to fall off fairly rapidly. This translates to a sprightly step-off and brisk acceleration away from traffic lights or in merging situations. With 80% of peak torque available just off idle, and 90% on tap from about 2100 rpms all the way up to 5400 rpms, there's sufficient torque to provide ample acceleration at relaxed rpms.

Acceleration is smooth and linear, with virtually no perceived peakiness, so you'd be hard pressed to come up flat-footed in this car, especially with the snappy throttle response that only a naturally-aspirated motor can offer. Even saddled with the burden of nearly 800 lbs of passengers and cargo (yes, we tried it), the motor impresses with its ability to shrug off the load, without requiring stratospheric revs. This contributes greatly to the superb ride comfort for the driver and passengers alike, as the motor never seems to labor. It also pays dividends at the gas pump because there's no need to keep the motor up "on the cam" as is often the case with higher revving contemporaries.

While not as smooth or quiet as Honda's amazing 3.0L V-6, the K24 is at or near the top of the class in these categories when it comes to 4-bangers.

Check out the dyno results on the next page....