Our Amigo Hard Top came with the 3.2-liter V6 and automatic. The V6 revs quickly, providing quick getaways from intersections. Strong low-end torque peaks at 214 foot-pounds at 3,000 rpm. The Amigo sprints from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds -- a strong performance for a small SUV.Once up to speed, the Amigo is fun to drive. The big tires don't provide a lot of grip in paved corners, but the handling is very predictable and that makes the Amigo entertaining to drive. The 16-inch tires (P235 standard and P245 with the optional alloy wheels) have excellent compliance with the Amigo suspension, which smooths out the ride considerably. Mounted on a ladder-type frame with a five-point coil spring rear suspension and live rear axle, the Amigo retains some of its truck heritage. The rear tires have a tendency to bounce around when hitting big bumps. By comparison, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 are based on passenger car chassis; they ride smoother, but do not have the strong off-road capability of the Amigo. On smooth interstates, the Amigo V6 galavants happily. It's a pleasure to drive on curvy mountain highways where torque and horsepower are at a premium. The transmission smoothly applies the power and the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering responds well. At lower speeds, the steering is precise, which is equally helpful on crowded city streets and off road. The Amigo is much more fun to drive than a Kia Sportage. When equipped with the automatic, the Amigo can be shifted from rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive on the fly. Simply press the button on the dashboard. A floor-mounted lever engages a low-range set of gears for maximum torque in extreme off-road conditions. Four-wheel-drive models come with disc brakes front and rear, which provide ample stopping power. (Drum brakes in the rear are standard for two-wheel-drive models.) Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard on all Amigos. With all that off-road suspension travel, there is some nose dive under hard braking. We turned to the Rim of the World in the San Bernadino Mountains of California for some off-road driving. It was there, on steep, difficult grades where the four-wheel-drive Amigo really shined. The torque of the V6 worked in tandem with the tough, but compliant Bridgestone tires and rpm-sensitive steering. Our confidence rose as we rode over huge rocks and climbed through deep ruts. Our Amigo inspired a long afternoon in pursuit of craggy logging roads loaded with large rocks near Lake Arrowhead. Galvanized steel shields for the radiator and fuel tank helped sustain our confidence. The Amigo's four-wheel-drive system is designed for serious off-road use and should not be used on dry pavement.
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