1996 Geo Prizm Midsize comfort in a small sedan. By Paul A. Eisenstein, New Car Test Drive .com

Remember the term "economy car"? It used to mean a stripped-down box with barely

enough power to get out of its own way. Options included little more than a sideview

mirror, floor mats and an AM radio.

Well, those days are long gone. Economic realities being what they are, it's hard

to find a truly inexpensive automobile these days. But those that do qualify for the

economy car descriptor are surprisingly sophisticated, with dual airbags standard and

antilock brakes and CD players as your options.

The Geo Prizm is one very good example of how much you can get for your money

these days--with careful attention to the options list. It's a car that offers at least

some of the performance and handling attributes you used to expect only on a much more

expensive automobile.

Many customers see the Prizm as the best of both worlds. It is primarily of

Japanese origin, a very close cousin to the Toyota Corolla. Both cars are produced at

the NUMMI assembly plant in Fremont, California, operated as a joint venture between

Toyota and General Motors. So you get the benefit of some excellent Toyota components,

and if Buy American is a priority, you've got that going for you, too.

There are two levels of Prizm, base and LSi, both 4-door sedans, both front-wheel

drive. The differences between the two aren't really apparent unless you're in the

showroom loading up your option list.

If you're looking for a little more power, then the LSi will probably be your

choice, with a 1.8-liter engine that offers much stronger low-rpm performance. It was

our choice for this report.