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2008 Honda S2000 Road Test
Date Published: 9/24/08
Our road test for the 2008 Honda S2000 includes a full evaluation of the 2008 Honda S2000 from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2008 Honda S2000, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2008 Honda S2000 help you decide if a 2008 Honda S2000 is right for you.
2008 Honda S2000 Road Test
Pros Cons
Acceleration Ride
Steering/handling Passenger and cargo room
Brake performance
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

Base Class Average
8 6.6

Liberal shifting is needed for best performance, especially around town, but that's no problem with the slick, short-throw gearbox and manageable clutch action. S2000 provides a surprising supply of usable power across a broad rpm range, combined with ultrahigh-revving excitement. No opportunity to test an S2000 CR.
Fuel Economy

Base Class Average
6 5.5

In Consumer Guide testing, we averaged 24.6 mpg with mostly highway miles. Premium-grade gas is required.
Ride Quality

Base Class Average
3 4.1

A small, light, stiffly sprung sports car, so nearly every small bump and tar strip registers through the seats. Still, S2000 is never brutally harsh.
Steering/Handling/Braking

Base Class Average
10 8

Nimble and precise, with terrific cornering balance and virtually no body lean. Impressive straightline tracking. Braking is swift and easily modulated.
Quietness

Base Class Average
2 3.3

Top down, noise is unobjectionable. Top up, tire roar is very intrusive.
Controls

Base Class Average
6 5.6

S2000 has a cozy cockpit, so everything is close at hand. The audio unit is mounted a bit low, but redundant controls for major functions flank the steering wheel. Electronic bar-graph tachometer and digital speedometer are not the sports-car norm but are easy to read.
Details

Base Class Average
6 5

Materials are solid and assembled well. The power top operates quickly and seals well.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base Class Average
4 5.4

Large people have precious little room to spare, so they may find the seats too confining. A tall transmission tunnel adds to the cozy feel. Crouch-and-crawl entry and exit. Top-up visibility is not great over the shoulder but better than in many rivals.
Room/Comfort (rear)

Base Class Average
0 1.4

(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room

Base Class Average
2 2.9

Pack light. The trunk holds a fair number of plastic grocery bags or a couple of day packs. Interior storage is modest.
Value within Class

Base Class Average
6 6

The S2000 is pure sports car fun. It's a bit stiff-riding and noisy, and the Mazda MX-5 is a little more practical and a lot less costly, but for motoring enjoyment the spicy S2000 rivals the Porsche Boxster and a comparably powered BMW Z4 for thousands less.
Total Score

Base Class Average
53 53.8
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score
42
Average Score
53
High Score
70
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