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