My pleasant and relaxed experiences came mainly from the smooth-riding and strong-handling characteristics of the car. The

My pleasant and relaxed experiences came mainly from the smooth-riding and strong-handling characteristics of the car. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

P195/60R15 all-season tires wrapped around 15-inch alloy wheels enhance the four-wheel independent suspension, which is comprised of a front toe control-link independent strut with coil springs and rear double-wishbones with coil springs, creating a soft but sturdy suspension with good grip. In addition, the variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering connecting through to the leather-wrapped steering wheel allowed me to execute turns with precision and ease. The wheel was very well designed, making it easy to grip it at the optimum 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, not to mention that the leather felt soft and supple in my hands.

As mentioned, the EL Premium comes with a leather-trimmed interior. The front bucket seats are quite comfortable to sit in, plus they come standard with seat warmers. I know it is spring, but when I go to the gym or to work early in the morning, I love starting my day off with

The interior also includes both wood-print trim and silver accents which, in my opinion, don't work all that well together. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

warm buns! Besides, the leather still gets a little crisp after a cold night in the garage. The interior also includes both wood-print trim and silver accents which, in my opinion, don't work all that well together. It almost seems like Acura was trying too hard to amalgamate both a sporty and sophisticated interior into one, but the overall effect struggles to properly blend the two trim lines together. For me, it's either or. The brown and silver combo is not so hot. Still, if sporty and sophisticated is what you are looking for, holding out just a little longer until the redesigned Honda Civics hit the market in 2006 might just be the answer. After all, the Civic is, in essence, the same car as the EL. It's no secret.