The Lumina's interior is noteworthy for its plain simplicity and its roominess. The standard seating capacity
is six passengers; the LTZ has bucket seats up front and, therefore, can carry five passengers. The back seat
fits three real adults. A $125 optional integrated child seat is a convenient and space-efficient way to carry
a youngster.
The minimal controls are clear and easy to use. Round, analog gauges are housed in the instrument panel, while
large, rotary knobs control the heating system. Everything is within easy reach, but it would be better if the
more frequently used radio controls were located above the heating controls. Extensive sound-deadening has produced
a pleasantly quiet interior.
The $17,795 base Lumina has a solid menu of standard features: dual air bags, air conditioning, automatic
transmission, power door locks, rear child locks, height-adjustable seat belts up front and child comfort adjustment
loops on the rear belts. It has a short, thoughtful list of amenities including a gas cap tether, intermittent wipers,
and a lined storage cubby to the left of the steering wheel handy for toll tickets.
An oil wear indicator alerts the driver when it's time to change the oil. More than just an oil odometer, it
calculates wear based on driving habits by tracking engine temperatures and engine speeds. Lots of short, cold
hops around town? The light will come on sooner. Scores of easy-riding highway miles? You can stretch out the
time between oil changes.
Stepping up to the LS trim level we tested adds $2000 to the base price and many good features: antilock brakes
(ABS), power windows and mirrors, cruise control, a better radio with a cassette player, 16-inch wheels, trip
odometer, cargo net and a higher quality of cloth on the seats.
OnStar, previously found only on Cadillacs, is an intriguing new option this year for the Lumina. With this
system, you are linked via cellular phone to a 24-service center that can identify your location and perform
many services.
Among other things, the OnStar advisors can give you directions, tell you where the nearest gas station or
ATM is, make hotel reservations, unlock your car doors remotely, and even diagnose some car troubles. If you are
in an accident and the airbags deploy, the center will receive a signal and can call for an ambulance even if
you are unconscious.
OnStar isn't cheap. It costs about $1,000 to purchase and install, plus a monthly service charge of $22.50.
But the idea of always being able to reach a human being for help can be comforting.
In keeping with its stick-to-the-basics design philosophy, the Lumina provides competent ride and handling.
Ride quality leans to the soft side, but body roll has been reduced in the '98 models, thanks to thicker front
stabilizer bars.
The exceptionally rigid body structure contributes a solid confidence to the handling. This generation
Lumina, which appeared in the 1995 model year, was originally engineered to replace the Caprice, so the engineers
went out of their way to give it the substantial, somewhat isolated feel typical of a traditional full-size
domestic sedan. The handling will seem slightly remote to someone used to more nimble imports, but it is
predictable and gets the job done without any melodrama.
The standard engine is the same as last year's, a 160-horsepower 3.1-liter V6 that delivers plenty of power
for comfortable passing and maneuvering. It is mated with GM's smooth 4T60-E four-speed automatic transmission.
The LTZ package, which suffered some launch pains in '97, is finally looking like a real option. The LTZ
package debuted last year with a 215-horsepower 3.4-liter V6, but production problems emerged fitting the engine
to the car. Chevy finally abandoned the 3.4-liter and went with the trusty 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V6.
The 3800 Series II is a superior choice. It makes 15 less horsepower than the 3.4, but it has more torque.
Overall, it is a more reliable, better-performing powerplant. It is the same engine used in the Buick LeSabre,
Oldsmobile Intrigue, and Pontiac Grand Prix GT and Bonneville.
Complementing the LTZ's larger engine is a suspension designed for a firmer, more controlled ride. Premium
P225/60R-16 Goodyear Eagle RS-A blackwall touring tires improve grip, while four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
provide better stopping power.
The LTZ is priced in two steps. The base LTZ price of $20,295 includes the appearance items. For $500 more,
you get the 3800 engine, firmer suspension, and heavy-duty 4T65-E four-speed transmission, options we
highly recommend.
Both engines feature money-saving maintenance aspects such as 100,000-mile spark plugs and 5-year/100,000-mile
coolant. The stainless steel exhaust system reduces corrosion and replacement costs.