1996 Ford Probe

Although it's a carryover design in a market segment full of new faces, the Ford Probe has been, and will likely continue to be, the leader of the small sport- coupe pack. Given the competition - Acura Integra, Honda Prelude, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Celica, Nissan 240SX and Mazda MX-6 - being top dog is an indication that Ford did something right when it introduced the Probe for the 1989 model year. In fact, Ford did a number of things right. One was to produce this sleek front-drive coupe in partnership with Mazda, a ready source for some pretty sophisticated and already-available hardware. Giving company designers the freedom to produce a stunning body shape was another smart move, as was keeping the Probe's price low and affordable. The Ford/Mazda collaboration resulted in one major plus for both the Probe and the MX-6: Unlike other players in this category, both offer V6 powerhouses, a decided advantage in terms of smoothness. Among its 4-cylinder competitors, only the Integra and Prelude come close to matching the Probe's silky delivery. But a spending few miles behind the Probe's steering wheel will tell you that Ford's smartest move was to pay close attention to the details that separate passenger carriers from sportsters. Simply put, the Probe is lots of fun to drive. Models include base and GT versions. Our test GT, stocked with anti-lock brakes (ABS), power everything, leather seats and an AM/FM/CD sound system, came to $21,265.