1997 Eagle Talon Review

There always has been scant consumer recognition of Chrysler's little-promoted Eagle nameplate. Pity. The made-in-Illinois Eagle Talon, which is similar to the Mitsubishi Eclipse and sold by Jeep/Eagle dealers, deserves higher sales.

The $14,059-$20,271 Talon has looked like a junior Ferrari since its radical 1995 restyling. It looks even more so with 1997 styling changes, which provide a bolder appearance. The changes include a really aggressive-looking front end, revised lower-body cladding and restyled rear end, with a wilder looking rear spoiler for turbocharged models.

Styling is a big consideration among the mostly younger buyers of small sport coupes like the Talon, which has decent room up front but space only for preteens or pets in the tiny rear seat. Cargo room is acceptable for a small coupe, but the rear hatch opening is too high for easy loading or unloading.

One of the nice things about the Talon is that those on budgets can opt for the $14,059 base or $14,830 ESi front-wheel-drive models and get a zoomy-looking, well-equipped car. Those models are powered by a sophisticated 140-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder with dual overhead camshafts and 16 valves.

The rocket-like Talons are the TSi front-drive model with a turbocharged, 210-horsepower four-cylinder and TSi AWD model with the same ferocious motor and a good all-wheel-drive system.

Those opting for the smooth 140-horsepower models should get the standard five-speed manual transmission because the optional four-speed automatic soaks up power and causes strictly average performance. The 2-liter engine is small, so it doesn't provide much snap below 3,500 r.p.m. Fuel economy--also an issue with young sport coupe buyers--is an estimated 22 m.p.g. in the city and 33 on highways with the manual, which has a nice shift linkage, and 21 and 31 with the efficient automatic.

The turbocharged Talon is best ordered with the full-time all-wheel-drive system because the engine produces so much power and torque that the front-drive setup often can't handle it without causing marked torque steer--which causes the front wheels to jerk to the left or right during hard acceleration, mostly from a standing start and on slippery roads.

The all-wheel-drive setup eliminates torque steer by spreading power evenly to all four tires, besides adding extra grip on slippery roads. Estimated fuel economy of turbo models is decent, at 23 and 31 with the manual and 20 and 27 with the automatic.

The Talon is fun to drive largely because it has quick steering, nimble handling and responsive braking. That's especially true for the turbocharged models, with their stiffer suspensions, bigger tires and fade-resistant four-wheel disc brakes.

However, the generally quiet Talon produces a fair amount of road noise. And a short 98.8-inch wheelbase sometimes causes a jerky ride on highways and rough roads--particularly with the stiffly sprung turbocharged models.

Supportive front bucket seats face a nicely designed dashboard with sports car instrumentation. The interior can be made very posh, if one is willing to spend the extra money for such things as leather upholstery.
But no Talon looks or feels cheap. The regular models are a bargain; the turbocharged models--especially the AWD version--are almost a steal for the money.