In alphabetical order, we start with the Axion Sirene XS, the French automaker’s first foray into the performance sedan market.
Its stark design hasn’t been as well-received as its engine, a dual overhead cam 3.5L 24 valve flat-6 presenting 301 horsepower in a sports car-like manner.
Despite all this power, wheelspin is unthinkable, as power is delivered through all 4 wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox, helping it lunge to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds towards a quarter-mile time of 14.23 seconds. The engine has very linear delivery, pulling strong to the redline. We felt that the gearbox has frustratingly long gear ratios, with a heavy clutch and a bulky, stiff action. This severely hampered its potential performance as the engine’s peakiness requires it to be revved hard to make the most of its power, necessitating constant shifting.
The all-wheel drive system along with stiffer sports suspension and anti-roll bar compared to other Sirenes, gives it secure handling in normal driving conditions, but the harshest ride of the group. This, combined with Z-rated performance tires and an aero kit, endows the Sirene XS with flat high speed cornering. However, we found an annoying tendency for the rear to skip around and become unstable mid-corner, and the vague power steering made it difficult to gauge the limits of its handling.
The all-disc anti-lock brakes gave it a short stopping distance of 114 feet from 62 mph, only behind the Turbol. We found a tendency for the rear to lock up slightly before the ABS kicked in, but stops were straight, and fade was never an issue.
One of the first things you notice on the interior is a faux wood accent on the dash, which livens up the plush-looking interior greatly. We wish the fit and finish were as good as the materials and design. A driver’s airbag is standard, along with seat-belt tensioners. We enjoyed the large, simple, and easy to read gauges that provided all the driving information we needed. The light control and the trip computer are located on the control pod to the left of the driver; both are easy to see and use, as are the controls for the automatic climate control that are mounted high on the dash. Lower down, the radio controls are well marked and easy to reach. The very firm seats give plenty of support and have a good bit of padding. We appreciated the standard power adjustments with seat position memory and heated seats, along with the steering that adjusts for tilt, and the split folding design of the rear seats. The spacious trunk holds 22.6 cubic feet of cargo and the cabin is the largest of the group.