2000FordSVT ContourFord SVT Contour2000 Ford SVT ContourSedanSedanFWDKansas City, MOThe 2000 SVT Contour is unchanged from 1999.Powerful V6 engine, impressive handling, good value.Cramped rear seat, fussy radio controls, lack of refinement.We've made no apologies for our unabashed appreciation of the Ford SVT Contour. A labor of love from the Ford Special Vehicle Team (the same folks who bring us the Mustang Cobra and F-150 Lightning), the SVT Contour is a must-drive for budget-minded sport-sedan shoppers. SVT's version of Ford's Contour comes fully loaded, packed with real enthusiast hardware, and is capable of zero-to-60 mph sprints in just seven-and-a-half seconds. It's no wonder the SVT Contour has been a frequent visitor on Edmunds.com's "Most Wanted" list. Power comes from an SVT-modified 2.5-liter Duratec V6, which makes 200 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 169 foot-pounds of torque at 5,500 rpm. The sweet-revving engine is all-too-willing to reach redline quickly, and the muted burble from the exhaust makes the $23,000 domestic sedan sound like an expensive, exotic sports machine. The tires on the SVT Contour are considerably more performance oriented than those found on the regular Contour. For 2000, the SVT Contour is shod with 215/50ZR-16 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW performance radials. The suspension is equally tweaked to increase handling ability. The sporty little front-driver is surefooted and nimble on curvy roads, and the performance brakes and standard ABS inspire confidence. The SVT Contour looks good and performs a variety of functions well. It also does this without extracting a huge financial toll for your enthusiast yearnings. It's not perfect, mind you. The SVT version still inherits some of the Contour SE's faults, most of which concern the interior. The back seat is too small to comfortably fit three adults. There's also a difficult-to-operate stereo and too-small cupholders. It is rumored that 2000 will be the final year for the SVT Contour. Oddly enough, the sport sedan is one of the few car segments that have held promise in the face of booming truck sales. In fact, most of Ford's major competitors now claim at least one strong-selling sport-sedan model in their 2000 lineups. If you want a sport sedan and there are no SVT Contours left, you might want to look at a Nissan Maxima SE or Audi A4. Audi A4BMW 3-SeriesInfiniti I30Volkswagen Jetta336,000336,000336,0005Unlimited7.6 sec.133 ft.0.8262.5 litersV6200 hp @ 6600 rpm169 ft-lbs. @ 5500 rpm183.9 in.69.1 in.54.5 in.3110 lbs.106.5 in.39 in.36.7 in.53.9 in.53.3 in.50.7 in.45.5 in.42.4 in.34.3 in.13.9 cu.ft.StandardStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = Very GoodRating = GoodAverageGoodMarginalNot Tested14.5 gal.20 mpg / 29 mpg290 mi. / 421 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$20,725$22,9057.35%$585N/A3% of the Total MSRPSVT CONTOUR (5M): 2.5L V6 DOHC SMPI 24-valve engine, requires premium unleaded fuel; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 130-amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 4.06 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust with chrome tip; sport ride suspension, front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; power rack-and-pinion steering; 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-wheel antilock braking system; 14.5 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding, rocker panel extensions; monotone clearcoat paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored folding outside mirrors; front and rear 16" x 6.5" silver alloy wheels; P215/50ZR16 A/S BSW front and rear tires; inside under cargo mounted compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, air filter, rearheat ducts; AM/FM stereo, seek-scan, cassette, 4 performance speakers, amplifier, and power retractable antenna; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks with 2 stage unlock, remote keyless entry, child safety rear door locks, remote hatch/trunk release; 1 power accessory outlet, driver's foot rest; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down; variable intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front sports seats, adjustable headrests with tilt, driver's seat includes 6-way power seat, power 2-way lumbar support, passenger's seat includes 4-way direction control; 60-40 folding rear bench seat with fixed headrests, centerarmrest; front height adjustable seatbelts; leather seats, vinyl door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats, leather-wrapped gear shift knob; interior lights include dome light with delay front reading lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt adjustment; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, glove box, front cupholder, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.