I survived over 250,000 miles in 4 Pintos - company cars when I was doing appraisal & collision-and-fire forensics work in the '70s.
One of 'em "won" a head-on with a gal in a Beetle who cranked a sudden left in front of me (we were both OK, surprisingly...& gratefully).
Not horrible cars IMO for the time, but nothing to write home about.

Cop cars ? Never drove one like in the OP, but I was impressed by the CHP Polaras & LAPD '69 Belvederes.