Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both come in coupe and sedan form, offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced.
Recommended models include the smooth Buick Century, the import-flavored Chevy Malibu, the sporty Nissan Maxima, surprising Olds Intrigue, and the good-looking Pontiac Grand Prix. All come with V6 power, offer lots of standard equipment, and have pleasing road manners that will suit a variety of driving styles.
If you are looking for something a touch bigger without spending a whole lot more we suggest the Budget Buy Chevy Impala. It's the largest car in this class, has a powerful V6, and doesn't cost any more than the others.

Launched in the summer of '99 with high hopes but not the right fanfare, the L-Series has been a sales disappointment so far. Saturn planned on selling 160,000 in the first year and upwards of 200,000 thereafter, but orders though April 30, 2000 were just over 50,000, forcing Saturn to slow or suspend L-Series production several times for "inventory adjustment"--at least three times in 2000 alone.
Saturn knew it would be tough entering the hotly contested midsize class, especially against the top-selling Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, but GM's "different kind of car company" probably hadn't figured on the going being this tough. Saturn officials have admitted that early L-Series advertising didn't give consumers a clear idea of what the car is. Industry-watchers also cite fairly bland styling as a factor in the lower-than-expected demand. In addition, a no-haggle pricing policy works against Saturn in this case, because it goes against the time-honored ploy of using temporary price cuts to clear out unsold stock. However, Saturn began offering low-rate financing and special lease deals last spring in an effort to jump-start L-Series sales.
Being brand-new, the L-Series will see few basic changes over the next few years. However, the 2001 models will add an important safety feature in newly optional "curtain" side airbags, which drop down from above the windows to provide head and neck protection in a side impact. Among class rivals, only the '01 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus sedans will match this feature, which has so far been the preserve of premium-priced cars. Saturn has yet to announce the option's price.
According to currently known plans, the L-Series will be fully redesigned for the 2005 model year. At that time it will move to the new General Motors Epsilon platform to become a not-too-distant relative of the next-generation Chevy Malibu, Olds Alero, and Pontiac Grand Am.