Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both come in coupe and sedan forms, offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced.

Recommended models include the smooth Chevrolet Impala, 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. We've also added the Ford Taurus and clone Mercury Sable to our Recommended list.

Like sister Century, Regal scored lower sales in calendar 2000, but declined more (12 percent versus Century's 9) to around 65,000. An aging basic design (vintage 1997) is probably to blame in each case.

Regal will remain pretty much as is until model-year 2004, when it's scheduled to be redesigned on General Motors' new front-drive "Mid Lux" platform. Century may follow the same program. Not much is known about either version now, but Regal may offer some exclusive features seen on the 1999 Regal Cielo concept, such as a fully retracting glass sunroof/rear window and an in-car "Personal Vehicle Assistance" system designed to work with various portable data and game devices. Late word is that budget-minded GM may drop Regal or Century with the redesign, feeling that sales don't justify the expense of fielding two related midsize Buick sedans.

On the horizon for 2005 is Signia, a midsize sport wagon built on a stretched version of GM's upcoming Epsilon front-drive platform. (Pontiac was to follow suit with its similar Banner, but that one probably won't make it, according to recent rumors.) Again, specifics are hard to come by, but Signia should be another "crossover" SUV, though with a more car-like profile than the recently introduced Rendezvous. However, Buick has lately put Signia on the back burner, so it's unclear now whether this model will actually see the light of day.