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.

Malibu calendar-year sales eased some 5 percent in 2000, though volume remains more than respectable at 207,000-plus. Whether sales remain healthy is another matter, because this Chevy won't change much until model-year 2005. That's when a replacement Malibu appears on General Motors' new front-drive Epsilon midsize platform; Pontiac's Grand Am is on the same timetable. Epsilon is also the foundation for several other future GM products, including the next-generation Saab 9-3. Little can be confirmed about the '05 Malibu right now, but sources say it will be slightly wider outside and correspondingly roomier inside than today's model.