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 import-flavored Chevy Malibu, plain-Jane Ford Taurus, 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. The restyled and larger Nissan Altima is new to the Recommended list this year. We are impressed with interior room and road manners, but disappointed by the budget-level interior materials and assembly.

Malibu calendar-year sales slipped about 5 percent in 2000, though volume was a respectable 207,000-plus. But demand has been on an accelerating slide since, down 14.6 percent year-to-year through the third quarter of 2001.

This Chevy won't change much until model-year 2005, when a replacement is due on General Motors' new front-drive Epsilon midsize platform. Pontiac's Grand Am follows the same formula and timetable. Epsilon is also the basis for several other future GM cars, including the next-generation Saab 9-3. Though little can be confirmed now, sources say the '05 Malibu will be slightly wider outside and correspondingly roomier inside than today's model.