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.

Though Sebring and Stratus have just been overhauled, Chrysler Group is already planning their successors. Expected for 2005 or '06, these cars reportedly ride a new platform developed by Mitsubishi for its redesigned 2004 Montero Sport SUV, 2005 Galant sedan and 2006 Eclipse sport coupe. Specifics are still some way from being decided, but Chrysler is said to be in charge of all car models on the new platform. Parent DaimlerChrysler, which owns a controlling 36-percent stake in Mitsubishi, wants to slash costs and speed development by using one platform instead of two or three for similar Chrysler Group and Mitsubishi models. Some observers see Sebring/Stratus coupes vanishing with the changeover, but the popular Sebring convertible will doubtless continue.

Until then, Sebring and Stratus should see no major design change. We'd expect a cosmetic freshening for '03 or '04. Some features not currently offered should be added along the way, including a Chrysler-developed navigation system, OnStar-type assistance/concierge service, front side airbags, and maybe rear side airbags for coupes and sedans.

Sebring's 2001 redesign seems to have been very good for sales, the line as a whole shooting up 89.2 percent year-to-year in calendar 2001. Stratus was also up for the period, but slightly trailed Sebring's volume, which benefitted from the convertible that Dodge doesn't offer. All Sebring body styles shows gains. Droptops were up 15.7 percent, coupes 29 percent, and sedans a startling 400 percent.