This hotly contested segment has two clear benchmarks; the Acura TL and Lexus ES 300. Both succeed in blending comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. ES 300 offers a little more luxury and TL, with it's Type-S, a bit more sport.

We Recommend the sporty and Euro-flavored BMW 3-Series as a rear-drive alternative. The "3" has enough bodystyles and engine choices to suit anyone. At the other end of the near-luxury spectrum is the posh and comfortable Buick Park Avenue--an old-school luxo-cruiser from Detroit.

Though last-minute production glitches twice delayed it from reaching dealers, the reborn T-Bird is virtually sold out for 2002. But don't worry if you missed this year. Industry sources say this car is on a six-year design cycle, which means no basic change through model-year 2007.

Ford caps production at around 25,000 a year, partly to prop up resale values, but mainly to keep the retro-Bird exclusive and thus desirable. Indeed, one of this car's major missions is image-polishing, something Ford Motor Company needs a lot of just now.

As for what's in store, Ford apparently plans to market the T-Bird along the same lines as the subcompact Focus, offering new features and special-edition packages from time to time to keep buyers interested and delivered prices at or above sticker. Though we can't say when, the Bird is likely to acquire antiskid control, a navigation system with satellite and cell-phone links, and possibly voice activation for navigation, audio and climate controls. Jaguar's S-Type sedan, a T-Bird "platform mate," already offers these items, so it seems only a matter of time before the Bird gets them too.