Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced. Camry was new last year and Accord holds that honor this year.

Recommended models include the import-flavored Chevy Malibu, sporty Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Stratus twins, 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. Despite relatively high prices, the refined Volkswagen Passat is also Recommended. Sedan and wagon models are offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive and four-, six-, or class-exclusive eight-cylinder power. Budget-level interior materials and assembly disappointments aside, the Nissan Altima is Recommended for its impressive interior room, road manners, and reasonable price.

Chrysler Group has lately been making money again, but it still needs to pinch pennies. As a result, Sebring's planned redesign has been pushed back about 12 months, to model-year 2006, and the plans themselves redesigned. Instead of using a Chrysler-designed platform, the new models will be enlarged versions of Mitsubishi's next-generation Lancer. That subcompact is expected for '05 along with a redone Dodge Neon on the same regular-length foundation. The Sebring scenario will also apply to the related Dodge Stratus, but word is that coupes will be dropped from both lineups due to persistent sluggish sales. DaimlerChrysler owns a controlling 37-percent stake in Mitsubishi's Japanese parent. The revised midsize strategy reflects DC's desire to cut costs through greater underskin sharing among similar models regardless of brand.

Even so, Chrysler officials say the new Mitsubishi platform is flexible enough to spawn a variety of models with different external dimensions, wheelbase included. Indeed, some sources hint that a midsize wagon may in the cards, which implies a "junior Pacifica" for the Sebring line. Chrysler also says the redesign aims to make Sebring look less like Stratus despite another shared platform. We'll see.

Meantime, the current Sebring tallied 5.1-percent fewer sales in 2002, albeit after an 89.2-percent surge in calendar '01. Coupes accounted for most of the year-to-year slide, as sedans were essentially flat and convertibles were down just 2.8 percent, a loss of just 1265 units.