Comparison Tests
Image-sensitive soccer moms, knowing too well that they are what they drive, are reconsidering their transportwear this year.
Minivans remain déclassé—so lacking in flair, so Wal-Mart, so totally Practical Pig. Now the truck-chic SUVs are taking innuendo, too, for being hogs on stilts, gluttons at the resources trough.
Ouch! Caught between Betty Crocker gingham goodness on the one hand and the Union of Constipated Scientists on the other, where's a mom to turn?
May we show you something in a camouflage suit?
Nothing draws less comment, leaves fewer witnesses, and slips more easily through the Green Police lineup than a four-door sedan. It's default transportation. Every family used to go this way. We called it "the car."
In the jargon-infused parlance of today's image consultants, this sounds like "value-free transportation." No, no, no, this is covert by design. This is concealed carry. This is personal transportation that intentionally conceals all political, social, and class sentiments.
While the Green Police have been looking down their noses at moms' trucks, two Japanese brands have cooked up fresh four-doors for 2002, just like the family haulers Dad used to drive—only much improved. The Toyota Camry, America's bestselling car for three years through 2000, is all-new and roomier than ever. And after years of dodging the obvious competition, resurgent Nissan has created an upsize and hormone-injected Altima to compete feature to feature, legroom to legroom. These two old rivals are finally back in the center ring.
Do these new sedans live up to their promises? Our comparison tests are designed to answer just such a question. But first, let's make sure we all agree on what constitutes "the car." We ordered four-doors powered by V-6 automatics. In size, we set the minimum at 101 cubic feet of interior volume, which provides a generous family space. For price, we're mindful of the conflict. You always want "something good," but it has to be affordable, too. We figured $23,000 to $25,000 should bridge that gap.
Out went the casting call. Of course, Chevrolet's Impala LS should be invited. Naturally, Ford's Taurus gets a chance, in this case the SEL version. Anything those two can do, Dodge figures its roomy Intrepid can do better. Okay, we'll see.
Pontiac's Grand Prix couldn't reach our interior-size minimum, but Buick's veteran Regal qualified. And thanks to value pricing, a nicely equipped Regal LS lists for $23,670. We excused the lame-duck Oldsmobile Intrigue.
Speaking of value, that's Korea's specialty, and Hyundai pulled its top-of-the-line XG350 fresh from the oven earlier this year. It's big, it's loaded with features, and at $24,572, it's priced within our budget.
New is always appealing. That said, credentials count for a lot, too, particularly when the family budget is at risk. The Honda Accord is now entering the fifth year of its current body design, which puts it in the gray-and-balding category if you just look at its age. But the Accord is a special case, a top seed, voted onto our annual 10Best list for 15 years. No other car on the planet can match this track record for engineering virtue and down-the-road charm.
Still, it's a five-year-old model. What's that for a dog, 40 years?
Going in, this looks like a runoff between three hot new talents and one credentialed old-timer, with four utility infielders thrown in to play supporting roles.
In all, eight family four-doors. The assignment is concealed carry; that means comfortable seating for five while quietly ducking the controversy du jour.
Oh, and one other requirement, what we in this office think of as an entitlement—pleasure for the driver. The passengers can get their own magazine.
