Personal Picks: Family sedans, part 2

Here, the Cars staff members cast their own personal perspective on the vehicles in the March-issue family sedan test group, including the Chrysler Sebring, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, and Saturn Aura.

Mike Quincy: I can't get over how good the basic, four-cylinder Honda Accord is. (V6 model shown.) I find this even more amazing considering that it's at the end of its product cycle yet still kicks the tailpipes of many newer and more expensive models. Even the editors at one of those "other" car magazines picked it as their family car champion. For about $23,000, it delivers 24 mpg overall and a cruising range (I'm big on this) of 445 miles. The Accord's fabulous reliability record, responsive steering, and excellent attention to detail are further pluses. Admittedly, I'm seduced by the Altima's speed, but I'm won over by the overall greatness of the Accord.

Tom Mutchler: "A Honda Accord" is an automatic response to the frequently asked question, "What car should I buy?" I recently suggested an Accord to two good friends, as well as my sister. (So far I'm 0 for 2, with one undecided.) The Accord does so much, so well: both engines are efficient and refined, very good steering feel, the seats are great, crash tests and reliability are strong. Very little is wrong--mostly some road noise. Before my job here at the track, I came close to buying one myself.

But newer competitors are tugging at my heartstrings. The Nissan Altima offers more cool stuff--like keyless entry and ignition--than the Accord, and the four-cylinder/CVT combination is an amazingly good powertrain. (Maybe I would even take it over the rocket ship V6. Maybe.) I love the way our Ocean Mist/Morocco brown leather Saturn Aura XR looks, but it just doesn't reach the very high bar in the class for driving dynamics or interior refinement.

Maybe I'm asking too much, but when I remember the good points of my now-sold 2000 VW Passat wagon, I pine for more from the Accord. You could get stability control on any Passat model; the Accord forces you to get a V6. As a child of the '70s, I fondly think of "station wagon" when I think of "family car." While the Passat (and Subaru) offers a wagon, Honda hasn't sold an Accord wagon here in well over a decade. Looking over some old CR discussion threads, I'm not alone in wanting one.

The Accord will be redesigned for 2008. With the great 2007 Nissan Altima nipping at its heels in our Ratings, the quieter Toyota Camry outselling it, and the appealing styling of the Saturn Aura (and the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu on the way), the Accord will have its work cut out for it. I wouldn't be too surprised to see wider stability control availability post-redesign. But please, Honda, can we have a wagon this time around?