The Fight For Number One! - Road Test
Cabin FeverAll three cars are invitingly accommodating inside-as any good family sedan should be. The Taurus' sleek, wind-tunnel-molded exterior belies its generous interior space. Thanks to a body length that's nine inches longer than the other two models, the Ford indulges rear passengers with limolike legroom: 3.4 inches more than the Camry and over 4.5 more than the Accord. Plus, almost three inches of extra width translates into comfortably more shoulder and hiproom than in the others.
Styling is certainly a subjective factor, and perhaps nowhere are there more divergent opinions than those regarding the Taurus' aesthetics. The car's interior is bold and risk-taking-a sharp contrast to the safe, intentionally conservative "world car" approach of the other two models. Several of our testers felt that the Taurus' dash controls, particularly the ovoid Integrated Control Panel, lack intuitiveness and take some getting used to.
Our Taurus' leather-wrapped seats (a $990 option), with six-way power adjustments, also drew mixed reviews. Some of the test drivers found them comfortable and supportive, while others labeled them the worst of the group, a disparity of opinion not uncommon among different-size test drivers. Nonetheless, the overall cabin environment of the Taurus is friendly and inviting, thanks in part to such options as automatic air conditioning, a premium audio system, and a six-disc CD changer. In the rear seat, however, there's a noticeable lack of headroom: almost 1.5 inches less than in the other vehicles. A split-folding rear seat is standard.
The Camry and Accord have almost identical body dimensions, yet Toyota has been able to carve out more passenger space inside its sedan, providing about an inch more legroom in both the front and rear, almost two extra inches of rear shoulder room, and about 1.5 and 2.5 inches of front and rear hiproom, respectively. This edge is the difference between the EPA classifying the Camry as a Midsize car and the Accord as a Compact.
The Camry's leather-clad seats (an $1100 option) are plush, well-padded, and supportive-good companions for all-day drives. The dash controls are well organized and user-friendly, though with about as much pizzazz as a vice presidential debate. In addition to standard split-folding rear seats, the Camry offers an optional integrated child seat (not included on our test car). The Camry was also the best isolated of the three, effectively damping outside noise to provide a quiet, more serene driving environment reminiscent of a more costly luxury car.
Our Accord LX's cloth-covered seats were noticeably firmer than those in the other two cars. Several testers liked the sportier attitude of these seats and rated them best of the group, while others preferred the softer appeal of the Camry and Taurus perches. For leather upholstery, you need to move up to the top-of-the-line EX trim level, which carries a $2600 higher suggested retail of $25,100.
As in the Toyota, the Honda's controls are logically placed and easy to access, though conservatively styled. One editor noted, "Like khaki pants and a blue oxford shirt, the Accord interior is a little bland but nearly timeless. It will still be attractive five years from now."
The Honda's rear seat is a one-piece foldable unit that can be locked in the upright position to prevent unauthorized entry into the trunk. Although this doesn't offer the versatility of the split-back designs of the Taurus and Camry, a small pass-through door behind the folding armrest somewhat compensates. On paper, the Accord's rear legroom is the skimpiest of the three, though there's adequate knee room for most adults. The rear seats drew criticism for being overly firm, even from those who preferred the fronts.
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