The Fight For Number One! - Road Test - Sedans - Competition

Positive MotivationUnderhood, both the uplevel Camry and Taurus employ 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V-6s. While both powerplants deliver similarly strong output-200 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque for the Ford and 194 horsepower and 209 pound-feet for the Toyota-the Camry holds a clear edge in real-world performance. When you dip into the throttle, the Camry's three-liter provides a strong, positive launch and good midrange punch. It bounds up hills and executes high-speed passes with little effort, returning more power for your needs than you would expect from its quiet, civilized demeanor. This performance is enhanced by an impeccable four-speed automatic transmission-standard on the LE-that stays in sync with the power curve, always providing just the right gear and near-invisible shifts.

The Toyota is also the only one of the three to offer traction control. Should a drive wheel begin to spin, this optional system sequentially cuts back engine torque by retarding the ignition timing and slightly applying brake pressure to the slipping wheel.

The Taurus' Duratec V-6 also provides a healthy punch when in the meat of its power range, but seems to work harder without matching either the Camry's quickness or smoothness. And the Ford four-speed automatic transmission tends to be less decisive, especially on hills, where we found it often had to hunt for the right gear.

These differences were quantified at the test track, where the Toyota achieved a strong 7.7-second 0-60-mph run, a full half second faster than the Ford's 8.2-this despite the Ford having the best power-to-weight ratio (16.6:1 versus 16.9:1 for the Camry and 18.9:1 for the Accord). The Taurus compensates for this performance gap with the best fuel economy of the group; its 20/29 city/highway mpg holds an efficiency edge over the Honda's 19/25 and the Toyota's 19/26.

The Accord, with its slightly smaller 2.7-liter 24-valve SOHC aluminum V-6, comes in a definite third in the power department. It produces 170 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque, and managed only an 8.8-second 0-60 run, more than a half second behind the Taurus and more than a full second behind the Camry. Honda's V-6 has a sporty, high-revving attitude that, if not as potent as the others, is consistent with the car's quiet, civil temperament and fully adequate for most driving situations. The Accord's automatic transmission (standard on V-6 models) includes grade logic control for smarter shift performance on hills, and, as does the Camry's transmission, it performs flawlessly.

Through The Twists And Turns Of LifeAs different as these cars are in styling, interior comfort, and power delivery, flogging them through the twists and turns of everyday life fleshed out their personalities in sharply contrasting ways.

In terms of handling dynamics, the Accord is clearly the front-runner. This is where it shines most brightly. Equipped with an immaculately tuned four-wheel double-wishbone suspension, the Accord delivers a sporty, nimble feel that's comfortable in any driving situation. Its ride is compliant and controlled, if not as plush as the Camry's. Yet it never feels out of sorts or thrown off its game by bumps. Segue into a corner, and the Accord feels agile, predictable, and stable. It can be pushed hard without losing its composure, even in the type of hard transitional maneuvers that highlight the weaknesses of less-able cars like glow-in-the-dark pointers.

In the slalom, where we push cars to their transitional-handling limits, the Accord posted a nimble 63.6-mph run, as compared with 62.9 for the Camry and 62.0 for the Taurus. The Honda's edge was even more dramatic on the skidpad, where its 0.82 lateral-g limit was noticeably higher than the Toyota's 0.79 and the Ford's 0.77. This prowess is enhanced by a confidently accurate and positive rack-and-pinion steering system. Although it can't match the Toyota's mausoleum-level isolation, noise and vibration in the Accord are well contained and not distracting.