Toyota Camry LE Vs.Honda Accord LX Vs. Mazda 626 LX

Sport/utility vehicles may be riding the crest of an unprecedented wave of popularity, but traditional four-door sedans still reign supreme when it comes to serving as many families' prime people movers. This month, we've brought together three of the current top offerings in the mid-size segment for an in-depth, wheel-to-wheel-to-wheel confrontation.

Completely redesigned for '97, Toyota's Camry is a tried-and-true class benchmark, as well as the absolute sales leader (for model-year '97) among all passenger cars sold in America today. A former-and quite possible future-top dog itself, Honda's all-new-for-'98 Accord has the inside track in unseating the current champ. Rounding out the field is the equally new Mazda 626. While selling less than a third of either Accord or Camry volumes, it remains Mazda's most popular vehicle, and the firm is confident this latest iteration will have an even larger impact on the overall picture.

Although each of these cars displays major Japanese design influences, all are made in the United States and were primarily developed with American tastes in mind.

We configured these combatants to fit a typical real-world profile: mid-level models that pack optional V-6 engines and have starting prices between $20,000 and $23,000 and as-tested totals under $25,000. That latter constraint meant passing on certain higher-end extras like a sunroof and leather upholstery, but each still arrived with a load of attractive features including power windows/door locks/mirrors, air conditioning, tilt steering column, cruise control, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

For the record, our $21,550 Accord LX V-6 came devoid of options save for floormats and bottomlined at $22,024, including destination. With an automatic transmission (standard on both other cars) and California emission equipment as its sole extras, plus $450 in handling fees, our $20,665 626 LX V-6 ultimately stickered at $22,065. Priciest of the three was the six-cylinder Camry LX, which based at $22,978, including freight charges. Outfitted with a selection of optional goodies that included an upgraded sound system with CD, side-impact airbags, integrated rear child seat, cast-aluminum wheels, and floormats, plus California emissions hardware, it totaled $24,262.

Exterior styling of these front-drive family sedans can be described as typical of the class-clean and tasteful albeit remarkably unexciting. Although it's hard to envision any of them rolling off with a major styling award, each possesses a robust unibody structure beneath its stealthy sheetmetal and an airy greenhouse that affords excellent all-around visibility to the driver and passengers.

While each offers generously proportioned front and rear quarters, there are a number of subtle differences. With 101.7 cubic feet of interior space, the Honda possesses the most total useable interior area, claiming or tying for top honors in front/rear head and shoulder room, as well as front hip- and rear legroom. Graced with a 96.9-cubic-foot passenger compartment, the Camry matches the Accord in rear head, hip, and shoulder space, while the 626, with a slightly larger 97.1 cubic feet of total room, reigns supreme in the rear hiproom and up-front legroom specs.

In addition to a volume advantage, the Accord interior also boasts the most upscale overall flavor. Its new dash, in particular, has clear Acura overtones. Both the Camry and 626 rank a mini-notch below-pleasant and tidy, to be sure, although not very visually inspired. The Honda enjoys an edge in interior storage space as well. Supplementing the covered central bin common to all three cars, it has a large open cubby in the forward console area and map pockets in both front and rear doors.