Like many people, I’ve always been a fan of the Honda Accord. Second on the list of top-selling cars in the United States, the Accord always looks and feels like a more expensive vehicle.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise I thoroughly enjoyed a week behind the wheel of the Accord’s more sophisticated cousin – the 2008 Acura RL.

After selling nearly 100,000 units in 2005, sales of the Status dropped nearly in half in 2006. That was enough to convince parent company Chrysler it was time to pull the plug on the modest, mid-size sedan. It was a necessary if Dodge wanted to stay competitive in the mid-size sedan classification. Dodge filled the opening with the Avenger.

It's a catchier name and Chrysler hopes the vehicle will also attract more buyers. The larger dimensions – 2.5 more inches of headroom, 1.2 inches greater shoulder room, and 2.5 inches higher — are definite factors that make an easier entry and exit in comparison to the forgettable Stratus.

This time of year I’m typically plotting a getaway day or two into the snow country. But the thinking of this longtime skier far outweighs what actually happens, which is why there is nothing to report about how the 2008 Subaru Legacy responded in the snow-shrouded Lake Tahoe region.

When discussing the Subaru lineup the first thing often mentioned is the all-wheel drive capability, because a foul-weather vehicle is always desirable in many regions of the country. Every Subaru is equipped with a traction-grabbing advantage that makes many drivers like me eager to take a journey into the high country.

Even before last year’s redesign, the Nissan Altima was among major players in the mid-size world. The Altima is a smart-looking sedan with a solid 4-cylinder option and a more appealing, performance-laden V6.

With the combination of family appeal and sporty look, the Altima became the sixth most popular selling car in the United States for 2006. Last year’s successful redesign also included a  hybrid option, allowing the Altima to further compete the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Despite the improvements, the 2008b Altima has a difficult time competing with the Camry and Accord in total sales.

Not only did Ford’s sales dive sharply in 2007 , it was overtaken by Toyota as No. 2 in the American market. And Toyota probably won’t stop there. GM’s days as king of the hill also look numbered.

 

Looking for answers, Ford did a couple of things right last year, introducing a two solid crossover sport utility vehicles that were well received. Neither the Ford Edge or its Lincoln cousin, the MKX, could halt the overall slide, but they made a difference at a time when a success story or two were desperately needed.

Anyone who's driven a Subaru knows the manufacturer's all-wheel drive system is an industry leader. In automotive parlance, it's the only system that combines a horizontally opposed engine with a symmetrically arranged AWD system.

What that means is that handling and steering throughout the Subaru line is superior. Subarus confidentially entertain any driving situation, and that's why the brand is particularly popular in mountain areas where obstacles can be presented without warming.

With 16 manufacturers offering midsize cars and another 10 manufacturers in the premium midsize market, newcomers in the exceedingly popular category often face rough sales roads.

Saturn didn't fare well with its midsize L-Series, which was discontinued in 2004. But the General Motors division is trying again with the 2007 Aura.

There's little doubt Honda, Toyota and Nissan will remain category frontrunners, at least for now. But like updated and soundly improved sedans offered by Hyundai and Mercury, the Aura should soon be in the mix among the small corps infiltrating the leaders' dominance.

Nearly 35 years ago, I drove my family's four-door Volvo sedan about 400 miles in one day. The journey was from Riverside to Walnut Creek, Calif., and despite my mother and grandmother's concerns, as a teenage driver I drove the entire way home from my sister's college graduation. I nearly fell asleep at the wheel more than once. But I pridefully made it, arriving home with some youthful, misguided pride.

My family's four-door, automatic transmission sedan was boxy and underpowered. But its secure ride — the well-known Volvo trait — was something to experience. Fast forward to my recent weekly drive of the 2006 Volvo S40, and the Swedish vehicle still has the same solid feel -- the Volvo "signature."

Could there be a more generically named group of vehicles than those lumped together as "midsize cars"? The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima are all in the category, and all enjoy a loyal consumer following.

The Mazda 6 is also in group. And while not as refined as the Accord or Camry, the Mazda 6 — available in 16 configurations — is a sporty alternative. In fact, with a wagon, hatchback and turbocharged, 274-horsepower edition among the options, the Mazda 6 greatly expands the boundaries of the class.

Golf courses to restaurants, the quaintness of the small towns to the Pacific Ocean, there's nothing quite like a visit to the Monterey Peninsula. But the 200-mile drive from Sacramento is also an ideal route for testing cars. The high-speed interstate to narrow city streets, there's no place to hide a car's faults and there are plenty of opportunities for a vehicle to showcase its best attributes.

My weekly test drive on a recent visit to the Monterey Peninsula was the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. It's available in three versions, the 4-cylinder Value Edition and 2.0T (turbocharged) model and the higher performance V6 marketed as the sports model.