According to our test driver, every update and refinement Honda has made to the newest edition of its bread-and-butter car is certain to keep most, if not all, Honda fans in the fold. And our tester should know - he drove a 1988 Honda for years and loved every mile of it. If you're not one of those loyal owners, however, the sticker price of the new Accord might make you pause.

The 1994 Accord EX we tested carried an MSRP of $20,187. That price was for the top-of-the-line, fully equipped version of the basic Accord. It came with air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo, power windows and door locks, dual air bags and a whole lot more as standard. It also boasted a 2.2liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, absolutely stunning styling updates, many creature comforts and Honda's trademark flawless fit-and-finish.

Unlike prior years, though, our '94 Accord EX didn't necessarily stand head and shoulders above other cars in its size and price range in terms of engineering and manufacturing integrity. We're not implying that Honda has slipped; it's just that a number of other domestic and imported makes have improved.