Although it's functional and elegantly simple, the 626 interior--like the exterior--is a

little low on pizzazz. The color scheme in our test car was a bit drab, although the

quality of the materials and assembly was as good as the best.

There are, however, a couple of elements that could stand improvement. The audio and

climate controls, for example, are set a trifle low in the center of the dashboard and

the various pushbuttons involved in both could be a little bigger.

Adjustment controls for the power-operated side mirrors are combined in a single

switch that's set low in the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. The function

of the switch is fine, but it's eclipsed by the wheel and it's not easy to use when

the car is moving.

Although the major instruments--speedo, tach, fuel and temp gauges--are easy to see

through the wheel, they could be a tad larger. And rear seat legroom isn't what you'd

call plentiful, although there's a little more of it here than there is in an Accord.

Call it average for a car in the smaller end of the midsize class.

The seats, however, are very good, particularly up front. These are nicely bolstered,

well-padded buckets designed to keep the driver and front seat passenger firmly

anchored during hard cornering.