plenty of stretch-out room inside, no matter whether you're sitting in front or back.

Granted, the passenger in the center of the front bench seat has to share

accommodations with the transmission tunnel but even that position offers more comfort

than in some subcompact cars.

The instrument panel was redone two years ago, along with the rest of the cabin.

It carries the basic dials in traditional or optional electronic digital form, plus

controls for the standard air conditioning system and radio. All knobs are laid out

sensibly and are located for easy access.

Basic versions carry most of the power assists and convenience features customers

demand. Aside from air conditioning and the basic--but good--AM/FM radio, power windows

and mirrors are supplied with every Marquis and Crown Vic, along with nice details

such as heat ducts to the rear seat area, automatic on/off headlights, illuminated

window and door lock buttons, tilt steering wheel, grab handles for front and rear

passengers and a driver's footrest.

That doesn't mean that a host of upgrades aren't available. Upholstery (cloth) and

carpeting are improved in the step up from base to LS/LX, as is the driver's half of

the front seat, which gets power adjustments.

But the real attraction of LS and LX lies in the availability of some desireable

options (desireable in terms of both quantity and quality) not offered in the

less-expensive versions. Many are available on a stand-alone basis--leather seats,

remote keyless entry and two more versatile sound systems, for example--but most are

incorporated into option groups that bring together popular extras for less than the

total of their individual prices, a common practice that pays off for manufacturer and

consumer both.

Our Grand Marquis LS test car had almost all of them. One combined power door

locks with cruise control and illuminated entry; another had some desireable chassis

options, power adjustments for both sides of the front seat, electronic instruments

(which we could have done without), electronic temperature control for the air

conditioning system and remote keyless entry.

The emphasis is on luxury, and it pays off. Marquis and Crown Vic, properly

equipped, rival some much more expensive cars in the way they coddle their occupants. That's a tradition worth sustaining.