In an informal back-to-back test in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley, we discovered the Accord EX V-6 feels lighter on its feet than the Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu or Ford Taurus. Blasting up and down a rough, knarly little backroad, we explored the limits of handling, power and braking. The Camry offered superb damping over the ripply pavement and the Malibu surprised us with its handling prowess. The Taurus seemed out of its element, heavy and ponderous. But the Accord provided the sharpest transient response - turning left, then right, then left again. The Accord also had the best brakes.

The Accord corners well with steering that's light and precise. At the limit, it tends toward understeer - the front tires lose grip before the rear tires. (That's the right suspension tuning for most people, though serious driving enthusiasts may find it a little limiting.) The Accord offers incredibly good handling on bumpy roads; a series of big bumps in the middle of a turn hardly affects it. The suspension damps out the bumps and keeps the tires planted on the road. The tires, by the way, (P205/65VR15 Michelin MXV4) are quiet and the ride quality is flawless.

This handling balance is a benefit of the Accord's strong chassis and double-wishbone front and rear suspensions, which were completely redesigned for 1998.

In cruise mode, the V6 engine just purrs along, barely audible. Stomp on the throttle and the VTEC cam setup growls with authority. The 3.0-liter V6 is equipped with Honda's VTEC (Variable valve Timing and valve lift Electronic Control) system is tuned to deliver optimum torque over a broad rev range. It's so smooth and so quiet that sometimes a glance at the tachometer is required to confirm that it's running. It provides lots of power for merging into traffic or entertaining its driver.

It's possible to save some coin by ordering the 2.3-liter VTEC inline 4-cylinder engine, which was completely redesigned for 1998. It produces more power, less vibration and better fuel efficiency than its predecessor. It's so clean that the Accord EX and LX with automatic transmissions meet California's demanding ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV) standards; an LX automatic gets 30 mpg on the highway. Generating 150 hp at 5700 rpm, an Accord equipped with this engine is a great package that deserves consideration by anyone shopping for a roomy mid-size car that excels in quality, durability, reliability, smoothness, ride quality, practicality and fuel efficiency. Did we leave anything out?