Family cars with zoom.

SPORTY SEDANS * THESE MIDSIZED, $30,000 CARS MIX A LITTLE FUN WITH PRACTICaLITY

You want a sporty, fun-to-drive car, but need the practicality of a four-door sedan. A trend in the automotive market toward sportier sedans means there is now a wide range of vehicles that give you both.

The cars we tested for this month's group--the Acura TSX, Audi A4 1.8T, Subaru Legacy GT, and Volvo S40--are intended to meet these dual needs, but have varying degrees of success.

The Acura TSX and Subaru Legacy GT provide the best balance between sportiness and roominess. The Audi A4 and Volvo $40 are pleasant to drive, but aren't very sporty and have very tight rear seats that compromise rear-passenger comfort.

None in this group scored as highly overall as the top-ranked sporty sedans that we've previously tested (see the Ratings chart on the facing page), but the Acura, Audi, and Subaru achieved very good overall scores. Because of the A4's below-average reliability, however, only the TSX and Legacy are recommended. We don't have reliability information on the new $40.

All four provide very good or excellent routine driving, but often at the expense of ride comfort. Their cabins are not as roomy as midsized family sedans. The Acura, Audi, and Subaru also require premium fuel, a concern with today's high gasoline prices. As-tested prices for this group ranged from $28,605 for the Volvo to $30,945 for the Audi. (See CloseUp for some lower-priced alternatives.)

The Acura TSX was introduced in spring 2003 and is based on the version of the Honda Accord that's sold in Europe and other parts of the world. It's slightly smaller than the North American Accord and comes with a 200-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The TSX combines a very smooth powertrain with nimble handling, reasonable fuel economy and a well-appointed interior. It's more agile and fun to drive than the Accord, but isn't as roomy and rides more stiffly.