In the spotlight: The accord no longer gets top billing, but it remains a star.(SEDANS)(Honda Accord)(Product/service evaluation)

The Honda Accord, redesigned for 2008, has been a standout among family sedans and easily outperforms the other cars in this month's group. But the V6 version scored one point lower than the previous version, allowing the Nissan Altima to upstage it. The Altima is now our top-rated midsized sedan in both four-cylinder and V6 varieties.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

We tested the Accord in EX-L V6 and four-cylinder LX-P trims. It is longer, wider, and more powerful than the old model and remains an excellent well-rounded sedan. But it's not as quick and doesn't get the fuel economy of the old model or the Altima in either configuration.

Rounding out the cast of this test are the new Ford Taurus and Dodge Avenger and the freshened Kia Amanti and Subaru Legacy.

Three of the sedans in this test are available with all-wheel drive, which aids in wet-weather and winter traction. AWD is a growing trend among sedans. It is optional on the Taurus, its Mercury Sable twin, and the Avenger, and is standard on the Legacy. All-wheel drive is also available on the Chrysler Sebring, Ford Fusion, and Mercury Milan in this class.

Of the six vehicles in this month's test, four of them are recommended. Because of a sterling reliability history for past Accords and for Honda overall, we predict better than average reliability for the redesign and we recommend it. Above average reliability also allows us to recommend the Legacy. We predict average reliability for the Taurus based on the record of the Ford Five Hundred, which is virtually the same car. The Amanti's reliability has been worse than average, so we cannot recommend it. Reliability for the Avenger is unknown and it scored too low in our test for us to recommend it.

Prices range from $22,795 for the Accord LX to $30,130 for the Amanti, though we paid less than $25,000 after discounts for the Kia.