Nissan Cefiro 300EX (P 1,450,000)

The first of the big three Japanese sedans, the Nissan Cefiro was the first in the market to offer a V6 engine in its class.  Now, with a displacement bumped up to 3.0-liters, the Cefiro has the straight-line grunt that’s closer to a muscle car than a sedate luxury cruiser.  The VQ-series V6 engine aside, the Cefiro is well equipped and well priced.  Gone are the tacky stuff from the previous Brougham VIP, and only the top-notch fittings get retained inside.

Honda Accord 3.0 VTEC V6 (P 1,600,000)

Best described as a business executive in an Adidas track suit, the Accord V6 is the fastest sprinter here—doing 0-100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds!  The Accord’s sporty demeanor is more subdued than the Mazda6, but it’s certainly there from the throaty VTEC engine to the F1-inspired suspension to the driver-oriented interior.  Beyond being merely fast, the Accord is vast, well-equipped and highly comfortable.

Toyota Camry 3.0V (P 1,680,000)

The big ticket to success is best seen in the new Toyota Camry 3.0V.  With a long range of equipment, the Camry 3.0V puts even some of the big German boys to shame.  Yet, beyond the gadgets, the Camry offers a very soft ride—something that’s important to the 8-5 businessman.  The 3.0-liter engine equipped with VVTi may not have the same grunt as the Honda or Nissan power plants in a straight line, but it does pull very well.

Volvo S40 2.4i (P 1,850,000)

The most handsome in the Volvo family line, the S40 is sleek and stylish—inside and out.  Yet, behind the looks lies a new, world-class chassis and engine.  The inline-5, Volvo’s new trademark, is powerful and refined.  The body feels as solid as a bank vault, bringing it much closer to the Germans in feel and quality.  The interior is equally sleek with special fabric seats and a floating aluminum center console.

The revitalized Nissan Cefiro carries a big stick: the award-winning 3.0-liter VQ-series V6 engine. It's good for 220 bhp.
The 240 bhp Honda Accord V6 can be a handful without its standard traction control. Still, it does 0-100 km/h in a BMW-beating 7.5 seconds!
Despite its executive-looks, the Toyota Camry pleases a lot of people with its excellent combination of comfort and performance, especially in its 3.0V guise.

 

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