by Steve Siler and Bill Shepard

Bored with the USA

If you’re like many of us, you’d “buy American”—if all things were equal. But sadly, despite the fact that both of the following cars have the same number of doors and seats, and cost about the same, they are quite far from equal. In this race, Honda wins, by a car-length.

2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited AWD

What is it? Chrysler’s meager attempt at a decent mid-size sedan.

On the outside: Chrysler, of all companies, seemed indomitable, in terms of design, for years. Indeed, many of its cars could (and had to) sell on looks alone. And some of their automobiles, such as the hot Chrysler 300 sedan and the bad-boy Dodge Ram pickup, turned the field on its head when introduced. But the only thing turning with the Sebring are stomachs … so awful does this thing look. In its defense, it was built to mimic a gorgeous show car called the Airflite (look it up). But it far from takes “flite” in any real way. Yuck.

On the inside: The story doesn’t get much better inside, we’re afraid. The dash and door panels look and feel cheap, in spite of the fact that, particularly in higher trim levels, such as the Limited, there are plenty of high-end features to enjoy. If you’re the kind that makes a—umm—mess of things on the seats, the cloth seats in the mid-grade Touring model are stain-proof (seriously). Also, a 20-gig stereo/navigation/Bluetooth system holds more music than you can stuff in there from your computer (complete with a handy USB port right in the faceplate!), and also flashes one of eight of your favorite photos as a “wallpaper” for the LCD display. Very cool. But as for the interior styling, yuck again.

Under the skin: Chrysler ain’t no Honda in the powertrain department, but the four-cylinder isn’t as bad as you’d think, and the nicer of the two available V-6 engines (a 3.5-liter) is actually pretty gutsy. Our most recent tester had that motor as well as all-wheel drive (not available on any Accord), which was handy, as we were in Detroit in January covering the North American International Auto Show. Grip is good. The 3.5 is also the only motor to come with a decent transmission, with six speeds and a manual shift mode. However, why you have to step all the way up to this level of car (at $27,515) to get standard ABS brakes is inexcusable.

The verdict: If you’re blind, the Sebring ain’t bad. If you can see, leave it to the Avis rental fleet. —Steve Siler

Price Range: $19K-28K
Engine: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (172 hp); 2.7-liter V-6 (190 hp); 3.5-liter V-6 (235 hp)
Transmission: 4-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 20/29 (2.4); 18/26 (2.7); 16/26 (3.5)

2008 Honda Accord EX-L V-6

What is it? Honda’s cornerstone sedan that continues to grow and improve.

On the outside: The face-lifted Accord takes on more dynamic styling than previous generations, offering a sophisticated, yet energized look. From the rear three-quarter view, one may mistake her for a car twice her price—and half her age. Jeweled up for a night on the town, the chrome accents make it seem as if this Accord crashed through the front door of Cartier before landing on the showroom floor.

On the inside: For 2008, the Accord grew minutely in every direction, making it the most spacious model yet. Technically, in fact, it is a full-size sedan. The two-tone, aluminum-accented dash is beautifully futuristic, and the central console apparently has been ripped from an intergalactic battleship. Did anyone else notice the button for phaeton torpedoes? Heated leather seats, power-sliding moonroof and steering wheel-mounted controls are all standard fare on our top-line tester.

Under the skin: While Honda’s four-cylinder engines are beyond reproach, able to move a car this size without delay, the Accord’s 268-hp V-6 is a rush. Push the pedal and feel a kick climbing from 40-70 mph. Let up on the gas, and Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management system cuts two or three cylinders to conserve fuel. The five-speed automatic transmission is smooth and unobtrusive, but we wished for a manual shift mode, like many others in this segment. The handling, however, is superb: crisp and direct. Point the car in the direction of your destination, mash the gas and there you are.

The verdict: Assembled in Ohio and designed for Americans, this “import” makes us proud to be American. Unlike the American car on the other side of the page. —Bill Shepard

Price Range: $20K-28K
Engine: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (LX: 177 hp, EX: 190 hp); 3.5-liter V-6 (EX, EX-L: 268 hp)
Transmission: 5-speed manual; 5-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 24/31 (2.4 manual); 25/31 (2.4 automatic); 22/29 (3.5)