The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Longer, lower, wider.

Sounds like a pitch for a Detroit family barge 30 years ago.

Well, the car is made in America. But it’s a Honda Accord.

And, while it has adjusted its size to accommodate America’s taste, it is still a Honda, with all its virtues intact, grown into a mature, sophisticated, if anonymous sedan. (A coupe is also available, but unlike last year, it’s a different animal and will be reviewed separately.)

The look has changed, but not drastically. The front is familiar. The bigger change is in the rear, with its horizontal tail lamps.

Inside, Honda has taken its traditionally excellent ergonomic design and improved it with a simply elegant dash. The instruments are familiar — simple Honda round gauges that are quite easy to read. The improvement comes in the center, where a large section at the top slopes forward. With two simple knobs to control the automatic climate control (standard on the top of the line EX) and an audio system that has simple, big buttons, things are easy to work.

The wipers reside on the right side of the stalk, and the lights are on the turn signal handle. There is no ashtray. The space for it is given to a generous storage area and extra power outlet. Even the test tube wood (again, an EX feature not available on the lesser DX and LX models) is an exercise in taste and restraint.

Of course, the car was well-assembled and the controls have a quality feel that are better than some autos at twice the price. The lone exception was the power moonroof, which rattled somewhat when closed.

Seating is fairly comfortable. Honda tends to seat people low, but the driver’s seat is more chair-height than before, although long-legged passengers might still wish for more seat travel.

But the test car, outfitted in neutral shades of beige with a leather-drenched interior, gave a quiet air of opulence that rewards the hedonistic side in all of us.

But this is a Honda Accord, so if you’re REALLY hedonistic, forget touches like an outside temperature gauge or heated leather seats. Although some sedans offer these features in this price range, the Accord doesn’t, so as not to trample on the toes of Honda’s tonier Acura division. It’s not a big deal, really, but to some people, things like this count.

What will matter to most people is how well this car handles and drives.

As before, the car is available with either a four- or six-cylinder engine. The four-cylinder is available in all trim levels. It’s a single-overhead-cam engine displacing 2.3 liters. It’s good for 150 horsepower and 152 foot-pounds of torque on the LX and EX, 135 horsepower in the base DX.

The 3.0-liter six-cylinder is available only in LX and EX guise. It produces a healthy 200 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque. The new six is extremely quiet and at idle, impossible to hear. As the revs build, you barely hear it, although the exhaust emits a healthy , albeit distant, growl. Power is healthy enough to spin the tires and, because there is no traction control, this is a distinct possibility.

The Michelin tires didn’t exhibit the best of grips in wet weather, but this is par for the course with Hondas.

So is good handling. Even given this car’s bigger size, it still exhibited the slot-car racer feel that endears Accords and other Hondas to their owners. The speed-sensitive steering is quick enough to be enjoyable. There’s still some body lean, however.

Road information is transmitted quite well to the driver — sometimes a little too well. Road and tire noise also are quite apparent at speed, somewhat surprising, given the Honda’s quieter competition.

The four-speed automatic transmission is standard with the six-cylinder and shifts much more smoothly than previous automatics. The rubbery, abrupt shift is, for the most part, banished. A five-speed manual is standard on the four-cylinder version.

Tru k space is enormous, and seemed much larger than the listed 14-cubic-foot capacity, although the trunk hinges take up valuable cargo space.

But this is mostly picking nits. For the Accord is a vehicle that’s fun to drive and very adept at what it does. It’s bigger than ever, and is the safe choice among car buyers too nervous to buy anything else.

Everyone who sees it will admire your good judgment. They’ll love the car’s conservative styling. You’ll love its high resale. To those who crave taking the road less traveled, look elsewhere. To those who have too much excitement in their lives and crave dependability with a dash of spice, your Honda dealer is waiting.

1998 Honda Accord EX sedan Standard: 3.0-liter single overhead-cam V6, four-speed automatic transmission, front and rear stabilizer bars, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, child-proof door locks, dual front air bags, security system with keyless entry, AM/FM-CD six-speaker audio system, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control with air filtration, leather trimmed interior, Home Link system, cruise control, power door locks, power windows, eight-way power driver’s seat, fold-down rear seat, cup holders, simulated wood trim, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, auto-off headlamps. Options: Floor mats. Base price: $24,150 As tested: $24,624 EPA rating: 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway Test mileage: 20 mpg