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OLDSMOBILE general manager John Rock doesn’t speak the King’s English. He doesn’t speak the Queen’s English, either.

He’s a big man with a penchant for earthy talk that is both impolite and impolitic. But when Rock talks, people listen, as they must’ve been listening at General Motors when he explained the difference between “balance” and “compromise.”

“Compromise” gives you the Oldsmobile Ciera, a decently performing mid-size car that is, to quote Rock, “not much to look at.” The Ciera has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

“Balance” gives you the Ciera’s 1997 replacement: the Cutlass, with substantially improved performance — and looks. “I think we’ve hit it with this one,” Rock said at the recent East Coast preview of Oldsmobile’s 1997 vehicles in Chantilly. “I think we’ve got the right balance.”

Based on a 60-mile test drive of a pre-production 1997 Cutlass CLS, I think he’s right.

Background: Rock is not embarrassed to say that he steals as many ideas as possible from his Japanese competitors. “They took some of our ideas and improved on them; we’re taking some of their ideas and doing the same thing,” he said.

Results of this approach are everywhere in the all-new, 1997 Cutlass — even in seemingly tiny things, like the placement of the hazard light button. In the Cutlass, that button is exactly where common sense intended it to be — on the instrument panel to the right of the steering wheel, which makes it easy to see and reach in an emergency.

By comparison, even in many of its newer cars, GM routinely places the hazard light switch in the most ludicrous positions — underneath or on top of the steering column, which requires reaching beneath or reaching through, or over the steering wheel.

The build of the 1997 Cutlass also represents the Rock approach. But to appreciate it, you’ve got to do this: Rent or borrow a 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera. Drive it 50 miles or so over rough roads (any street in the District will do). Take it along well-maintained thoroughfares (almost any street in Arlington).

On rough pavement, you’ll notice lots of vibration in the Ciera. On good roads, especially in curves, you’ll feel some sway and play in the Ciera’s suspension.

By comparison, the 1997 Cutlass handles the rough stuff with little discernible vibration, and it’s quite tight and right in curves on smooth pavement. Credit a new, U-shaped cradle up front to support the engine, transaxle and front suspension; and an overall improved suspension system and tighter construction.

GM’s bean counters were trying to get Rock to accept a four-cylinder, 2.4-liter, double-overhead cam, 16-valve engine as standard equipment in the new Cutlass. That’s a decent 150-horsepower engine.

But Rock and his Rockettes wanted to give the new Cutlass a lot more marketing and a tad more performance muscle. So they asked for and got as standard equipment GM’s 3.1-liter V-6 rated 155 horsepower at 5,200 rpm (in the Cutlass application) with torque rated 185 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. Though it provides only a little more horsepower, the V-6 runs more smoothly than the four-cylinder job; and it feels a lot better in the Cutlass.

Other standard equipment in the new Cutlass includes dual front air bags, power vented front disc/rear drum brakes with anti-lock backup, and an electronically controlled, four-speed automatic transmission.

The 1997 Cutlass, sold in base and upscale GLS trim, is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan capable of seating five adults.

Complaints: Some fit-finish glitches atop the dashboard, but keep in mind the test car was a pre-production model.

Praise: An excellent replacement for the dowdy but very reliable Ciera. The new Cutlass will run well against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Head-turning quotient: A family sedan with some sex appeal.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Highly competitive in all three categories with all rival mid-size family cars. E cellent braking.

Mileage: About 24 miles per gallon (15.2-gallon tank, estimated 352-mile range on usable volume of regular unleaded), running mostly highway with three occupants. Cargo capacity is 16.4 cubic feet.

Sound system: Can’t comment. I didn’t use the sound system, and I advise you not to use it in short test drives. You can’t hear rattles and squeaks with music playing.

Price: Look for prices in the high teens and low-to-mid 20s. The new Cutlass rolls into showrooms in early 1997. More solid pricing information will be available at that time.

Purse-strings note: Anyone looking for a new Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or Mazda 626 had better put the 1997 Cutlass on the shopping list. The Cutlass is a worthy competitor that may wind up being priced significantly below the competition.