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The U.S. car selling market seems as if it is dominated by SUVs, pick up trucks, and minivans. Certainly, together, these types of vehicles do account for more than half of all new vehicles sold year in and year out. When it comes to car sales, the crowded mid-size market leads the way with dozens of models competing. We ll explore three popular mid-size performers currently making an impact on U.S. highways.

For years, the Ford Taurus was the industry leader in car sales. After years of dominance, this mid-sized offering began to lose its grip on the #1 spot, finally ceding the lead to Toyota s popular Camry during the mid 1990s. Ever since then the Camry has led U.S. car sales followed closely by the Honda Accord.

For its part, the Camry is not a remarkable looking car. It is, however, very dependable and a strong performer in the resale market. You can find quality Toyota parts online. Standard equipment for the sedan is a 2.4L DOHC 16-valve 4 cylinder engine; 5 speed manual transmission; variable assist rack and pinion steering; ABS; power windows & locks; tilt wheel/cruise control; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD player. Base model MSRP is $18,445.

The Honda Accord is the chief competitor to the Camry. Similarly, the Accord is not radical in design, but Honda fans love the car as it is dependable and it depreciates slowly. You can find quality Honda auto parts online. Standard equipment is a 2.3L DOHC 16-valve 4 cylinder engine; 5 speed manual transmission; variable rack and pinion steering; ABS; and tilt wheel. Base model MSRP is $16,295 with notable extras missing including air conditioning, CD, and cruise control.

Further up in the luxury category is the Volvo S40, the lowest priced offering from the Swedish-American automaker. Espousing typical Volvo design, the S40 is somewhat more sleek than its Japanese rivals. Standard equipment for the S40 is a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder turbocharged engine; 5 speed manual transmission; traction control; power windows & locks; tilt wheel/cruise control; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD player. MSRP for the base S40 will run you $23,755. You can keep your S40 in tip top shape by using quality Volvo parts in your car.

Clearly, the Camry and Accord are the value and sales leaders while the S40 is meant to appeal to those desiring a little bit of European luxury, but at a reasonable price. Alternately, Toyota s luxury division, Lexus, and Honda s luxury division, Acura, offer models for those seeking a level of comfort comparable to the Volvo, with top reliablity.

About the Author

Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Car Parts Stuff, an online supplier of high quality and well priced automobile parts.

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