The cars of 1996, and the one that outlasted everything it was compared to

The fifth-generation Accord — the one with the clean, conservative styling and the VTEC engines — was at its sales peak in 1996 and was the benchmark mid-size sedan in the American market by any objective measure. The V6 version produced 170 horsepower and was quieter and smoother than any domestic V6 at the same price. The four-cylinder was more than adequate. Both were more reliable than the competition.

The 1996 Taurus had received an updated design — the 'oval' Taurus — that polarized buyers in a way that the original had not. The aerodynamic body was more extreme, the interior was more idiosyncratic, and the car remained competently built. The SHO with its Yamaha V6 was being replaced by a Ford-developed V8, which produced more power with less character.

The fourth-generation Camry launched in 1996 with a larger body, more interior space, and a refinement level that had moved firmly ahead of anything the domestic manufacturers offered at the same price. The V6 version was the family car recommendation of virtually every automotive publication in the country. The four-cylinder was the recommendation of every accountant.

The sixth-generation Civic launched in 1996 with a new platform and new engines, including the B16A VTEC that made the Si coupe the most rewarding small car available at its price. The base Civic DX remained the rational choice for buyers who needed reliable transportation without spending more than necessary. The EX with the VTEC engine was the choice for buyers who understood what VTEC meant.

The F-Series had been the best-selling vehicle in America since 1982 and was by 1996 accelerating its lead. The 1997 redesign was a year away, and the outgoing model was selling in numbers that reflected the market's structural shift from passenger cars to trucks and SUVs. A family that had bought a station wagon in 1986 was buying an Explorer or a Suburban in 1996.

The third-generation Cavalier was the domestic small car with the largest sales volume, and it sold on price, familiarity, and domestic brand loyalty. The 1996 Cavalier was improved over its predecessors and remained behind the Japanese small cars in quality metrics. The Z24 convertible was the version that looked most interesting and drove least interestingly.

The Grand Am had claimed the performance compact position in the domestic market and sold to buyers who wanted sportier styling than the Cavalier offered at a price below the import alternatives. The GT with the Quad 4 engine was the most interesting version mechanically. The SE with the 3.1-litre V6 was the most comfortable version commercially.

Saturn was at its commercial peak in the mid-1990s, selling cars to buyers who had specifically sought out the brand because of its reputation for customer service and no-haggle pricing. The 1996 Saturn was a competent small car with a marketing approach that was more sophisticated than the car it was selling, which is a formula that worked for longer than the industry expected.

The Corolla was the world's best-selling car and was establishing its position in the American market as the alternative for buyers who wanted something smaller and less expensive than the Camry without sacrificing reliability. The 1996 Corolla was conventional, practical, and durable in a way that buyers on a budget found genuinely valuable.

The Escort was completing its production run — it would be replaced by the Focus in 2000 — and was in its most refined form by 1996. The GT version with the twin-cam Mazda engine was the most technically interesting Escort, and the least-remembered. A well-maintained 1996 Escort GT is a curiosity that drives better than its reputation suggests.