For import buyers looking for a solid, reliable midsize family sedan, there are plenty of options to choose from. Yet only two cars dominate most shopping lists: the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

If you had to pick just two, that's not a bad starting point. But why limit yourself? Accord and Camry are excellent choices, but they're not the most exciting cars in the world. There are plenty of other great options on the market these days, some of which are just as roomy, just as reliable, but far more fun to look at and drive. Mazda's 626 is a perennial also-ran that just never seems to get the amount of attention it deserves. It should be on more shopping lists.

This fifth-generation Mazda 626 presents a crisp and formal appearance that's far more refined than the previous generation. It was stretched more than 2 inches when it was redesigned for 1998 and the interior is much roomier than before.