Jun 20, 2008  |  By: JOE PHILLIPS  | COMMENTS     

Can mild-mannered be sexy? Ed Norton does it in “The Incredible Hulk,” and so can you, with a little help from one of the unassuming — but surprisingly fun — sedans below.

Most have all-new sheet metal, with posh interiors and the latest techno gear. Still, these are four-door haulers, not date-night coupes and convertibles. But comfort is in now, thanks to the mortgage mess, Wall Street jitters and that ugly “R” word (“repos,” which are at an all-time high). All the sedans here are truly comfortable and affordable.

Another plus: they’re fuel-efficient — and these days that’s oh-so sexy.

Honda Accord
Price: $21,000
Mpg: 22 city/31 highway

There’s a reason this is the best-selling car in America — perky yet gas-sipping engines, gobs of passenger and cargo room, stellar long-term reliability and a dashing, not dull design. Four trim levels come with lots of standard features that include power windows/doors/locks, keyless entry, cruise control, fold-down rear seats and six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo. Upgrade and you get one-touch windows, subwoofer, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, heated seats and voice-activated navigation system. All models come with ABS, stability/traction control and front/side/head airbags. This is the largest Accord ever and offers a slick mix of comfort and sporty handling. It’s not a Mercedes E-Class, but it sure looks and acts like one — at half the price.

Hyundai Sonata
Price: $19,000
Mpg: 21 city/32 highway

Hyundai’s Sonata is full of “buts.” It’s slightly less refined, but also less costly, than the Honda Accord. The ride is comfortable, but steering and cornering aren’t crisp. There are two engine choices: a fine four cylinder, but a lackluster V6 that isn’t fuel friendly. Exterior styling is a bit dated, but the interior is all new and fairly quiet (though there is some road noise). And reliability isn’t as high as Honda or Toyota, but the Sonata’s crash-test scores are first-rate. Plus, all Hyundais come with a long five-year/60,000-mile warranty (10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain). In short, the Sonata isn’t perfect, but it’s worth a look. Options: fog lights, steering-wheel audio controls, power seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror and a high-end Infinity sound system.

Nissan Maxima
Price: $30,000
Mpg: 19 city/26 highway

Nissan actually downsized this latest redo of its popular Maxima, but leaner can also be meaner, both in looks and performance. Sculpted side panels and a macho grille add butch points, while the shorter chassis and lower height make for a more responsive ride. Using aluminum suspension pieces from the high-performance Infiniti M45 doesn’t hurt either. The engine is the same as before, but intake and exhaust improvements actually up the gas-mileage mojo. Inside, there’s a hefty steering wheel, rearview camera, Eucalyptus-wood trim, heated/cooled front seats, nav system with XM traffic, 9.3 GB digital-audio hard drive and a dual-panel moonroof large enough to see some Hubble-like panoramas. 

Pontiac G8
Price: $28,000
Mpg: 17 city/25 highway

Not since the 1960s GTO and 1970s Firebird has Pontiac had a true muscle car. Now there’s the G8, an all-new, full-size, rear-wheel-drive sport sedan that boasts 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. That’s with the V8. If saving gas trumps speed in your book, then opt for the V6 — 0 to 60 isn’t that much slower at 7 seconds, anyway. But the G8 is about more than power; there’s also BMW-like handling and styling — though the macho hood scoops are pure Americana. The sassy rear spoiler and OnStar communications system come standard. Two must-have options: 19-inch alloys and a club-scene, 11-speaker Blaupunkt stereo. GM is still struggling to make a comeback, but the G8 may get it there just a bit faster.