Certain automotive enthusiasts contend that you must raid either Munich or Stuttgart for a rear-wheel-drive icon with a staggering price tag in order to score a true performance sedan. We beg to differ. With their TL and Maxima, Acura and Nissan have shown that they can load plenty of performance and technology into sedans that are roomy, well built, sexy and, yes, affordable. And as front-wheel drivers, they also deal with winter weather much better than a lot of their rear-drive counterparts.

Acura's TL has grown in just about every dimension since last year, and now has a potent 270 hp engine that is a blast to flog using the six-speed manual transmission we sampled. Even though the Maxima actually has more room, the TL feels more spacious, especially in the back seat.

The TL's accommodations are superb, with a driver's seat that cradles your physique during spirited driving episodes. Ride and handling strike a fine balance between floaty comfort and sporting firmness, with great steering feedback. Topping all this off is one of the finest sound systems we've ever experienced. This beast includes AM/FM, XM Satellite capability, cassette, eight-disc CD changer and DVD-A capable surround sound. There's also a wireless Bluetooth telephone interface with hands-free operation. Unlike a lot of other cars in this class that offer so much audio capability, the TL's controls are easy to access. Excellent gauges round out a slick package that we only wish had a bit more muscle in the lower RPM range.

Nissan's Maxima has more high-tech styling than the TL and a very different personality, but, like the Acura, you might find yourself taking the long way home just for the fun of it. We tested the five-speed automatic V-6, which has slightly less horsepower than the Acura but more low-end torque. It features a sweet drivetrain that shifts seamlessly and offers plenty of passing power along with a great exhaust note. The Maxima feels a bit more spartan than the TL yet makes up for it with a more athletic feel in the twisties and brakes with a bit more bite. The interior is well appointed but not as smoothly integrated as the Acura, and the materials aren't as luxurious. But this car sports a unique feature: a fixed-glass Skyview roof. This is a narrow band of glass running down the center of the roof that allows you to glimpse the stars even from the back seat, should you and your date find yourselves there.

Both the Maxima and the TL have roomy trunks, but the Nissan offers a split, fold-down rear seat that trumps the Acura's narrow passthrough (for skis and the like). Like the TL, the Maxima has a sound system with both cassette and CD changer, but it doesn't have the sonic punch of its competitor.

Now, we're not saying we don't like the mighty German übersedans, because we do. But it's great to know that those of us with thinner wallets have excellent options as well.

-- Bill Heald