Okay, so it will never win any awards for innovative styling. But there’s a reason the Honda Accord is always at or near the top of the sales chart. It’s a great value.

Although the 4-door model accounts for most Accord sales — and has long been among the top-selling midsize sedans — which comprise the largest single auto market, our test model was the more stylish 2-door coupe.

The Accord was seriously revamped in 1998, but there were still a few refinements for 2000 — like side airbags up front for Accord V6 sedans and 4-cylinder, top-line EX sedans with leather upholstery, and a new front-passenger dual-stage inflator airbag. Deployment intensity is based on the severity of a crash and whether seatbelts are worn. These changes came to both the coupes and sedans

I have to admit, I really enjoyed driving the coupe, which actually looks pretty sexy — at least next to the sedan. However, when talking about this car, it’s difficult not to include the sedan in some of the discussion because they share so much, yet offer stark comparisons as well that go way beyond styling.

The front wheel-drive Accord comes in the entry-level DX sedan (Honda says this accounts for a mere 10 percent of sales), the midrange LX and top-line EX coupes and sedans.

There’s also a new Special Edition (SE) 4-cylinder sedan with an automatic that, at under $21,000, demonstrates the aggressive competition in the midsize-sedan market segment. The SE comes with alloy wheels and a package of features including keyless entry and anti-lock brakes. That package will save you about a grand.

Most Accord buyers opt for the 2.3-liter 4-banger, which seems a little strange when you consider that the majority of Americans associate a 4-cylinder with an econobox — not a mid-size sedan like the Accord. However, no one gets more out of a small displacement engine than Honda.

A smoother, more-powerful 3.0-liter V6 is offered for the Accord, but get ready to open your wallet a little. However, in my opinion it’s well worth the extra bucks.

The V6, which was under the hood of our test model, puts a solid 200 horses to the highway, while the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder trails with only 135 — or 150 with variable valve timing. The coupe isn’t available with the 135 horse 4-banger.

Ironically, the 150 horse version of the four delivers better gas mileage on the highway than the smaller one. However, the V6 comes in with a respectable 20 and 28, compared to 23 and 30 for 150 horse version. Those numbers are another reason why personally, I’d opt for the power.

The manual, which is how our coupe was equipped, shifts pretty well, but really isn’t suited to a family car such as the Accord sedan — unless you get the 135-horse powerplant, where you need it.

The coupe handles really well. Its power steering is sharp, with good road feel, but did seem a tad heavy for my personal taste. The firm double-wishbone suspension provides a good ride — and is the reason for the handling efficiency.

Braking offers reassuring, progressive pedal action, although anti-lock brakes aren’t offered for the DX.

The V6 coupe can be ordered with 60-series tires, however, in my opinion, wider 55-series tires would add another dimension to the handling. The V6 sedan can only be had with the thinner 65-series tires. Wide tires do take something away from the ride, and in a car this size that’s a major consideration from a sales standpoint, so there’s that tradeoff. But this has been an issue with all Hondas for a number of years.

The tight 4-door Accord feels more like a European sports sedan than a Japanese mainstream family car and that carries through to the coupe. It feels as German as it does Japanese in a lot of aspects.

Interiorwise, the front buckets are supportive and comfortable. The dashboard offers large, smooth controls and sits low enough for shorter drivers to see the front corners of the vehicle. Instrumentation is large enough to be quickly read, but a high rear parcel shelf restricts rear visibility.

Applause: The Honda Accord Coupe is a stylish, well-built car that handles and performs well. It’s roomy and has a pleasant European feel.

Whines: The 200 horse V6, at least in my opinion, should be the only powerplant offered in this vehicle. Anything less subtracts from the car’s potential to be great. It’s time for Honda to think about updating the styling of the sedan and to give the highest-volume Accord models more power and maybe some wider tires.

Bottom Line: The Accord has a well-earned reputation for quality, durability and value, and that keeps it at the top of the sales heap. If you’re in the market for a mid-size coupe, this car has to be right at the top of your list to test drive.