The first impression certainly counts when selecting a car. There's no denying that. But good styling should stand up to the test of time: You shouldn't tire of it. In fact, the longer you own a car, the fonder you should get of its looks. And the more confidence you should have in its performance capabilities and safety. That's the true test of good design.

Nubira is just the right car for my lifestyle. It's a perfect balance of prestige, economy and quality. The large, chrome plated grille has an authoritative, king-of-the road look but it's also highly functional permitting the freeflow of air into the engine for improved cooling. The slim profile head lamps and fog lamps deliver a high intensity, wide dispersion beam. They're indispensible for safe driving at night and under bad weather conditions, especially for drivers with poor eyesight like me.

The glass which envelopes you is like a greenhouse, creating a bright cheerful mood inside the cabin. And the character lines along the waist lend a dynamic look, like the car is streaking by when it's actually standing still. It's also reassuring to know that rear roof pillar is among the largest in its class for maximum rollover protection.

There are countless other outstanding perfrmance and safety enhancing features:alloy wheels with excellent heat dispersion characteristics (for better brake cooling), handsomely sculpted rear combination lamps, a hefty impact resistant rear bumper and a spacious trunk. There's not a superficial inch of styling on the Nubira. Form is perfectly wedded to function for a strong, first impression.