1999 Buick Century Smooth, quiet and understated. By Ray Thursby, New Car Test Drive .com

Buick's core market lies somewhere between ostentation and austerity. From the top-of-the-line Riviera coupe to the Century tested here, the GM division has deliberately chosen to appeal to conservative buyers whose requirements have less to do with speed and flash than solid luxury and understated elegance. There is, of course, a danger inherent in this sort of restraint: Subtlety in excess equates to near-invisibility. To this, Buick's designers and product planners seem to be suggesting that a blend of basic virtues wrapped in tasteful trimmings, coupled with sensible pricing, will attract customers.

The Buick Century was totally redesigned two years ago. Its predecessor had sold well even at the end of its 15-year production run when it faced such worthy opponents as the Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus.

This latest-generation Century has proven as much of a sales success as the previous version and appears to have what it takes to make it into the new millennium.