THE GOODS : A Close-Up Look at the Fab 4

Base models of best-selling cars among first-time buyers do not come with fancy trimmings. They are inexpensive with prices starting at less than $10,000 but with long legs that will travel more than 30 highway miles on one gallon of regular unleaded.

These are plain, wholesome, reliable, practical cars--the auto industry’s answer to the grilled cheese sandwich.

But don’t be fooled by appearances, yesterday’s memories and the many myths of subcompact cars.

With peppy, twin-cammed engines, today’s lightweights can scoot from rest to 60 m.p.h. alongside a Mazda Miata. All will top 100 m.p.h. and handle like autocross champs.

At lower levels, be prepared for a return to mechanical seat belts, hand-crank windows, cramped rear room and furry upholstery that looks like it might need weekly watering.

At the upper end of the lineups, however, expect cruise control, alloy wheels, power moon roofs and a full list of luxury-car items that can puff prices to $20,000.

Despite their generic styling, all are sure-footed, nimble performers with brakes, safety equipment and a mechanical reliability unknown a decade ago. They also are more fun than a barrel of Rollerblades.

In order of popularity:

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* 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier--Base prices range from $8,845 for VL coupe with five-speed manual to $19,995 for a convertible with three-speed automatic.

Cavalier is America’s lowest-priced vehicle with anti-lock brakes as standard equipment. It has front-wheel drive with a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower and an EPA city and highway average of 25 and 36 m.p.g. A 3.1-liter V-6 developing 140 horsepower is optional.

There are no air bags on 1994 cars, but passenger- and driver’s-side bags will be available on 1995 models. Only sedans, coupes and convertibles are in the new lineup.

Yeas: Anti-lock brakes, fuel economy, value leader package.

Nays: No air bags. Buzzy engine.

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* 1994 Nissan Sentra--Pricier than its subcompact siblings, the Sentra E notchback costs $10,319 and the upscale GXE four-door starts at $15,739.

It has only a driver’s-side air bag as an option on lesser models, but there are rumors of change for next year’s redesign.

Two four-cylinder engines are available, a 1.6-liter good for 110 horsepower--also city-highway fuel consumption of 29 and 38 m.p.g.--and a 2.0-liter, 140-horsepower version. The automatic transmission is inclined to sap power.

Yeas: Optional air bag, and safer stuff is on the way. There is much shoulder and leg room for front-seat travelers.

Nays: Noisy engine under load. Automatic sucks horsepower.

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* 1994 Honda Civic--Prices start at $9,500 for CX and climb to $16,670 for EX sedan. No major changes are planned for next year, but the car already comes with dual air bags and optional anti-lock brakes.

Quite the nimblest of this favored four, the Civic line offers four four-cylinder engine packages. It ranges from a 1.5-liter that gets breathless with only 70 horsepower, to a smooth, muscled 1.6-liter version good for 125 horsepower. The upside of 70 horsepower is gas consumption of 42 m.p.g. in town and 46 m.p.g. on the highway. Even the big engine, with automatic, offers 26 and 33 m.p.g.

Yeas: Fuel economy, handling, dual air bags.

Nays: Sluggish base engine.

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* 1994 Ford Escort--A little squarer and rougher around the engineering edges than the competition, the Ford Escort is still a smooth operator with a driver’s-side air bag, optional anti-lock brakes and a GT version that sprints. Prices range from $9,500 to $12,775 for the GT.

Two four-cylinder engines are available, a 1.9-liter producing 88 horsepower and a twin-cam 1.8 producing 127 horsepower. The basic engine, with five-speed, gives fuel economy of 30 m.p.g. in town and 37 m.p.g. on the interstate.

Escort comes as a three-door hatchback, four-door notchback, five-door hatchback and station wagon.

Yeas: Fuel economy, pleasant ride, GT acceleration.

Nays: Noisy little rascal.