Other than a tasteless rear wing, the Chevy Cobalt SS is a fairly smart looking car. Its nip-and-tuck styling doesn't help its driving feel, which is flabby compared to the raw Honda Civic Si. A conspicuous gauge on the driver's front pillar is the most obvious sign that you're sitting in a high-performance version of Chevy's Cobalt economy car. Read More »

The Civic Si, a hopped-up version of Honda's economy car, looks as fast as it drives. It even comes with a big, ugly sticker on the side to reinforce its boy-racer reputation. As expected in a car that starts life as a low-priced commuter vehicle, the Civic Si's interior is nothing special. The gauges, though, are pretty cool, especially the giant tachometer behind the steering wheel. Read More »

Ford's new Edge is a station wagon that looks like an SUV. This versatile vehicle drives like a car -- a very nice car -- while also offering a huge cargo area, high seating position and spacious cabin. What's not to like? Inside, the Edge has nicer materials and better construction than Ford has been known for in recent years. There are no squeaks or rattles, and no Barbie Doll plastic, either. Read More »

Sitting atop Ford's SUV heap is the Expedition EL, a stretched-out version of the Expedition that would have been wonderful 10 years ago. Ford has made major leaps forward in its interiors, and the new Expedition EL shows why. It has vastly improved materials and construction compared to the SUV it replaces, the awful Excursion. Read More »

The Ford Mustang has more than four decades of heritage, and the newest generation is among the most beautiful of all. It perfectly blends modern design principles with the classic muscle-car shape that was born in the 1960s. And the Mustang's interior looks snazzy, but it feels like junk. Read More »

Ford's Interceptor concept looks like an American car should. It's big, bold and brash, something you can't say about the bland Japanese lookalikes that Detroit has been pushing since the '80s. While it probably wouldn't be a huge seller, the Dodge Demon concept could create an attainable halo for the company if Chrysler decides to build it. We often hear that hybrids are the cars of the future, but the Chevy Volt concept takes that a step further. It shows that earth-friendly cars don't have to look nerdy. Read More »

Lexus set out to build the world's best luxury car with the new LS 460. While it looks and drives brilliantly and comes packed with technology -- including the option to parallel-park itself -- it still has no soul. Heaven must look something like this. The Lexus LS 460 has a cabin so packed with creature comforts you'll never want to leave. Read More »

The gas/electric hybrid, called the "Green Line," is the only SUV from GM with this engine configuration. The Saturn Vue is a compact SUV built on a mid-size truck platform, the same as other General Motors products including the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs. It provides disappointingly modest gas savings. The design is uninspiring. And the build quality is better than other GM products, but not by much. Read More »

The Hyundai Santa Fe is largest SUV in the company’s product line. The redesign added 3” to the width and 7” to the length. The additional length was important to the addition of the optional 3rd row of seating for 7-passenger capacity. And it gives the truck lots for room for the passengers and cargo. Read More »

Based on the new Toyota Camry platform, the Lexus ES 350 drives like a down comforter with wheels. Freakishly soft leather covers the seats and steering wheel in the new Lexus ES 350 mid-size luxury car. Unlike the sporty Lexus IS, the ES has a soft, smooth, traditional luxury ride. Read More »