Best Buys.
Or maybe we should say Best Values?
Because these are not the most fuel-efficient machines.
Or the fastest, though the ability to get out of the way and handle the interstate or inclines without drafting behind an 18- wheeler counts.
It doesn’t have to be the least expensive, either. If cheap was a badge of honor, Yugo would be wearing one.
It doesn’t have to have the most whiz-bang gadgets that let you watch movies, play games or find your way home without taking Rand-McNally–the guys–along.
It doesn’t have to have more power plugs than your house or cupholders than seats.
Best Buys, in short, have pleasant looks, good cabin room and comfort and space to haul gear. Ride and handling are pleasant and performance good.
But, most important, Best Buys are fun.
With that in mind, here are our picks for 2008:
BMW 1-Series
BASE PRICES: $28,600 for 128i, 135i for $34,900
ENGINES: 3-liter, 230-h.p. in-line 6; 3-liter, 300-h.p., twin-turbo in-line 6
M.P.G.: 19/28, 18/26
A baby but all Bimmer. Decorative spoiler and side skirts, but the soul of this machine is the engine. Imagine getting from zero to 60 in 5.1 seconds, so smoothly and quietly you’re doing 80 by the time you check to see whether you’ve hit 60. Quick on straightaways and agile in corners and turns with its sports-tuned suspension and 18-inch performance tires, which also glue the 1 to the pavement. Those who envision serpentine travel around orange pylons will be pleased. No free lunch, though; ride is a little stiff and counting tar marks as you cross over each will become a pastime . A four-seater in name only. Yet, the trunk is huge.
Chevrolet Malibu/Malibu hybrid
BASE PRICES: $19,000 to $27,000 (gas), $22,140 (hybrid)
ENGINES: 2.4-liter, 169-h.p. 4; 3.6-liter, 252-h.p. V-6 or 2.4-liter, 164-h.p. 4 with a nickel-metal-hydride assist
M.P.G.: 22/30 (4), 17/26 (V-6), 24/32 (Hybrid)
Redesign arrived with a bang — and North American Car of the Year honors. Competes with Toyota Camry–regular and hybrid. Longer than previous model with soft-touch interior surfaces, exact fi ts and a considerably quieter cabin. Luggage/grocery room ample. Ride a little less cushy with the hybrid, but handling still surprisingly good. Roomy, comfortable, stylish sedan with above-average performance and a decent price plus a hybrid for those keeping tabs on the planet’s energy supply.
Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrid
BASE PRICE: $50,000
ENGINE: 6-liter, 320-h.p. V-8
M.P.G.: 20/20
Gets same city mileage as a 4-cylinder Toyota Camry. A splendid lapof- luxury ride. It’s like strapping yourself into an easy chair. Standard stability control with traction control, ABS, side-curtain air bags and a camera to see what’s behind cover the safety bases. Seats are wide and well cushioned, controls at your fi ngertips and fl ip-and-fold second-row seats provide a wide aisle to the third row. But where they stand out is with dual-mode hybrid power. Both start in gas mode, can drive at up to 32 m.p.h. on batteries before switching back to gas and get a battery assist to pass, merge or climb. 4 cylinders shut off when cruising.
Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan
BASE PRICES: $35,670 (T&C Limited); $26,805 (Caravan)
ENGINE: 4-liter, 251-h.p. V-6
M.P.G.: 16/23
Hold the jellybean look but it still holds Dad, Mom, kids and dog, cups, juice boxes, bottles, coins, maps, groceries, luggage, dry cleaning, purse and laptop. Power sliding doors and tailgate joined by a third-row seat powers into the fl oor. VCR gives way to a DVD to entertain the kids with movies or satellite TV. Instead of Stow ‘N Go, you can Swivel ‘N Go, second- row seats that turn 180 degrees to face the third with a tabletop that slips between them. Both boast 35 new or improved features for 2008.
Dodge Challenger SRT8
BASE PRICE: $37,300
ENGINE: 6.1-liter, 425-h.p. V-8
M.P.G.: 13/18
Nails the ’70s muscle car. Looks a lot like the original. Dual hood scoops, double-wide hood stripes, bulging chrome gas cap, Hemi in chrome on the hood, 20-inch radials stuffed into the wheelwells and a choice of only orange, black or silver body panels get your motor running. Rear-drive coupe built off the same platform as the Chrysler 300 sedan though wheelbase shortened about 4 inches. A blast to drive. Thumbs up salutes from fellow motorists make it that much better. Quick to react to pedal input. Rocket propulsion from zero to 60 in about 5 seconds and into three-digit territory a couple blinks after that. With performance radials plus standard traction control and stability control, Challenger takes off like a slingshot, no tires smoking or no read-end gyrations. Guzzler tax for meager gas mileage about the only drawback. Fast, fun, fashionable.
Mazda CX-9
BASE PRICE: $35,000
ENGINE: 3.7-liter, 273-h.p. V-6
M.P.G.: 15/21
The CX-9 came up one zoom short when it bowed for 2007 because the Ford-designed, Mazda-built engine wasn’t ready. Now it is–zoom, zoom. It’s teamed with a smooth and quiet 6-speed automatic with manual mode. Spirited motoring even with seven in three seats. Quick takeoffs yet whisper-quiet cruising. Also, a power hatch lid is now available. A blind spot monitor lets you know a car is approaching and flashes a yellow light in the sideview mirrors as a warning not to change lanes. The top-of-the-line CX-9 Grand Touring with AWD is like piloting a Mazda6 sedan that stands higher off the ground and has an extra row of seats. Four-wheel independent suspension minimizes road harshness and eliminates chatter over tar marks. Though long, wide and shaped somewhat like a minivan, the CX-9 maneuvers into and out of tight places with serpent-like precision. No lean or sway. The 20-inch, low-profile radials are designed for enthusiastic driving. Operates in front-wheel-drive until wheel slippage is detected. Stability and traction control with rollover sensing are standard. Side-curtain air bags span all three rows.
Scion xB
BASE PRICES: $15,800 (manual); $16,600 (automatic).
ENGINE: 2.4-liter, 158-h.p. 4
M.P.G.: 22 /28
A box on wheels from which you expect to see a dozen clowns pop out. Retains the boxy styling it had, but with rounder edges to look lower and less top-heavy. As typically is the case when a small, cute vehicle arrives, folks fawn because small means easy to park and easy on gas. Then reality sets in and they demand it be longer (12 inches), wider (3 inches) and a little more powerful. More room to stretch arms and elbows as well as to carry luggage or supplies behind the rear seat. Ample leg, knee and arm room eliminates discomfort on short or long trips. The suspension keeps harsh bumps from filtering into the cabin, so ride is pleasant and bounce free. No jitters over uneven pavement or radial slap. The xB also comes with side-curtain air bags and stability control with traction control as standard to help prevent unnecessary and unexpected lateral movement and slipping at takeoff on wet or snowy roads.
Ford Taurus, Taurus X
BASE PRICES: $24,000 to $29,000 (sedan); $26,000 to $33,000 (crossover)
ENGINE: 3.5-liter, 263-h.p. V-6
M.P.G.: 17/24, 15/22
Taurus to Five Hundred to Taurus, the last move compliments of CEO Alan Mulally, who wondered aloud why Ford had dropped one of its most successful names. Taurus X name replaces Freestyle on the crossover. Both sport a new look with front ends boasting large three-bar chrome grilles that have proved popular on the mid-size Fusion sedan and Edge crossover. Also livelier; no more snoozing at the light or on the merger ramp or wheezing up inclines. AWD security without the drawbacks of an SUV. The on-demand AWD system sends torque to whichever wheel needs better grip. AdvanceTrac stability control and traction control are standard on the crossover, traction control standard on the sedan. Cabin spacious with limo-like rear seat room. Sedan can hold up to eight sets of golf clubs in the trunk; crossover holds seven people in three rows of seats.
Nissan Rogue
BASE PRICES: $19,000 (FWD); $20,500 (AWD)
ENGINE: 2.5-liter, 170-h.p. 4
M.P.G.: 22/27 (FWD), 21 /26 (AWD)
Tantalizing name for the compact crossover derived from the Sentra sedan. Offered in front- or all-wheel-drive with a continuously variable automatic transmission that has an infinite number of gear ratios to match conditions: flat or hilly road, full or empty cabin, feather or lead foot. No barn-burning speed, but good mileage. Stability control with traction control and yaw sensors to limit lateral fidgeting. Suspension tuned more for soft, bounce- and irritation-free motoring. Good room for four adults or two adults and a couple rug rats. Rear-seat leg and especially head room a pleasant surprise. Generous cargo room behind the second-row seat expands with the pull of a lever. Kudos to Nissan for adding a pull-down hook on the back of the front seat that can hold coat or sweater, dry cleaning or plastic bag from the grocery store.
Smart Fortwo
BASE PRICES: $11,590 (Pure); $13,590 (Passion); $16,590 (convertible)
ENGINE: 1-liter, 70-h.p. 3-cylinder
M.P.G.: 33 /40 Thanks to the Swatch watch people, Daimler is selling a car that saves gas without hiding batteries under the back seat–there is no back seat. The first year and a half of production is spoken for, but that’s only 30,000 cars. The fad du jour for the fashion forward. Small size, novel looks, high mileage. The trade-off? It’s 5 feet shorter than a Scion xB and 10 feet shorter than a Chevy Suburban. Two fit bumper to bumper in one parking space. Weighs in at about 1,800 pounds, or 1,300 less than a Honda Accord. Speedometer goes to 100 m.p.h., though the car won’t. Ride not bounce-free nor handling pinpoint. But 18-wheelers don’t look as menacing as expected in the rearview mirror. Massive window glass (plus a panoramic roof) keeps you from feeling trapped. And it sits high enough so you look at other motorists at eye level, further reducing the intimidation factor.
Hyundai Azera
BASE PRICES: $24,600 (GLS); $28,550 (Limited)
ENGINES: 3.3-liter, 234-h.p. V-6; 3.8-liter, 263-h.p. V-6 with manual mode
M.P.G.: 18/26, 17/26
One of the nicer mid-size sedans in terms of room, comfort and quiet. Sadly, it’s also one of the best-kept secrets in that segment. Very stylish with a host of standard amenities in the top-of-the-line Limited, from leather, heated, power seats to air conditioning to power mirrors, locks and windows and a button in the center console that operates the rear-window sunshade. Value is the obvious attraction, along with a very stylish appearance. While leg, head, arm and hip room are very spacious upfront, it’s even better in back where you could probably do leg lifts without touching the front seat. Massive trunk will hold luggage or golf clubs for four. The 3.8 has good spirit moving from the light or down the merger lane, but it lets out a little growl if you kick the pedal hard. That is out of character with Azera’s luxury image. Suspension softens the ride. Handling is decent with minimal lean in corners or wandering on the open road. Stability control with traction control is standard.
Pontiac G8
BASE PRICES: $27,595 (V-6); $29,310 (V-8)
ENGINES: 3.6-liter, 256-h.p. V-6; 6-liter, 361-h.p. V-8
M.P.G.: 17/25, 15/25
What the GTO revival did to tarnish Pontiac’s image, G8 does to polish it. RWD performance sedan built on a global platform to be shared by the Chevy Camaro. The V-8’s active fuel management shuts off 4 cylinders to conserve fuel, though the 15/25 means it could do better. GT sprints from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds. Even with RWD, there’s no torque steering–that sudden lunge to one side–in a power takeoff. Acceleration straight and sure. Sports suspension and 18- inch all-season radials designed for aggressive driving. Traction control prevents slipping at takeoff and stability control ensures no dancing in corners–high or low speeds. Handling is very good, but suspect the optional 19-inch summer performance tires would sit flatter and tighter in corners. Cabin spacious. Perforated leather seats well cushioned and generous side bolsters help keep you planted.
Volvo C30
BASE PRICE: $22,000 to $26,000
ENGINE: 2.5-liter, 227-h.p. turbocharged 5-cylinder
M.P.G.: 16/24
The smallest Volvo, a hatchback about 8.5 inches shorter and 320 pounds lighter than the S40 sedan from which it’s derived. Looks like a wagon with a glass hatch lid so massive those trailing can see to the dash. But typical Volvo attention to safety: stability control with traction control, and antilock brakes ensure you stop when and where intended. Front and side-curtain air bags, headrests that cradle the melon in a rear impact to prevent whiplash, a special bucket-seat design front and rear to keep occupants from submarining out of the safety belts, even a small, soft plastic beam in front of the bumper to absorb energy and reduce injury to pedestrians. Delivers more than a little kick to pass with little or no turbo lag. You zip along the highway and into and out of tight corners and turns. Good leg and head room and decent space for stuff. Rear seats fold flat to hold more.
