MotorMouths

The 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a convertible. It has all-wheel drive and an elevated ride height. It has enough room to comfortably seat four people and a fair-size trunk. Frankly, that sounds like the perfect car to rent while on a Hawaiian vacation.

Because if it doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd, it won’t really matter how practical the tC is for moving dorm rooms or schlepping the boys around on a Saturday night.

So the 2011 Infiniti M37 seems to have the potential to be as good as, if not better than, the competition. But potential is a lot different from reality. We wouldn’t pass up a 5 Series, E-Class or XF in favor of this new Infiniti.

The 2010 Hyundai Tucson should appeal to those who want a small crossover that’s more interesting to look at and drive than the run-of-the-mill Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Though we admire the 2011 Honda Accord’s nicely weighted and communicative steering, much of the rest of the driving experience is a minor letdown. It no longer features the sort of class-leading materials and construction that used to make its cabin a benchmark.

The 2011 Audi Q7 may have lost weight for 2011, but it’s still far too big given its relative lack of passenger and cargo space. As such, it’s hard to recommend it when there are more useful vehicles that give up little if nothing in terms of luxury. T

The 2010 Mazda CX-7i is a sporty alternative to top sellers like the four-cylinder Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Still, its pokey acceleration and so-so fuel economy make other similarly sized crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson a must-drive.

It is hard to recommend the 2010 Lincoln MKZ given the minuscule advantages it presents over the much cheaper and, in many ways, better Ford Fusion Sport.

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 i is a sporty alternative to top sellers like the four-cylinder Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, for buyers who don’t need those models’ greater amount of utility.

Convertible shoppers interested in Lexus reliability should take note. However, because of the IS 350C’s practicality and visibility issues, we’d highly recommend the well-rounded BMW 328i instead.

The 2010 Subaru Outback simply isn’t as responsive and confidence-inspiring as before. But for road trips to the great outdoors, the Outback excels as always.

The 2010 Hyundai Tucson should appeal to those who want a small crossover that’s more interesting to look at and drive than the run-of-the-mill Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. They should be willing to sacrifice some comfort and space for this, however.