MotorMouths

The Toyota Prius is a hybrid with all the luxuries of a midsize sedan. It fits five comfortably, and it rides smoothly. It also has all the gadgets and gizmos I love in a new car,

Once I’d spent some time with the 2010 RX 450h, I realized there’s a multitude of minor changes and upgrades that make a huge difference in Lexus’s redesigned hybrid crossover.

I loved the look of the Maxima. There. I said it. This sedan is pretty, sleek and tough looking. The gorgeous Navy Blue paint was a big part of that. Even more impressive is that all this luxury comes at a moderate price.

The crown and scepter are safe, and the 2011 Honda Odyssey’s reign as Supreme Minivan continues undisturbed.

I’m just going to come right out and say that the 2010 Lexus IS 350C was the most fun I’ve had in a car in a long time. Living with kids in this little beauty took some creativity, but we managed.

The 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon is a near-perfect blend of great looks, spirited driving and family function. It turned heads in the carpool lane, entertained me while waiting in that same carpool lane and swallowed everything the kids had to throw at it.

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI is incredibly cute, fun to drive and gets great mileage, but it’s a squeeze for my family of four in a way that makes road trips seem forbidding.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a terrific family vehicle, but not the sort that inspires driving enthusiasts. One can’t expect sports-car performance from a three-row crossover that’s eco-friendly.

If you’re looking for a stylish, practical and not completely dorky way to haul a family around, the 2011 Sienna is a good bet. It’s got an entirely new style, lots of features and all the functionality you’d expect of a minivan.

The 2010 Lexus GS 450h is a hybrid sports sedan that’s built for performance and the driving experience, but it won’t complain too loudly if you toss a couple of kids in the backseat.

I had a split reaction to the LX 570. The kid in me, who’s a materialistic, fun-loving speed demon, loved it. However, the mature, eco-conscious killjoy of a practical parent in me just winced at the excess of it all.

It’s really too bad that the Lincoln MKT must, by necessity, be compared to its cousin, the Flex, because by itself, the MKT is a nice vehicle. If I hadn’t previously reviewed and loved the Flex, I might have been able to warm up to the MKT.