MotorMouths

Don’t let its looks fool you. The Mazda3 is addictive, arguably as much fun to drive as a more powerful and expensive automobile. It is engineering magic performed with lightweight materials.

There’s nothing sexy about the Prius V. It delivers exactly what it promises, like it or not. Simply put, it has what many American drivers want — fuel ­efficiency, reliability, safety, decent road manners and lots of utility — all at a reasonable price.

I’ve never been in a car that so detests low speeds. And that includes a variety of super-exotic models with bodacious engines of 500-plus horsepower. The Ford Mustang 5.0 GT literally growls in city traffic, as if it’s absolutely irritated by first and second gears.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco is much better than “good enough”. It is arguably better-looking and feels tighter and lighter than its Camry counterpart, ans its interior beats the Camry’s in overall feel.

BMW made the ActiveHybrid7 for wealthy benefactors. Think of this car as the motorized equivalent of an expensive charity ball, given by the swells of the community for the greater good of all.

It is the motorized equivalent of a good pair of jeans — well sewn, good fit, comfortable, durable and affordable.

Drivers get what they want — especially power, handling and safety — in the all-new, front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Sonic.

In terms of standard equipment and quality of interior materials, the 2012 Passat SEL family sedan beats the competition. In terms of road performance and fuel economy, it challenges them all. It also sports exterior styling that favorably sets it apart from its rivals.

Consider the 2012 Hyundai Equus Signature sedan. With me, it was love at first sight. The Equus is a marvelous car, perhaps one of the best full-size luxury values available.

The Evoque is a powerful, sexy little runner — replete with Oxford leather and all other samples of traditional Land Rover luxury — that retains some economy and environmental bragging rights.

It’s hard to go wrong with either the Regal GS or the Regal Turbo. In fact, depending on your appetite for horsepower, or the lack thereof, it is hard to go wrong with any of the cars in the Buick Regal lineup. All are well-crafted, well-styled, comfortable-to-drive pieces.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is, simply stated, one heck of a fine, fuel-efficient, attractively priced automobile. It will take sales from somebody, if not everybody.