MotorMouths

The new Escape is a force to be reckoned with. It’s priced directly in line with the completion and slightly less than the outgoing model; it’s got more space than before; it can tow up to 3500 pounds; and it’s more fun to drive than most of the class.

It’s hard to argue with a 6-second jaunt to 60 mph, 5000 pounds of towing, and an estimated 16 mph city and 22 mpg highway. That last figure, Ford says, makes the Explorer Sport the most efficient high-performance SUV out there.

Ford’s U.S. team has had the Honda Fit Sport square in its sights as they prepared the Fiesta for the American market. A quick back-to-back test drive at the launch suggests the Fiesta is a match for the Fit in driving dynamics, if not in versatility.

It may not have the posh of a Land Rover and it may cost as much as a top-shelf Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, but it’ll go just about anywhere they will without complaint.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a five-seat crossover targeted at first-time buyers who want style with their utility, and a starting price that undercuts most of the segment.

In the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, Chevy has delivered a car for today, a solid midsize sedan that’s got a legitimate shot at the top of the pack. But the Malibu has only opened up a small lead, not a commanding one.

The new 528i is a triumph of the market, if not the enthusiast. It offers more power, performance, and fuel economy from a smaller, more efficient, albeit more expensive, package.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf is mostly unremarkable as a “Car of the Future.” And while that may seem like damning it with faint praise, it’s really the highest praise this car can be given.

The Touareg Hybrid is both the fastest and most powerful of the line. It will hit 62 mph in 6.5 seconds according to Volkswagen, a full 1.3 seconds faster than either the V-6 gasoline or V-6 diesel models.

Having sampled the Focus’ direct competition in the new Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, Kia Forte, and Volkswagen Jetta, we have high expectations for the Ford, as it’s already showing itself to be the sportiest of the bunch.

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible may be fashionably late to the game, but the timing couldn’t be better. Cutting off the roof has made the Camaro a better car.

The A3 TDI is a compromise, then, but a good one. The price remains within reach of those early in their careers and the car offers stellar fuel economy for commuting, but at the same time you get a sexy-looking, reasonably sporty hatch instead of a penalty box.