MotorMouths

Out on the road, the Passat SEL 2.5 Premium does all the right things for the everyman; it’s smooth, it’s quiet, and with 102 cubic feet of interior space, it’s accommodating. It’s a big, comfy car that rides nicely and handles without surprises.

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is nice to look at, and does achieve the mission of delivering good value. It’s one of the roomiest choices at a price point populated by a raft of B-segment choices, though moving up the trim-level ladder will put it among cut-throat competition.

The Jetta has not lost its appetite for devouring sinewy pavement, and this latest generation handles with aplomb. But all of the soft-touch, finely-crafted goodness that Jetta owners have raved about for years is gone.

The 2010 Volkswagen GTI restores our faith that it can still do the things that made the original one of the all-time enthusiast greats. The GTI strikes us as a bargain for the refinement and performance it offers.

The Boxster Spyder is Porsche’s best chassis. Choices are thin on the ground for cars that handle as accurately without bad habits, and the Spyder a pussycat despite the way it claws the asphalt. If your weekends are filled with cones and apexes, your track-day car has arrived.

The Mazda3 Skyactiv may be the sleeper story of the year. While other players in this segment offer slicker styling choices and truckloads of equipment, choices are thin on the ground if you want to actually enjoy yourself behind the wheel.

The Lexus GX 460 may not stack up on paper. With impeccable build quality inside and out, luxurious materials, and a brand reputation for reliability and dealers that coddle, it’s a different story on the road. Or off it, for that matter.

Nobody remembers the 2010 Kia Optima, but just like that, the 2011 model may be the mainstream sedan to beat. While some consumers – the uninformed and brand-bigoted – might remain skeptical, the 2011 Kia Optima is the new benchmark.

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT with automatic is perfectly happy to swallow interstate miles or drag race tarmac, but when the road turns twisty, it’s a dud thanks to the recalcitrant transmission.

Always good-looking,the Journey has been redone for 2011 with great success to become a credible competitor in terms of value and driving satisfaction. If you’re crossover shopping, it’s worth a look.

Despite its driveline foibles, the 2011 BMW X3 feels like it belongs in the current family of BMW products, and it has the styling and available equipment to attract buyers’ attention.