MotorMouths

It’s hard to imagine a domestic automaker developing a well-rounded, affordable and shockingly roomy microcar with top-flight technology, but that’s what Chevrolet has done with the 2013 Spark.

The 2013 Volvo S60 sedan is an understandable top seller for Volvo thanks to stylish looks, a contemporary interior and a price that takes some of the sting out of its monthly payment.

The redesigned 2013 Porsche Boxster impresses visually inside and out and handles superbly. The base model could use more power; otherwise, there were few faults to be found.

The redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion breaks away from the pack in a big way. If midsize sedan shoppers want fun and style, it is perhaps the only option they have, but it does come with a few tradeoffs.

Though it isn’t incredibly fast, the 2013 Cadillac XTS rides well, handles better than a sedan of its girth should and has a state-of-the-art multimedia system.

There’s much to like about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, but consumers may have a hard time reconciling not only its looks and interior but also its value and spaciousness versus the class.

The redesigned 2013 Acura RDX is better armed to win over shoppers — it’s larger, lighter and more efficient — while offering an attractive value proposition.

The Ford Escapes new engines offer better performance than the competition, the interior is roomy and comfortable, high-tech gadgetry works well, and it even looks cool. All of this comes with a premium price in a competitive segment.

While refinements to the interior, ride comfort and noise intrusion all make the eight-seat Toyota Land Cruiser a better SUV for 2013, it still isn’t for everyone. Even off-road enthusiasts might want to look at something more affordable.

The new Lexus GS’ impressive blend of nimble handling, quiet road manners, intriguing looks and high-level interior seem like the perfect blueprint for the brand’s future.

The Equus is a vehicle no one asked for that arrived on U.S. shores already a few years out of date. With new competition leap-frogging already-more-updated models, the Equus simply can’t compete, no matter how terrific the power plant.

The 2012 Volkswagen Golf R certainly packs performance, but I’m not sure if the packaging or price make much sense outside a very small niche of shoppers.