MotorMouths

The Smart Fortwo has a number of flaws, yet there’s something that’s still fun about it, all the more so if you’re looking for something small and nimble to run in-town errands.

We’d like to give the sport crossover at least a tepid endorsement, but when you consider the compromised passenger and cargo space, the disconnected steering and the way-too-over-the-top manga grille, the 2010 Acura ZDX really isn’t one of our favorites.

Will the Chevy Volt turn on potential buyers? If our drive in the prototype was any indication, it likely will. It’s well suited to the mass of American commuters.

For those who like the basic idea of a Mini, and would likely join the fold if it offered something just a wee bit roomier and more practical, well, the 2011 Mini Countryman may be precisely the prescription.

The Lexus GX460 is a bland but well-equipped and competent vehicle that will nonetheless make sense for suburbanites who want a 3-row, go-anywhere SUV.

There are many American motorists who likely won’t even consider the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which is too bad. It is a solid and impressive offering that is a sizable step above the best-selling compact on the market.

The 2011 VW Jetta is an attractive, well-engineered sedan that should put the German back in the running as it takes a serious shot at the Japanese brands that have long dominated the compact sedan segment.

There’s little doubt in our mind that the ’11 Volkswagen Touareg is a big improvement over the first-generation SUV. It’s lighter, better looking, roomier and more nimble.

The 2010 VW Golf’s price tag may get you to swallow hard, but if you’re in the market for a compact offering that’s roomy, fun-to-drive and delivers great fuel economy, you’ll have to look hard to find something quite as competitive.

Even more luxurious — and functional — than before, the 2011 R-Class has a bit more of a crossover-ute look that should enhance its appeal. It’s definitely worth a closer look.

For a relatively modest premium, Chevy has one-upped itself. Anyone looking to Europe for a real performance machine would be foolish not to take a look a the 2011 Corvette Grand Sport.

From both a design and engineering standpoint, the 2011 Lexus LFA is a remarkable achievement. Yet while the performance numbers are impressive, the car doesn’t have the brutality of a Lamborghini or Aston Martin – nor the over-the-top looks of a Ferrari.