MotorMouths

The 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD sedan is loaded with goodies and is an intriguing entry in the near-luxury market. The styling and build quality are outstanding and materials are all up to anyone’s contemporary standards.

Subaru has redesigned this cherished model for 2010, making roomier for passengers and cargo. This fourth generation Outback is a nice package at a fair price.

It’s the combination of near-luxury and performance that sets the Nissan Maxima into a niche where it will compete with the upscale Acura TL, Audi A4, Hyundai Genesis, Lexus IS 250, Volkswagen CC, and the Infiniti G37. That’s pretty good company.

The new Explorer won’t blaze a new trail the way the original did, but it will make following that trail a whole lot more pleasurable

We found the biggest pluses of this Mini to be the performance of the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and smoothness of the six-speed manual transmission, along with the secure handling and unique look of the vehicle.

Infiniti says its EX35 combines the look and feel of a luxury coupe with a crossover’s flexibility. We concur, and add that in “the old days” we’d have just called this a terrific sport wagon.

While earlier versions of the X3 left something to be desired, this new model has grown up and been transformed from a not-so-perfect compact SUV into a swan-like, mid-sized SUV, with a refined ride and powertrain.

If you’re a fan of these smaller CUVs, be assured that the Kia Sportage fits nicely in this niche with the likes of the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. We found it more than held its own — along with a lot of ours.

The Routan isn’t a bad choice, it’s just lacking the competition’s higher-quality interiors and flexibility. While its driving dynamics impress, for the money it’s not the best choice in this segment.