MotorMouths

If you like the iQ’s design or you’re really bad at parking, well, by all means, buy one. The rest of us, though, will find more value in similarly priced cars with more surface area.

This Impreza is absolutely good enough to compete in this class. Of course, it’s up against equally good cars, so as in years past, AWD is the main reason you’d buy it.

The Rio is compelling, and it’s downright attractive as a hatchback. Add acceptable performance and a well-tuned chassis to that package, and you have a car that takes some of the drudgery out of commuting whether you live in Seoul or L.A.

The 2012 Kia Rio is compelling and downright attractive. Add acceptable performance and a well-tuned chassis to that package, and you have a car that takes some of the drudgery out of commuting whether you live in Seoul or L.A.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 feels greater than the sum of its parts. This is a refined and comfortable vehicle that’s all suited up for family duty, yet every bit as elegant as you’d expect of a vehicle with a big bottom line

The 2012 Hyundai Accent is not a cheerless subcompact for the worker bee who can’t afford anything better. It is the kind of car that inspires said bee to get out and see the country when he’s not working.

The 2012 Toyota Prius V is a little bit larger and it should only cost a couple grand more. For that extra money, you’ll get a genuinely useful five-passenger hybrid wagon with plenty of room.

The Mercedes Benz C350 Sport is just a well-executed luxury sedan that happens to have “Sport” in its name.

The new SLK handles better than its predecessor, accelerates with more fervor and offers yet more of the cutting-edge amenities that made it the original 365-day convertible. It’s not quite a full GT, yet it’s certainly more than a minimalist roadster.

The A7 is pretending to be a coupe, and a particularly graceful one at that. It looks better than most luxury sedans, and it drives like a big A5. It may not be elite enough for the millionaires sunning themselves on Costa Smeralda, but it’s the classiest car in the Audi lineup.

Amngst competitors, the 2011 Dodge Durango stands apart as the lone SUV that offers a V8 option and bona fide towing capability, but it isn’t the quickest or the most fuel-efficient, and it certainly doesn’t have the roomiest seating.

The 2011 Dodge Charger R/T has a more refined ride than its predecessor, and its handling is honest and secure. Its cabin has finally made the leap from the 1990s and offers both quality materials and the modern technology you expect in this price range.