MotorMouths

With its new Mulsanne, Bentley has masterfully fused the disparate aspects of a brand that’s both athletic and unparalleled in luxury. Just as its interior is a mix of old-world refinement and modern-day technology, so is its ride quality. I found the Mulsanne solid yet agile, powerful yet quiet.

There’s a lot more to be lightheaded about with this new CLS. If this car were a coat, I’d want to wear it. Alas, it is merely a car. But it is a car that captivates both the heart and the mind, catering to passions with underpinnings of practicality.

The frisky, affordable Ford Fiesta seems to have hit the sweet spot of fuel economy and up-to-the-minute technology, wrapping it all in a wash of electrifying colors that may zap the math that small + car = boring.

The Charger SRT8 is a pony car for the family man. The four-door sedan has just the right amount of exterior aggression and raw power, with a smooth transmission and enough interior refinement to please the wife.

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT is, first and foremost, a performance vehicle that unleashes a primitive need for speed. It was aggressive enough that the colleague in my passenger seat felt the need to remind me that I’m the mother of a 7-year-old.

The Prius v’s driver visibility, passenger legroom and cargo capacity are value-added improvements over the regular Prius.

The M Hybrid hits a sweet spot, marrying enough luxury trimmings to satisfy the hedonistic with great off-the-line performance and fuel economy that won’t make luxury-oriented greenies cringe.

It’s a lot of car for the money, but dollar for dollar in a value-oriented marketplace, the TL, premium as its amenities are, doesn’t accord the same amount of style or status as, say, a Mercedes-Benz C-class.

With its Countryman, Mini expands its offering of fun, stylish and affordable cars for the hip, young and fabulous with a four-door for the young and hip when they become less fabulous — settling down and spawning kids.

With its 2011 CR-Z, Honda is playing with a new concept. It’s called responsible indulgence, and Honda’s debuting the idea with a two-seat “sporty hybrid coupe” that’s got some spunk but doesn’t force drivers to check their environmental consciences at the door.

The Mazda5’s best attributes are its family-friendly ones — a comfortable and configurative interior, an upfront cost that’s within budget and fuel economy that won’t bust the bank.

The Mazda2 proves the adage: Good things come in small packages.
Before driving this five-door five-seater, I thought the most fun I would have was counting the pennies I’d be saving at the pump. What I found instead was a car with enough pep to keep me interested.