Why you should buy this car: Handling, handling, handling, five-speed manual and handling. And while I find the appearance of the Fusion only half-baked, I know there are those out there who think it snazzy looking. The low price and relatively large size are a rarity in today's autodom. A similarly equipped Accord LX costs $2,000 more. The back seats are for real people. Even driving like a rev-happy dummy, the mileage was consistently better than advertised. The Fusion SE really is an outstanding value.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: Where's the beef? 9.3 seconds to get to sixty is not good. While the handling is top shelf, you'll never get going fast enough to exploit the chassis through quick, back-to-back turns. The upmarket SEL's V6 is an old dog. The engine from the Mazdaspeed6 is not an option. Neither is the wagon. It looks like a safety razor. The taillights look like they came off an Accord owned by a 17-year-old Korean kid. The interior makes Honda chuckle with schadenfreude and an Accord is worth the extra $2000. You are a big UAW booster and don't like that the Accord is built here, while the Fusion is hecho en Mexico.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Ford
· Model tested: Fusion I4 SE
· Model year: 2007
· Price as Tested: $20,460
· Engine: 2.3L 16V I4
· Horsepower: 160 hp @ 6250 rpm
· Torque: 156lbs. ft. @ 4250
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17" aluminum painted wheels; P225/50R17 V Rated tires
· Drive type: Front-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 9.3 seconds
· 1/4 mile: (don't ask)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 23/31
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 4/4/4

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Fusion SE, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: You're the type of person who thinks "Jeep" is a cartoon character named Eugene from the 1930's Popeye comic strip. You're someone who doesn't give a rat's ass what other people think about them and wants an inexpensive and useful vehicle to go from one place to the next — sometimes even in snow.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: Haven't you been listening — it's not a Jeep! Oh, and the Dodge Caliber's got a water bottle cooler in the glove box. And your iPod may not fit, either.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Jeep
· Model tested: Compass
· Model year: 2007
· Price as Tested: $21,185
· Engine type: 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve Dual VVT four-cylinder
· Horsepower: 172 hp @ 6000 rpm
· Torque: 165 ft.-lbs. @ 4400 rpm
· Redline: n/a
· Wheels and Tires: P215/60R17 all season
· Drive type: four-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 10.15 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 17.5 seconds
· Top speed: we had it up to 92, it may go higher than that — but police go faster.
· Fuel economy city/highway: 25 / 29
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NT/NT/NT

[By Ray Wert]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Jeep Compass, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: It's exactly what the car you need, even though you think you need a midsize SUV. That, and you've had an attachment to Volkswagens ever since that weird guy who hung around your high school parking lot offered you a ride home in his microbus.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: You are single and lack the requisite number of mountain biking or kayaking racks and stickers to make a wagon look like anything less than a family truckster. Or, you're not really a fan of extra visits to the dealer service center.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
· Mazda 6 Sportwagon
· Subaru Legacy 2.5i Wagon
· Dodge Magnum SXT

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Volkswagen
· Model tested: Passat Wagon 2.0T
· Model year: 2007
· Base Price: $26,175
· Price as Tested: $26,805
· Engine type: Turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline four
· Horsepower: 200 hp @ 5100 rpm
· Torque: 207 ft.-lbs. @ 1800 - 5000 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manumatic
· Curb Weight: 3512 lbs
· LxWxH: 188.0 x 71.7 x 59.7 in
· Wheelbase: 106.7 in
· Tires: P215/55R16 Continental ContiProContact
· Drive type: front-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 7.5 sec.
· Fuel economy city/highway: 22 / 31
· NHTSA crash test rating: front: 4/4 (driver/passenger); side: no info; rollover: 4

[by Mike Austin]

Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Volkwagen Passat Wagon 2.0L, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: Vee Dub's $25k cruise missile is the financially challenged pistonhead's Porsche. We're talking maximum bang for the buck (discounting the cramped MINI Cooper S and pricier, harder-riding Subaru WRX STi and Mitsubishi Evo). The GTI is also an ideal chariot for less adrenal enthusiasts with kids and an aversion to gas stations, who still like to fart around from time to time.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: VW's reputation for reliability disappeared about the same time luftballoon singer Nena declared "Denkst Du vielleicht grad' an mich" ("Back at base, bugs in the software"). Only time will tell if the new Golf has the ICBM-proof build the brand needs to reestablish the whole German-quality shtick.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Volkswagen
· Model tested: Golf GTI DSG
· Model year: '06
· Price as Tested: $23,880
· Engine type: 2.0-liter inline-4, fsi, intercooled turbo
· Horsepower: 200 hp @ 5100 - 6000 rpm
· Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 1800 - 5000 rpm
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17J X 17: alloy wheels, 225/45 R17W summer performance tires
· Drive type: front-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.3 seconds
· 1/4 mile: 14.8 seconds
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 25 / 31
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not Rated

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews, 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Part 1; Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: The MX-5 is the bonsai tree of sports cars: a perfectly formed thrashmobile writ small. All the roadster s major controls work with infinite precision and perfect linearity. There s so much intimate feedback through the wheel, pedals and seat that the Moroni Monroney [window sticker] should include a XXX rating. For people who drive for driving s sake, it doesn t get much better than this — at any price.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: If you have a history of run-ins with solid objects, or bad luck, we suggest something a bit larger and more robust.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Mazda
· Model tested: MX5
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $27,330
· Engine type: 2.0-liter in-line four
· Horsepower: 170 hp @ 6700 rpm
· Torque: 140 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
· Redline: 6750 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Michelin Pilot Preceda, 205/45R-17 84W
· Drive type: rear wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.5 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 15.0 sec @ 91 mph
· Top speed: 131 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 25/30
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not yet rated

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mazda MX-5, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you shouldn t buy this car: If you adore big, brawny V8 engines, the XC90 s Yamaha unit is too highly-strung to earn your affections. Also, if you re a PC suburbanite intent on burnishing your tree-hugging credentials, you ll want a more fuel efficient, hybrid-powered SUV.

Why you should buy this car: The XC90 is one of the world s most civilized SUV s. It embodies everything Ford/Land Rover/Volvo knows about clean, functional design and spacious interior architecture. The new V8 isn t perfect, but it provides a perfectly placed band-aid over the XC90 s Achilles heel.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Volvo
· Model tested: XC90 V8
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $49,810
· Engine type: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
· Horsepower: 311hp @ 5850 rpm
· Torque: 325 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
· Redline: 6000rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 18" "Atlantis" Alloy Wheels; Michelin Pilot HXMXM4 235 / 60R18 tires
· Drive type: Four wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 7.0 seconds
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 118 (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 15/20
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not Tested/*****/****

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Volvo XC90 V8, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The Toyota Highlander Hybrid isn't a real SUV. You can't tote much, climb much or feel entirely comfortable driving it wearing work boots. By the same token, it isn't a hybrid sedan, which gets at least 10 more mpg around town. It is, in fact, a deeply dull, environmental "tweenie." Enthusiasts will miss the burbling V8; environmentalists will miss the Prius' weird shape (Look at me! I m top of the — I mean, I m saving the world Ma!) and superior mileage.

Why you should buy this car: The Toyota Highlander helps save the planet and reduces America's reliance on foreign policy rhetoric. OK, it's not much of a contribution, but it's some, and some is better than none (unless we're talking about Absinthe).

While the Prius is the more efficient car, there's no getting around the fact that the Highlander Hybrid's ride height gives vastly better visibility and a real sense of comfort. Penny pinchers note: You'd have to drive this thing into the ground to save enough gas money to fully amortize the hybrid premium, but I reckon the retained resale value will see you right.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Toyota
· Model tested: Highlander Hybrid 4WD-i
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $34,430
· Engine type: 3.3-liter, DOHC V6 / Ni-MH batteries (traction) and Permanent magnet motor (drive and regeneration on 4WD-I models)
· Horsepower: 208hp @ 5600 rpm / 167hp @ 4500 rpm / maximum combined system output 268hp
· Torque: 212 lb-ft @ 5600 rpm / 247 lb-ft @ 0 - 1500 rpm
· Redline: 200kw (power output)
· Wheels and Tires: P225/65R17, Goodyear Integrity all-season tires.
· Drive type: AWD
· 0 - 60: 7.3 secs.
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 112 (electronically limited, of course)
· Fuel economy (city/highway/combined): 31/27/29
· NHTSA crash test rating (front/side/rollover): 5/5/4

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Part 1; Jalopnik Reviews: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Part 2 [internal]