the 2017 Kia Sorento represents a great offering for the Korean brand. Those who haven't visited a Kia dealer lately will probably be surprised by the window sticker prices, but keep in mind they represent lot of luxury for the buck. Buyers looking for a secure handling, handsomely-styled, luxuriously-appointed midsize crossover would do well to put the 2017 Kia Sorento at or near the top of their lists.

Three years ago the Outlander Sport landed somewhere in the middle of its class. But treading water in the compact crossover segment is no longer an option if a vehicle is to remain relevant. After driving the 2017 model, we can see Mitsubishi's offering is overdue for a major makeover.

For 2017, Hyundai has given its best-selling sedan, the Elantra, a complete makeover. But the Korean manufacturer saved the best for last with the introduction of a model where the Sport name is more than skin deep.

But the bottom line is that Corolla buyers are only looking for dependable transportation. The newest version is all that and, if nothing else, is also a pleasant car to drive around town and even on long stretches of freeway. Current owners will appreciate the improvements made to the latest generation, while its smooth, quiet ride - combined with Toyota's quality and reliability - will probably attract even more buyers to the Corolla nameplate.

But the fact remains that the Corolla is still a very pleasant car to drive, especially on long stretches of freeway. Current owners will appreciate the improvements in the model, while its smooth, quiet ride - combined with Toyota's quality and reliability - will probably attract even more buyers to the Corolla nameplate.

But the fact remains that while the Corolla is only mid-pack when it comes to handling and performance, it's still a very pleasant car to drive especially on long stretches of freeway. Current owners will like the improvements in the current model while its somewhat edgier styling and smooth ride - combined with Toyota's quality and reliability - should also attract even more buyers to the Corolla nameplate.

But when all is said and done, 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid, at least in base trim, represents one of the better hybrid buys and one that also comes with one of the best new car warranties in the business. We believe that car buyers looking at a midsize hybrid sedan now have even more of a reason to put the Kia Optima (especially the Premium) at or near the top of their shopping lists.

The 2017 Honda Accord has a lot going for it. It's the best Accord Hybrid yet with a quiet interior, improved handling, and loads of safety technology. On the other hand, no trunk pass-through limits its versatility, many of the infotainment system controls are distracting, the price of admission is still high, and the fuel economy we observed was nowhere near EPA estimates. But the fact is that hybrid buyers looking for a quiet, dependable midsize sedan should definitely put the 2017 Accord Hybrid on their shopping lists.

But if the Rally Edition is any indication, Hyundai is on the right track with the turbocharged version of its subcompact three-door. The changes not only help the Veloster soldier on, the improvements made to the suspension make it much easier to live with day-in and day-out.

But the fact of the matter is that we have more fun driving a Mazda6 than any other sedan in its segment. But it goes even beyond that. Mazda's midsize entrant also rewards drivers with excellent fuel economy, stunning styling and the handsomest interior this side of an Audi sedan that will set you back close to 50 large. Buyers looking for these attributes in a midsize sedan should put the latest Mazda6 at the top of their shopping lists.