Look at it this way: you live in an area with smooth, twisty roads, long miles of empty interstate that stretch to the horizon and you're either a hardcore racer or you have a more conventional vehicle for your daily driver, then it probably makes sense to buy a Lancer Evolution. Deciding on an EVO also might make sense if you regularly invite members of your local law enforcement community over for barbeque.

Despite its shortcomings that include a funky checkerboard dash, no third row seat along with rear visibility and cargo room limited by a low roofline, I found many more things than not to like about it.

You'll find no argument from us that the 4-door sits at the top of the midsize sedan segment, but how does this translate to the Accord Coupe?

A few years ago, American small car buyers had little to choose from and even less to look forward to when buying a subcompact car. All that has changed and the Hyundai Accent SE hatchback, with one of the best new car warranties in the business, is right in the thick of it giving buyers a lot of bang for the buck with only a few tweaks to its driving dynamics holding it back from being one of the best.

The bottom line, however, is that the Honda Civic is still one of the nicest performance cars in the compact segment. Pair that with Honda's reputation for quality and reliability and the result is a combination that's hard to beat.

the Elantra is certainly a well-rounded sedan that, while hardly sporty, offers a lot of bang for the buck and should certainly be near the top of the list of vehicles for consideration by most compact car shoppers.

All in all, the Fiesta SFE isn't exactly a bargain, but it does offer a unique combination of handling, performance and fuel economy unmatched in the subcompact segment.

So with a new 2015 model on the horizon, it's time we took one last look at the sixth generation edition.

There's even more to like about the Highlander with the latest generation model. The handling is more controlled, the third row is roomier and there's more cargo room. and its fuel economy has been improved. On the flip side, the ride is not as cushy and it seems as if there's a little more road noise inside the cabin. But better fuel economy, a ride that's still fairly quiet and a comfortable, spacious interior far outweigh those negatives so that buyers seeking Toyota's legendary quality and reliability in a large people mover now have even more reasons to choose a Highlander.

the Lexus GX 460 is the consummate body-on-frame sport utility cruiser - quiet and quick while eating up freeway miles and soaking up road irregularities in the city better than any other large vehicle we have ever driven. Throw in its legendary dealer experience and reliability and you have a combination that's hard to beat.