That said, the 2016 Tacoma is much more refined than the outgoing model and should please current owners as well as attract many new buyers.

On the whole, however, the new Scion iM represents a decent value in the compact segment. We only wish its performance matched its looks.

The bottom line, though, is that if you keep the options to a minimum, the Elantra still offers buyers a lot of bang for the buck and should certainly be near the top of the list for consideration by compact car buyers.

Buyers looking for a versatile C-segment vehicle that are willing to overlook (and possibly take advantage of) Volkswagen's current woes would be well served to consider the latest Golf SportWagen.

A week in which we bid farewell not only to its sporty coupe, but also to Scion, itself.

While the new Sportage is an improvement over the outgoing model in practically every way, the competition has also gotten better - most notably in handling and fuel economy. So despite its in-your-face styling, we still see Kia's compact crossover as looking at an uphill battle for market share.

But as far as genuine off-road sport utility vehicles go, the 4Runner remains the real deal. So while most buyers would be better off owning a crossover, those looking for real off-road capability with the kind of quality and reliability Toyota is known for should put the 4Runner at or near the top of their lists.

No major changes are in store for the 2017 model, but this year the Forester is getting a few standard exterior and optional technology tweaks to keep the streak going.

Previous generation Avalon owners will undoubtedly be pleased with the changes Toyota has wrought for 2016, while drivers seeking more involvement still have the Touring model to turn to. Overall, midsize sedan buyers looking for the quality and reliability Toyota is known for plus a fair dose of style should plan on putting the latest Toyota Avalon at the top of their shopping lists.

Currently Camry owners should be very pleased with the latest version, while buyers looking for quality and reliability plus more than a touch of style should add their local Toyota dealer at or near the top of the list of those to visit.