2009 Saab 9-3

The 2009 Saab 9-3 is a first cousin to the Chevy Malibu, Opel Vectra and Fiat Croma, but you would have a hard time telling that by just looking. Saab prides itself on engineering, and their engineers have given this car a look, inside and out, that is uniquely its own. You can get it in a sports sedan, convertible or SUV (called the SportCombi). It may be a compact, but it delivers in a big way.

The motor for the 9-3 is an I4 dual overhead cam 2.0 liter cranking out 210 horsepower at 5500 rpms. The base transmission is a six speed manual with overdrive, but you can also get a five speed automatic. This much power naturally pulls down fuel efficiency, but not as much as you might expect. The 9-3 is rated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway.

2009 Volvo V50

The 2009 Volvo V50 is Volvo's compact station wagon. Foreign competition includes the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen and Saab 9-3 SportCombi. Currently there is no domestic competition. There are no major body style changes to the V50 for this year.

It's hard to make a station wagon look special. Even harder when the station wagon is a compact. In spite of that, the V50 is a pretty sharp looking vehicle. Possibly the best looking car in its class, the V50 only faces the Audi A4 Avant as any real competition. The V50 garners praise for turning radius, fuel economy and warranty but is below class average in value, cargo volume, headroom and power.

Speaking of power, the V50 comes with two engine choices, depending on the trim line you choose.

2007 Porsche Cayman

The 2007 Porsche Cayman is available in the base model for $49,400. Powered by a 245 hp, 2.7-liter, six-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission, the vehicle can make zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds and has a top track speed of 160 mph. The S model, from $58,900, features a 295 hp, 3.4-liter, six-cylinder with a six-speed manual that does 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and tops out at 171 mph.

Standard seats in the Cayman are upholstered with a leatherette finish. There's an airbag in each backrest, for upper body protection, as well as generous seat adjustment options regardless of the height of the driver. The classic Porsche instrumentation has an aluminum finish with crisp, white back-lit illumination. Digital readouts complement the usual speedometer, tachometer, and odometer functions and include such information as average fuel consumption and average speed to remaining fuel range.

The standard audio system is an AM/FM/CD unit with an option for a Bose Surround Sound System

2007 MINI Cooper

The 2007 MINI Cooper doesn't look all that different from previous year models, but it's actually been through a complete re-engineering. Still small, despite being 2.5 inches longer than the 2006 model, it's also surprisingly comfortable and spacious for a car with such a tiny footprint. It's available as a base or S-model (base model coupe has a starting MSRP of $18,700) coupe or convertible.

Outside, the car still has the sturdy, squat shape that its maker refers to as the "bulldog stance," but it also has larger tail lights and tail pipes (there are two), and the turn-signal indicators have been moved from their previous position on the bumper to be part of the headlight array. In addition the S-model has fog lights now standard.

2009 Mercury Grand Marquis

The rear wheel-driven 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis is a 4-door family sedan that is made for comfort and style. It features an interior that is both spacious and luxurious and seats 6 occupants with room to stretch. Comparable to the Lincoln Town Car in terms of convenience and standard features, it sells at a lower price point than many mid-sized luxury cars. MSRP is $28,710 for the singular available trim: the LS 4-Door Sedan.

Its power is generated from a 4.6L 224hp V8 engine that works in conjunction with a 4-speed automatic transmission to crank out 275 ft-lb of torque at 4000 rpm. If you happen to have a need to pull anything along, the Grand Marquis has a towing capacity of 1500 pounds. And coincidentally, the turning radius is 20.1 feet. The fuel tank holds 19 gallons and fuel efficiency ratings are at 14/21 city/highway.

2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is heir to a long tradition of quality and innovation. Indeed, the incarnation of the modern E-Class in the 1996 model year gave the world its first front door mounted airbags. There are a number of would-be challengers in the midsize luxury class, including Acura RL, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XJ Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS and Cadillac CTS. But throughout the world perhaps only the name Rolls-Royce compares with the recognition of Mercedes-Benz.

The last exterior refresh for the E-Class was the 2007 model year, but there are a number of new developments for 2009. New wheels, all-wheel drive, in-dash CD/DVD changer and a Bluetooth hands free cell phone system lead this list.

2009 Lincoln Navigator

Review

Specs

Pricing Options

Rebates

The 2009 Lincoln Navigator is one of the largest eight-passenger SUVs on the market, compared to the Mercedes-Benz GL Class. With the Navigator L, the model gains over twenty cubic feet of cargo space, and the length gets an almost an additional fifteen inches. The regular Navigator is packed with standard features, but its fuel economy is exceptionally poor, even with flex-fuel capabilities. Nevertheless, the 2009 Navigator is fully loaded with safety additions that protect all the passengers in collisions and the vehicle, itself, in the event of a break-in. While the intro price is high, the Navigator is well worth the money.

Inside, buyers can expect convenient features left and right like steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows and locks, dual-zone electronic automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. This innovative mirror will dim when a harsh glare appears so that drivers might have improved rear visibility. Two auxiliary power outlets make it easy to recharge electronic devices, and power-adjustable pedals convert for a taller or shorter driver. An optional in-dash navigation unit is available, as well as leather-trimmed seating and a power moonroof. A six-disc in-dash CD changer is included, and buyers can upgrade to a rear seat DVD entertainment system with a remote control and wireless headphones.