New Car Test Drive: We haven't heard much lately about Fahrvergnugen, that difficult-to-define Germanic character that supposedly separated Volkswagens from other moderately priced cars. That's probably because VW outsiders never did get it, as trying to sell the Volkswagen driving experience to someone who has never experienced it is like trying to describe premium-grade European chocolate to someone who hasn't tasted it and thinks the supermarket brand is just fine. So if you haven't driven a modern Volkswagen extensively, then you're going to have to trust us on this: The charm of these cars is that they drive like 8/10ths of one of those high-dollar German sedans, while costing less than half the price. A SportWagon model is now available, having joined the line of sedans mid-2008. The SportWagon adds flexibility without a larger footprint or any compromise in Fahrvergnugen or efficiency. The Jetta is more potent for 2008, with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque (compared to 150 hp and 170 lb-ft   << collapse text

The A3, Audi's first hatchback for the U.S. market, celebrated its third birthday in 2008, continuing to tout itself as "the first four-door car with the sportiness of a TT coupe." The base engine is a smooth 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, and is available with front-wheel drive. The 2.0T comes standard with a great six-speed manual gearbox that has light and easy clutch action. Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) is a $1,480 option, and is based on technology pioneered in their Le Mans winning racecars. The DSG shifts either automatically or with the pull of a steering column-mounted paddle, and it always has the next gear ready for quick engagement. The throaty 250-horsepower narrow-angle 3.2L V6 is paired with the DSG and Audi's all-wheel-drive system on the S-Line quattro. Its base price starts just under $35,000. Audi has done an outstanding job with the exterior and interior of the A3. All body panels have tight seams and appealing lines, and the inte   << collapse text

Thanks to the famous Pininfarina design studio, the 2008 Suzuki Forenza sedan and wagon boast styling that sets them apart from similarly-sized economy-minded vehicles. The front end of the Forenza, which was revised in 2006, has a smooth, sporty appearance and is complemented by body-color bumpers, trim, and door handles. Wagons get a bright roof rails. Both the sedan and wagon come with a 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder engine making 126 horsepower, offered with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission features a "hold" button to prevent hunting between gears in hilly terrain. The Forenza has front and rear stabilizer bars for good handling attributes, along with speed-sensitive power steering and 15-inch wheels. Front seat-mounted side air bags are standard, along with four-wheel disc brakes. Standard equipment includes air conditioning with a micron air filtration system, an MP3-compatible CD sound system with six speakers, heated outside mirror   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Honda Fit distinguishes itself with agile handling, zippy performance, and impressive practicality. A four-door hatchback, the Fit is amazingly comfortable, given its dimensions, even in the back seats. It's a particularly pleasant car for running errands. It's easy to get in and out. It's easy to park. It does indeed fit, just about anywhere. The Honda Fit offers five-passenger seating and comes with a sporty, two-tone fabric interior. The rear seatbacks can be flipped down to create a big, flat cargo hold. Most of the other cars in this class don't offer such a big, flat floor, and that's crucially important when trying to transport a big box. The Honda Fit is probably the best car in its class, particularly when measured in terms of performance and handling as well as interior packaging and versatility. The Fit gets good gas mileage, achieving an EPA-estimated 33/38 mpg City/Highway with the manual gearbox and 31/38 mpg with the automatic. It's a flexible engine that's comfortable f   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The 2009 Toyota Matrix is a new, second-generation design developed in tandem with the Corolla sedan. In essence, the Matrix is the wagon/hatch version of the Corolla. In fact, the company refers to it as the Toyota Corolla Matrix. With edgier styling inside and out and four versions to choose from, the Matrix makes a sensible choice for many people. Perhaps the oldest piece of hardware on the new Matrix is the all-wheel-drive system introduced on the RAV4 for the 2006 model year. Everything else is newer, making the Matrix an all-new car. The 1.8-liter engine is new. Gearboxes, brakes, steering and safety systems have all been redone. The body work is all new, also, though the design is an evolutionary update of the previous version. The new 2009 Toyota Matrix is bigger than the previous version, but Toyota hasn't lost sight of this being its smallest crossover vehicle. You can carry four big people or drop three seats and slide a short board inside; four doors make loading kids, dogs and   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is a new, second-generation design that shares most of its mechanical parts with the Toyota Matrix. The Vibe is more refined, visually cleaner and appears to have more equipment for the money than its predecessor. The lineup features an array of models with a choice of engines and all-wheel drive making the Vibe attractive to a variety of drivers. It's a logical, flexible compact that should appeal to everyone from high-schoolers to empty nesters. Virtually every component on the 2009 Vibe is new or heavily revised. The standard 1.8-liter engine is more powerful and efficient than its predecessor, and a larger 2.4-liter is available. An all-wheel-drive version is available and, like the engines, this particular system has been proven in hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Given Toyota's engineering history these cars should prove reliable and cost-effective. The new 2009 Vibe is larger than last year's model, though at 172 inches it is still a reasonable size and makes   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Suzuki SX4 was launched as an all-new hatchback for 2007. For 2008, a four-door sedan version called the SX4 Sport has joined the lineup. The SX4 hatchback, now called the SX4 Crossover, uses all-wheel drive, while the SX4 Sport has front-wheel drive. Both are motivated by a 143-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The SX4 Crossover offers cargo versatility and looks like a cute mini-SUV. The Suzuki SX4 offers the most powerful engine in its class. It has a wide track for good handling and it seems to have a solid body. The downside is that it's relatively heavy, and weight is the enemy of which performance and fuel economy. So the SX4 is not much faster than its competitors, on dry pavement, that is, and fuel consumption is not quite as good. It's good for all seasons as it comes standard with all-wheel drive for effective all-weather capability. The Crossover is a reasonably sporty hatchback when equipped with a manual transmission, but it's also available with an automatic. Bo   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: After being introduced just four years ago, the boxy Scion xB has been totally redesigned for 2008. Scion says that owners wanted their xBs to be bigger. Since it takes three years to produce a new car, the requests to expand the box must have started coming early. The new xB is indeed a bigger box, but it doesn't look so much like a box any more. And it isn't, as the increased length reduces the squareness. The styling is considerably improved. Plastic surgery on the chin has made a huge difference, and the other edges and angles are much softer, making the xB more attractive and less funny looking. The new xB is 12 inches longer, on a wheelbase that's just 4 inches longer; this means bigger overhangs, which goes against the trend, as most new vehicles increase the wheelbase more than the length, efficient packaging that increases stability. The xB is 2.8 inches wider, though, and that adds stability. And the wheels have been increased in size to 16 inches, allowing larger disc brakes, fr   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Subaru Impreza lineup is redesigned for 2008, getting bigger and more refined in the process. Impreza and Outback Sport use a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine teamed with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 170-horspower, enough power for everyday needs and enough oomph for good passing punch. We drove it in the mountains of Colorado and found it up to the task, but it had to work hard up steep grades partly due to the thinner air at high altitude. Drivers who want more power should consider the turbocharged Impreza WRX, which is surprisingly civil in behavior. The Impreza powertrain is competitive with anything in the compact class, but some rivals offer six-speed automatics that improve fuel economy. The Impreza's fuel economy is on par with other all-wheel-drive compacts, but it suffers compared to front-drive rivals. If fuel mileage is your main concern, the Impreza is not the best choice among compacts. All-wheel drive   << collapse text

New Car Test Drive: The Subaru Outback benefits from revised styling, enhanced performance, and interior upgrades for 2008. The changes improve upon a roomy and comfortable wagon that can go almost anywhere. The Outback offers premium drivetrain technology, composed handling and all-weather capability, lots of active and passive safety features. The revisions to the engines for 2008 make them look less powerful on paper because of changes to rating standards, but they work just as well, and the base engine carries the oxymoronic government certification of Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. Electronic stability control is offered on more models. The rear suspension has been retuned for more ride comfort without sacrificing any handling. Three engines are available, 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine a 243-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter, and a 245-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder. All use Subaru's horizontally opposed engine design, like that employed by the old VW Beetle and most Porsches. Subaru's engines are mo   << collapse text