Luxury and hatchback are terms that don’t seem to belong together, but the new 2012 Audi A7 has added practicality to their latest luxury/sport sedan. We don’t expect to see many A7s at Home Depot with lumber poking out of the hatch; weekend luggage and golf clubs are more likely. The A7 is a primarily an upscale sport sedan with added functionality.

Walkaround: The Audi A7 is a handsome car with an imposing presence. There is no doubt that this is a car of substance owned and driven by people of similar means. The A7 exudes Germanic Autobahn muscularity. It looks fast even when parked. read more »

The Hyundai Accent was redesigned for 2012. It has more power, a new look, a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase, a new four-door hatchback body style (the two-door hatchback was dropped), and it costs more, but it’s still a tremendous value. The Accent is tight and well built. It doesn’t come across as a cheap car, although close inspection will reveal cost saving measures. read more »

No one can accuse Nissan of building another copycat compact SUV when it comes to the unique 2012 Juke. Nissan has one of the most extensive SUV lineups in the industry, so maybe the Juke was an attempt to fill every possible niche.

The Juke is a compact crossover SUV that leans more toward the fun, sporty side than the boring, practical side of the SUV spectrum. read more »

The 2012 Acura TSX is the brand’s entry-level car. It’s a viable contender in the compact sport/luxury sedan class. TSX prices have an $8,000 spread between the least and most expensive trim packages. We drove the top model Tech V-6, which was a fine car although not as great a value as the four-cylinder models. read more »

Anyone want to buy a condo in Las Vegas? It comes with a Hummer and an Excursion in the garage. The current state of big SUVs mirrors real estate investments in parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean buyers have forsaken sport utilities. Like the real estate market it’s more a matter of need, regrouping and downsizing. read more »

The highly anticipated 2012 Fiat 500 was worth the wait, especially if you like your fun in a very compact package. Like the much pricier Mini Cooper, the Fiat 500 evokes styling cues of its progenitors (’50s/’60s Fiat 500/600 series) and wraps them around a thoroughly modern technology package. Quality and substance are a million miles away from the flimsy Fiats of old. read more »

The Toyota Camry is the benchmark for how to build a top-notch midsize sedan. The Camry has been a perennial best seller based on first class engineering, quality construction, reliability, comfort, safety, and excellent resale value. The Camry has long been the midsize sedan other manufacturers seek to beat. read more »

The 2012 Kia Optima is an excellent car and an outstanding value that’s available in three four-cylinder iterations. The Optima is by design very versatile and the three distinct engines help broaden its appeal. There’s a powerplant for every driving style and budget.

The Optima was redesigned for 2011. The base 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine was first augmented by the lively 2.0-liter 274 horsepower I-4, which was followed by the introduction of the 2.4-liter gas/electric hybrid engine. read more »

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is a truly unique vehicle. As such it’s not for everyone, but people that understand and love Jeeps are crazy about the Wrangler. The 2012 Wrangler Unlimited does an excellent job of blending traditional super tough, go-anywhere Jeep attributes with modern technologies and conveniences. The Wrangler doesn’t have the level of luxury found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it’s a million miles ahead of its 1941 progenitor — the flat fender military Jeep. It’s a true multi-purpose vehicle. read more »