2008 Mitsubishi Lancer EvolutionReview

The all-new 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution is bigger and more refined than its predecessor. Rally fans may regret the Evo has moved away from its roots in World Rally Championship competition, but it's faster than its predecessor by almost every measure, now more like an affordable BMW M3.

The Evo is the sports edition of the Lancer sedan. Mitsubishi doesn't bring out a new version of the Evo every year. Although the first of the Evolution models appeared 16 years ago, this all-new Evo X, as it is affectionately called by fans, is only the 10th edition. Referred to by its fans with the Roman numeral X, the Evo X follows the Evo IX by two years.

Over those two years, some radical changes have been made. The Evo X is heavier, by some 300 pounds, than the IX. But it's more powerful, too, by five horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque, so it forfeits little if anything in sheer performance.

Price - $32,990 ++

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Saab 9-3 Turbo X Review

Volvo did it. Acura still does it. Audi has been doing it for a long time. And now Saab is giving it a shot: start with a front-wheel-drive platform, add a powerful engine and an all-wheel-drive system (hopefully with a few tricks up its sleeve), and then try to pass the nose-heavy result off as a viable alternative to a balanced rear-wheel-drive BMW. To wit: the limited edition 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X, in sedan or wagon SportCombi form. Success? Not so much.

Imagine a Saab 9-3 with a coat of black metallic paint, prominent stylized dual exhaust tips and 18� alloys that recall the tri-spoke rims that distinguished the brand�s iconic 900 SPG. That�s the Turbo X. The 9-3 has never been distinctive enough to be interesting or beautiful enough to be, well, beautiful. At best, these tweaks render it mildly sinister.

Price range - $29,774 to $36,924

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2009 Nissan Murano Review

Nissan's recent history is for the most part a success story, and part of that success comes from designing one set of parts into a platform and then stretching that platform's length, width, and strength to do other jobs under other kinds of vehicles. Nissan does this better than most manufacturers, and has done it successfully once again with the 2009 Murano, using basically the same kit of parts that goes under the Altima coupe and sedan for a much larger, heavier and more complex crossover SUV. Murano is named after two different luxury items from two very different parts of the world, Murano art glass from Italy and Murano pearls from Japan, which is a good thing, considering it's sold in more than 130 countries.

The outgoing Murano has been one of the most successful models in Nissan's recent history, with sales rising every year since its introduction in 2003, and a loyalty rate upwards of 30 percent. With sales up more than 70 percent, they've stopped production on the original Murano and given us this brand new second-generation version to consider.

Price - Range: $26,870 - $36,450

automotive.com

2008 Audi A5 Review

"Nice Audi." Every time I rolled up in the glossy red A5, I heard the same refrain. Young, old, rich, poor� if the onlooker had a tongue, they wagged it at me and my Audi. And there you have it. The people have spoken. I find this curious for two reasons. First, das volk haven't driven it. Second, the A5 is a two-door variant of the new A4. Has anyone other than a nurse or desperate housewife looked at an A4 and exclaimed, "Nice Audi?" Perhaps so, but the ad hoc A5 admiration society still raises an important question: is it a nice Audi?

It sure it is gorgeous. I understand Audi's decision to graft goatees onto the front of their cars� the big mouth bass look differentiates their vehicles from Bimmers� but that doesn't mean I've ever liked it. Until the A5. Fine, the corporate snout looks pretty slick on the A8, too. But the A5's gaping maw is, finally, perfectly balanced with the flanking headlights and air intakes. It's also the coupe's least sexy bit. The tail is double-take eye candy, with muscular haunches that [should] haunt Jag designer's dreams.

Price - $48,825 ++

Source - www.thetruthaboutcars.com

Proton GEN-2 Hatchback

Performance

Two petrol engines are available: a 74bhp 1.3-litre and a 110bhp 1.6-litre. Both come with a five-speed manual �box as standard; the 1.6 has an option of an automatic gearbox. The manual 1.6 supplies enough pace for most drivers. There�s decent urge at any speed, but it is best at higher revs.

Ride & handling

Proton-owned Lotus had a hand in developing the Gen-2�s chassis. The benefits are there in a decent drive, with suspension that strikes a good balance between ride comfort and cornering composure. Grip is good, but while the steering is quick to react to inputs, it can�t match the class leaders for feel.

Refinement

Engine noise plagues the Gen-2�s cabin. There�s a constant drone around town, while even gentle throttle pressure brings with it a coarse, insistent tone. Road noise is present on most surfaces above an urban crawl and gets worse as speeds rise. Wind noise is present, but not excessive, at motorway speeds.

PRICE: �8,995 - �10,995

TARGET PRICE: �8,401 - �10,268

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Honda Accord Saloon

Performance

There are three engines to choose from - a 154bhp 2.0-litre petrol, a 198bhp 2.4-litre petrol and a 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel. All are smooth and strong. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and the petrols offer the option of a five-speed automatic, which saps performance.

Ride & handling

Honda reckons Accord owners will do long shifts on motorways, so it has set the suspension for comfort rather than sharpness. The ride is a little jittery around town, but it's quiet and compliant otherwise. Push the car hard through bends and it will start to run wide, but it generally holds on well. The steering, with electronic power assistance, can be numb, although it weights up (artifically) once you start to turn.

PRICE: �19,260 - �26,660

TARGET PRICE: �18,292 - �25,301

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Mazda 5 MPV

The 5 is available with 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol engines, and a pair of 2.0-litre diesels that produce either 108 or 141bhp. If you regularly carry a full load of passengers, the smaller petrol engine may struggle, but the other motors deliver more than enough go.

The 5 has the handling to match its sporty looks, with strong grip and competent suppression of body lean. The steering is light and easy around town, yet still offers sharp reactions to help the car turn briskly into corners. A bouncy high-speed ride makes the car feel unsettled on the motorway, though, and more vicious bumps thud into the cabin.

PRICE: �15,795 - �21,345

TARGET PRICE: �15,795 - �21,345

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2008 Mazda CX-7 Review

The Mazda CX-7 fits neatly into the zoom-zoom mold: sporty but functional; roomy but svelte; snappy but comfortable. It has a surprisingly powerful, and fairly frugal, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a state-of-the-art six-speed automatic transmission, motivating a sporty-looking and sporty-handling five-passenger vehicle that will haul nearly as much stuff as it does people.

The Mazda CX-7 offers seating for five people, decent cargo space, a comprehensive set of standard safety features and distinctive looks. We found it fun to drive, with responsive handling and good high-speed stability.

The CX-7 still starts at less than $24,000 for the front-wheel-drive version. A well-equipped, nicely featured, all-wheel-drive model goes for less than $30,000; and the top model with every option box checked comes in just around $35,000. Though a bit pricier than the prime opposition, the CX-7 excels in ride and handling.

Price Range: $23,750 - $28,000

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Mazda 3 Saloon

Performance

Saloon buyers can choose from three engines - a 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol, a 148bhp 2.0-litre petrol and a 108bhp 1.6-litre diesel. Both petrols offer good performance, while the diesel is smooth and impressively frugal, but a bit short of punch. The two 1.6s come with a five-speed manual gearbox and the 2.0-litre petrol has a six-speed transmission.

Ride & handling

The Mazda 3 uses the same basic chassis as the Ford Focus. Its low-speed ride is firm, but not uncomfortable. As speed increases, the ride smooths out and there is excellent body control. We prefer the hydraulic steering of the 1.6 to the electro-hydraulic system on the 2.0 petrol, which needs more sensitivity.

PRICE: �13,595 - �16,605

TARGET PRICE: �12,657 - �15,461

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Volvo C30 T5 2009

You ever to try to find a good hamburger? It�s not so easy. Garbage fast food is all around us. And sure; if you want a good steak you just wander into any number of fancy-pants restaurants and pay (through the nose) for a juicy bone-in rib eye. But a juicy burger you actually enjoy eating? Not so much. Switching to an automotive metaphor, all many people want is simple, basic transportation. But like a good burger, have you looked? There�s a whole gaggle of nicotine-stained grifters eager to sell you a Ford Focus. And even more well-coifed grifters are hungry to show you the joys of entry level luxury. But what if you only want a good small car? Friends, let me tell you about the Volvo C30.

My point is, the Volvo C30 T5 is all the car you need. The more I drove it, the more I was struck by the feeling that this is exactly what a car should be. And nothing more. To recap: it�s good looking with a great interior, has more than enough power and handles with class-leading aplomb. Our single option tester (metallic paint) stickered at less than $24,000 and gets about 30 mpg on the highway. As our Swedish friends might say, good enough.

TheTruthAboutCar

BMW 5 Series - Touring Car Review

What�s it like to drive?

What sort of driving mood are you in today? If you�re feeling sporty and fancy taking to the road in a powerful and agile car then try the BMW 5 Series Touring. Need to head across the Channel and stock up with cheap vin plonk? Well, how about the BMW 5 Series Touring. Oh, you�d rather waft to work and back in pampered luxury; guess what? Yep, it�s the BMW 5 Series Touring again.

What�s it like inside?

The interior is so comfortable, so luxurious and so spacious that you, as well as four business acquaintances or family members, could almost forget it�s a car and sprawl contentedly on its multi-adjustable leather seats. If you�re a technophobe you can bypass the fiddly iDrive and control heating and sounds with simple rotary dials. While the rear seats don�t fold flat there�s ample space in the boot for the family's holiday gear, and a handy lockable storage area under the floor.

EveCars

BMW - X5 4.8i Review

The vast majority of today�s SUVs and CUVs share the same modus operandi. They�re good for a bus, bad for a car. They�re thirsty, overpriced, overweight and over here. Most now come complete with a market-mandatory third row that�s as about useful as a werewolf at Trader Vic�s. So when I read BMW�s characteristically modest tagline for their new X5 SUV CUV SAV on their official website� �Room for everything except improvement�� I considered myself an honorary Missourian. Ultimate driving machine on stilts? Show me.

The X5 is the very model of a major modern BMW that quotes the stance historical. It�s a tremendously busy design, festooned with strange shapes and littered with unexpected creases and lines. Despite die Bangle Boyz� attempt to transform the Bimmer�s two-box SUV shape into something more exotic, the marginally longer, taller and wider X5 still looks like a two-box SUV tweaked to look like something exotic. The rear remains especially boxy, tilting its posterior upwards in a distinctly French sort of way. In sum, from twenty feet away, the X5 looks handsome enough.

TheTruthAboutCar

BMW 5 Series - Saloon Car Review

What�s it like to drive?

Aspiring executives, pay attention: THIS is how it�s done. The BMW 5 Series sets new standards for the class. Drive one and you can�t fail to be moved. So much so, the car should carry a health warning: �Caution: may cause award-winning poetry.� Every single engine is as smooth as it is swift. Sidestep the optional sports suspension and it feels as restful as a baby�s cradle. Invest in the Active Steering and you�ll be able to pilot it into the narrowest of parking spaces without even breaking a sweat. Read more - www.evecars.com

Performance

There's six petrol and four diesel engines to choose from. Even the least powerful 523i has a good turn of speed. The 525 delivers hot-hatch performance and exceptional refinement. Acceleration is more vivid as you climb up the range, but running costs rise. The 525d is a great engine, but the 520d is only a little slower, yet cheaper and more frugal. The 530d and 535d are genuinely rapid.

Ride & handling

The superb-handling 5 Series is top of the class for driving pleasure. Ride comfort is excellent at all speeds, as long as you avoid the optional sport suspension. Optional active steering increases assistance at low speeds, making manoeuvring easier.

Refinement

When pushed hard, the engines make a suitably sporting bark. Opt for a more relaxed style, however, and they are muted. The diesels are a shade more audible than their petrol counterparts, but they make a sporting thrum rather than an unpleasant clatter. Wind and road noise are well contained at motorway speeds.

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