SAN DIEGO — Nissan introduced its new Versa sedan nearly two years ago and since then it has become the best-selling subcompact in the country. Now comes the hatchback version, which is being tagged around the world as the Versa Note. It also has the makings of becoming a best seller in North America.

DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford folks at the 2014 Fiesta staging area couldn't stop talking about the high-performance Fiesta ST due in U.S. showrooms later this year with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder pumping out 197 horsepower. It's truly a small car juggernaut with the ability to hit 60 mph in the mid-six-second range and carve up a canyon road in sports car style. The Fiesta ST should give such nameplates as the Fiat 500 Abarth and the Mini Cooper S a real run.

PORTLAND, Ore. — While Acura trimmed some significant weight from the latest version of its best-selling MDX crossover it also cut horsepower and only subtly advanced the design. This may sound like playing it too safe with the all-new third-generation, but we discovered that Acura actually took a solid step forward. The proof is in the details — and the driving.

SAN DIEGO — Before we set foot and butt into the all-new full-sized luxury offering from Kia, we knew we would like it because we were enamored of its platform mate, the Hyundai Azera, after a recent 1,500-mile trek. What we weren't expecting was how much more we liked the Cadenza. Both sedans have the same energetic 3.3-liter direct-injection V-6 producing 293 horsepower mated to a six-speed automatic and both provide a generous helping of performance measured in the mid-six-second range from 0 to 60.

SAN ANTONIO — Our first look at the all-new Chevrolet Silverado full-sized pickup left us scratching our head last December when it was unveiled to the press a few weeks before the Detroit Auto Show. At first glance, it appeared devoid of styling changes. And then came the announcement that it would be motivated by a 4.3-liter V-6 and 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V-8s, the same engine displacements that have been found under the hood for years. It left us wondering, "what was General Motors thinking?"