DANA POINT, Calif. — Refreshed and raring to go, the 2016 Nissan Sentra isn’t the benchmark in the compact segment, but its impressive fuel economy, roomy cabin and affordable price put it firmly in the hunt. Justifying spending all the extra dough on a hybrid when the Sentra and several others deliver solid mileage numbers with a conventional gasoline engine may not make sense. Why spend an extra three or four grand on a hybrid scheme when you can get 30 mpg to 34 mpg in combined city-highway driving? That’s what Sentra delivers.

SAN DIEGO — I want to be perfectly clear: As much as automakers want you to believe that their particular brand and models are special and years ahead of the competition, the truth is, most all of them have state-of-the-art design, tech centers that employ essentially the same functions, close to the same horsepower and same fuel economy at about the same price. Virtually, they are the same cars with different logos emblazoned on the grille and rear deck lid.

KEY WEST, Fla. — The all-new Cascada is the first drop top to adorn a Buick emblem since the Reatta convertible whose production ended in 1991. Sales were dismal, with fewer than 2,500 units sold, when Buick pulled the plug. Cascada, Spanish for “waterfall” and built in Poland, has been selling under the Opel, Vauxhall and Holden badges for the past two years, is beginning to arrive at U.S. dealer showrooms now.

PHOENIX — In a world full of excellent midsize luxury sedans like Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, having to compete against that trio of established Bavarian winners is certainly considered a feat of Sisyphus proportions. One can only imagine the product planners at Jaguar as they attempt to win the wallets luxury sedan buyers with their redo of the XF for 2016.

DANA POINT, Calif. — For those many hundreds of thousands of people who love their Prius hybrid, but feared Toyota's first all-new model since 2010 would alter their cherished eco-friendly transportation into something radically different, we say "fear not." The fourth-generation 2016 Prius is here and we discovered during a day of driving that it's still every bit a Prius. Toyota it seems has hit the vaunted Prius brand nail squarely on the head.

STOWE, Vermont — We've marveled over the past few years at the interior space of the Volkswagen Passat — particularly for rear-seat passengers who get a near-limo feeling — and the satisfying driving experience. Introduced as an all-new model in 2012, the Passat is built at the state-of-the-art Chattanooga plant in Tennessee.

PHOENIX — For 2016, Mercedes-Benz introduces the GLC crossover utility vehicle, a completely new vehicle replacing the discontinued GLK. While the GLK nomenclature meant nothing, the GLC is akin to the C-Class sedan and coupe. In fact the vehicles share the same rear-drive foundation and are powered by the same engine.

RALEIGH, N.C. — For almost two decades, the Lexus RX has been the benchmark for luxury midsized crossovers and SUVs. The yard marks are wide, but you’re going to shell out anywhere between $45,000 and $70,000 to purchase one. The competitive set includes the cream of the crop: Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and a few others. Price notwithstanding, this segment is growing so fast, it seems that within five years, Americans will be issued one with their learning permits.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Honda was accused of cutting corners with its all-new ninth-generation Civic for model year 2012. It seemed the Japanese car company was content to live on its reputation of building solid, affordable and reliable entry-level transportation. We had no qualms with the '12 Civic, admitting that it wasn't the leap forward we had expected. That's not a problem this time around. There's no question Honda has raised the bar with the 10th generation Civic.

PHILADELPHIA — The iconic xB boxy wagon and a no-haggle "pure price" mono-spec trim shopping experience defined the Scion brand when it entered the U.S.  automotive scene in 2003 aimed at younger buyers — a brand within a brand at Toyota stores. It seemed the Japanese company was on to something as Scion enjoyed initial success.