By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We were impressed with the totally redesigned Hyundai Azera during a short driving event earlier this year. Our admiration increased after a 1,300-mile road trip that included long stretches of interstate highway as well as miles of winding, narrow mountain roads.

It delivered everything we want and expect in an entry-level luxury sedan  — comfort over long stretches of road, a quiet cabin, pleasing performance for all eventualities, respectable gas mileage, and generous room for four adults and luggage.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Buick brought back the Regal for the 2011 model year affixing the iconic name on a Euro-bred mid-sized sports sedan. The initial problem — the new Buick lacked a European sports sedan persona.

The Regal is a solid effort, worthy of the Buick name in most respects, but there's a lot more Buick and a lot less BMW under the taut sheetmetal for the Regal to be truly called a sports sedan. That was until the Buick GS entered showrooms earlier this year.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Forty miles on a gallon of gas has become the new benchmark for compact cars propelled by an internal combustion engine without help from an electric motor or a charging cord. This is the lofty goal in 2012 for bragging rights and increased sales — and to bring manufacturers closer to new gas mileage standards looming ahead.

This makes the Volkswagen Jetta TDI an interesting choice in the compact segment because of its exceptional miles per gallon combined with the kind of performance simply not available in the base four-cylinder gas engines powering such popular names plates as the Chevrolet Cruz, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra.

By Al Vinikour
MotorwayAmerica.com

There used to be an advertising tag line for Hills Brothers Coffee that said, “Follow me, Men…head for the hills.” I was reminded of this recently as I spent some time with the 2012 Range Rover Supercharged. This is a luxury vehicle that could leave an impassable mountain range crying when it drove away.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We pulled into an empty narrow two-lane dead-end city street in Palm Beach not long ago. We had decided to test Toyota's claim of an incredibly small 12.9-foot turning radius. A bit dizzy after our self-induced amusement-park-like ride spinning between the curbs, we were quick to affirm that the little iQ has the ability to negotiate the tightest of parking predicaments with some success.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

For the budget-conscience car buyer who would rather purchase new than used and who desires the exceptional fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle, the all-new Toyota Prius c hatchback may be just the ticket. The sub-compact c starts at under $19,000 and delivers a combined city/highway EPA rating of 50 miles to the gallon.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The 2012 Volkswagen Golf R hatchback is one of the most enjoyable small cars to come our way, a satisfying piece of engineering with a go-fast demeanor that should suit virtually everyone who has the good fortune to slip behind the wheel.

By Al Vinikour
MotorwayAmerica.com

Al Stewart once had a song entitled “The Year of the Cat.” Big deal! I just spent a week with the cat and I’m the better man for it. In this case the “cat” is the 2012 Jaguar XJL Portfolio, a vehicle that screams volumes about its owner “having arrived.”

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

You say family responsibilities have mandated the need for more useable cargo space, but you are a sports sedan guy, have been and always will be. For some the conflict between buying what the young family really needs and what the young dad really wants is excruciating.

Hey, no worries. We recommend the 2012 Infiniti EX35, a compact crossover SUV that is styled like a sports sedan and drives like a sports sedan. It should because it is based on the Infiniti G37 sports sedan platform. Young dad, you can have it all in one smartly styled package.

GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The utility of a pickup truck and the comfort of a car make the aging Honda Ridgeline unibody crew cab a still-solid choice for the weekend Home Depot warrior. Or the family who desires a vehicle that can tow the jet skis, haul several duffels or roller-boards in a secure compartment, carry camping supplies in the five-foot-long dent-resistant bed, and tote five passengers for the weekend beach getaway.