By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The little Ford Fiesta SFE (Super Fuel Economy) 1.0-liter three-cylinder was a hoot, fun to drive, and as swift as needed for all occasions. The tiny powerplant, winner of the International Engine of the Year award for the third straight year, invites you to simply pick the right gear and be unafraid to flirt with the red line. The smallest Ford EcoBoost engine moves out while delivering 32 mpg city, 45 highway and 37 combined — no battery packs or diesel engine necessary.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

You have always wanted just one convertible experience in your life, but for a variety of reasons you were never able to make the purchase. But you still have a passion for an open-air machine even as you figure the time for such extravagance has slipped away.

The truth is, it's never too late to fulfill that want and Lexus may just have the ticket, a 2014 steel top convertible that for most of the time performs as a luxury coupe with all the Lexus trappings and a Lexus-quiet interior. And for those occasions when you want to indulge in open-air enjoyment, the IS C is ready to comply. Simply hold down the top-open button for around 20 seconds and you will be rewarded with a very solid, refined convertible; and a wish come true.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

It's been nearly a decade since Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Sport featuring an unequaled combination of horsepower and handling while retaining the company's vaunted off-road characteristics and the appealing Range Rover styling in a slightly smaller package. At a company where significant changes come at a glacial pace, the second-generation Sport has finally arrived for 2014 and is a marked improvement over the outgoing model — lighter, sportier and more fuel efficient, but with a bigger cabin and more passenger space.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Lost in the vast array of new compact crossover products is the stylish, affordable and competent 2014 Hyundai Tucson. Although the Tucson was last redesigned several years ago, it stacks up well against such nameplates as the Escape, RAV4, CX-5, CR-V and Cherokee.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The redesigned Range Rover takes the upscale suburban SUV driving experience to a new level pampering its occupants with cutting-edge features including scrumptious leather, and a comfortable ride thanks to a new aluminum air suspension system. The fourth-generation Range Rover is as accomplished as any luxury vehicle at providing the better things of driving life.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Diesel engine technology is advancing at turbocharged speed with engines becoming cleaner, faster and more fuel efficient. And the public is finally taking notice, recently pointed up by statistics from Diesel Technology Forum showing that diesel car sales increased 25 percent during the first six months of 2014.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A new breed of small compact cargo vans has emerged on the scene in recent years. Unlike the standard hauler of the past, these smallish vans have aerodynamic European styling, are relatively fuel efficient, display car-like drivability, are easy to maneuver in tight places, and feature modern technology-laden cockpits.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The MX-5 Miata roadster has a record of unrivaled longevity. Mazda this year marks the 25th anniversary of its little sports car that has endured for a quarter century, true to its roots as an affordable rear-drive open-air two-seater.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The luxury clad Lexus GX460 is a rugged off-road SUV in a mid-sized package, nearly 1,000 pounds lighter with comparable towing capacity and arguably more off-road capability than its larger, more expensive brother, the LX570.

The GX, which came to market a decade ago and was completely redesigned in 2010, gets a refreshening for 2014 with revised exterior styling including the new face-of-Lexus-grille, and on the inside a new very useable eight-inch touchscreen. Such advanced safety features as blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control are available as options.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

It's the iconic hybrid car, the first to combine a traditional gasoline engine with an electric motor powered by a battery pack. Since it hit U.S. showrooms in 2000, Toyota has very successfully advanced the hybrid hatchback Prius in performance, style and fuel efficiency, and it lives on today in various iterations.