- In this report
- Overview
- Ownership costs
- Owner satisfaction
- Best new vehicles under $25,000
- Highest scoring American vehicles
- Best & worst acceleration
- Best & worst in fuel economy
- Best & worst in safety performance
- Most overlooked cars
- Fun to drive
- Most comfortable vehicles
- Best off road
- Used cars
2008 Annual Auto Issue
Featured Reports
April 2008
Most overlooked cars
These models prove that a car doesn't have to be a top seller or a top scorer to be a sensible choice and a good value. All
have performed well in our testing, and all but the Rondo are recommended models. The Rondo scored well in our road test,
but it is too new for us to have reliability data.
Mazda5
Mini-minivans are popular in Europe, but rare in the United States. The Mazda5 has virtually all the practicality of a minivan or a small SUV, but in a more compact package and at a competitive price. With dual sliding side doors, it fits three rows of seats into a compact, fuel-efficient package. Roomy for four, it can seat six in a pinch. Beyond practicality, the Mazda5 is a fun-to-drive people mover with nimble handling.
Kia Rondo
Like the Mazda5, the Rondo fits three rows of seats into a small, maneuverable vehicle. The high seating position makes visibility excellent and access very easy. A quiet interior and comfortable ride make you feel like you're in a bigger car. Stability control is standard on all Rondos, as are side-curtain air bags. It is a good, practical value; $20,000 buys you a nicely equipped Rondo LX with a smooth V6.
Kia Optima
Pleasant and unassuming, the four-cylinder and V6 Kia Optimas are nice sedans that are available at a low price, even when loaded with options. Available stability control makes the Optima's handling very secure and forgiving, and the ride is supple. Its cabin is well-crafted and has a roomy rear seat.
Hyundai Azera
The Azera gives you large sedan luxury for considerably less money than competitors such as a Buick Lucerne or Toyota Avalon. Airy and spacious, the well-finished interior has excellent visibility, roomy seats, and simple controls. The Azera is quiet, with a comfortable ride, and the optional 3.8-liter V6 is powerful.
Mini-minivans are popular in Europe, but rare in the United States. The Mazda5 has virtually all the practicality of a minivan or a small SUV, but in a more compact package and at a competitive price. With dual sliding side doors, it fits three rows of seats into a compact, fuel-efficient package. Roomy for four, it can seat six in a pinch. Beyond practicality, the Mazda5 is a fun-to-drive people mover with nimble handling.
Like the Mazda5, the Rondo fits three rows of seats into a small, maneuverable vehicle. The high seating position makes visibility excellent and access very easy. A quiet interior and comfortable ride make you feel like you're in a bigger car. Stability control is standard on all Rondos, as are side-curtain air bags. It is a good, practical value; $20,000 buys you a nicely equipped Rondo LX with a smooth V6.
Pleasant and unassuming, the four-cylinder and V6 Kia Optimas are nice sedans that are available at a low price, even when loaded with options. Available stability control makes the Optima's handling very secure and forgiving, and the ride is supple. Its cabin is well-crafted and has a roomy rear seat.
The Azera gives you large sedan luxury for considerably less money than competitors such as a Buick Lucerne or Toyota Avalon. Airy and spacious, the well-finished interior has excellent visibility, roomy seats, and simple controls. The Azera is quiet, with a comfortable ride, and the optional 3.8-liter V6 is powerful.
