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Driving Impressions

Compared with the heavy-duty trucks from Ford and Dodge, the
Silverado 2500 distinguishes itself with well-weighted steering that
provides the driver with a greater sense of vehicle control. This is a
particular benefit on tight country roads. Although a heavy-duty pickup
and its taut rear suspension will never offer a Cadillac ride, the 2500
is surprisingly comfortable over long distances. Both engines are
strong, but if you can swing the price premium, the hefty performance
and reasonable fuel economy of the Duramax diesel make it a very
tempting choice.

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Powertrains and Performance

With the exception of the XRS, all 2009 Toyota Corollas are
motivated by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 132 hp and 128
pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission driving the
front wheels is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. You
can look forward to 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway EPA ratings with
either transmission.

Selecting the Corolla XRS entitles you to a 2.4-liter engine good
for 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is standard and
a five-speed automatic is optional. Fuel economy drops significantly,
with a 22/30 rating for both transmissions.

Safety

Every Toyota Corolla comes with antilock brakes, front-seat side
airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head
restraints. Stability control is standard on the XRS and optional on
other Corollas. Only the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas
have rear drums.

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Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2009 Honda Fit is a subcompact four-door hatchback available in
two trim levels: base and Sport. Base Fits come standard with 15-inch
steel wheels, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel,
full power accessories and a four-speaker sound system with CD/MP3
player and auxiliary audio input. Opting for the Fit Sport gets you
16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, lower body extensions, a rear spoiler,
cruise control, map lights, a driver armrest and an upgraded audio
system with six speakers and a USB port. The Sport is also eligible for
a navigation system.

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2009 Dodge Journey Vehicle Overview

Introduction

A late arrival on the bustling midsize crossover SUV scene, the
2009 Dodge Journey serves as a timely stand-in for Chrysler's departed
short-wheelbase minivans. The Journey is related to the Avenger and
Chrysler Sebring midsize sedans, but thanks in part to a
4.9-inch-longer wheelbase, it offers ample room for up to seven
occupants.

The Journey excels on the inside, where the influence of Chrysler's
minivans is unmistakable. From the Flip 'n Stow storage compartment
under the front passenger seat to the Chill Zone glovebox beverage
cooler, the Journey is loaded with clever, well-conceived minivan-style
conveniences. It can also be had with MyGIG, Chrysler's
hard-drive-based navigation and entertainment system.

Pricing is one of the Journey's strengths, as even the base SE
model is fairly well-equipped and slips in just beneath the $20,000
mark. Unfortunately, however, the standard four-cylinder engine and
four-speed automatic transmission aren't quite up to the task of
motivating the hefty SE's 3,800 pounds with anything close to
authority. The uplevel SXT and R/T models fare a bit better, thanks to
a more capable V6 engine and six-speed automatic, but there's little
doubt that athletic prowess isn't the Journey's strong suit. Even the
sport-styled R/T comes off less planted and certainly less fun to drive
than some of its rivals.

Overall, the 2009 Dodge Journey gets the basics right -- it's
attractive, quiet and reasonably spacious. But it falls a bit short in
a few key areas. Its interior is less refined than those found in
competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota RAV4, for instance.
It's also less enjoyable to drive than the Mitsubishi Outlander and not
as roomy as the Ford Taurus X. Still, the Journey's attractive pricing
and interior amenities will likely make it worth a look.

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The 2009 Ford Flex crossover wagon is offered in three different
trim levels. The base SE is only available with front-wheel drive and
comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, rear park assist, a
60/40-split second-row bench, a 50/50-split third-row bench that folds
into the floor, rear climate controls, a power driver seat and a
six-speaker CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack. The midlevel SEL,
available with either front- or all-wheel drive, adds upgraded exterior
trim and 18-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, power
heated front seats, leather upholstery (vinyl for the third row) and a
10-speaker stereo with satellite radio. The top-of-the-line Flex
Limited, also available with either front- or all-wheel drive, boasts
19-inch wheels, xenon headlights, a power liftgate, power-adjustable
pedals, a memory function for the driver seat, perforated leather
upholstery and Ford's exclusive Microsoft-developed Sync multimedia
interface.

Many of the Limited's features are available as options on the SEL,
and the Sync system is also optional on the SE. Additional options
include second-row captain's chairs (heated on the Limited), the
four-panel Vista sunroof, a towing package, keyless ignition/entry and
a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. The Limited can be equipped with
a touchscreen navigation system featuring voice recognition, an
integrated back-up camera and Sirius Travel Link, which provides
real-time traffic, weather and other information. A white- or
silver-painted roof is also available.

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The G8 also impresses inside, especially considering the plasticky
depths to which Pontiac interiors had previously sunk. There are still
too many hard surfaces, but the center stack -- save for a couple
cheesy Atari-grade digital readouts at the top -- is more than a little
reminiscent of Audi's industry-leading efforts. Passenger room is
plentiful, particularly in back, where all but the largest riders will
have space to spare. The rear center seat isn't so hospitable, however,
as the wide center tunnel necessitated by the G8's rear-drive layout
essentially eliminates legroom there.

At the G8's moderate price point, the Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300
twins are the only other roomy, rear-wheel-drive, full-size performance
sedans available. The Chrysler siblings are certainly competent, but
the G8's sporting character sets it apart. We're not fans of the G8's
lackluster fuel economy, but then, the Charger/300 duo aren't likely to
win any efficiency awards from the EPA either. Bottom line: If you want
a large sedan with American attitude and Continental manners, the 2009
Pontiac G8 is in a class of its own.