The 2012 Model Year: Buick Regal

The 2012 Buick Regal's base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 182 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque.

The optional eAssist light hybrid powertrain uses the same 2.4-liter engine in conjunction with an 11-kilowatt electric motor/generator and lithium-ion battery system. A six-speed automatic with manual shift control is the only available transmission on these models.

The Regal Turbo receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that makes 220 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It, too, comes with a standard six-speed automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual is offered as an option.

The Regal GS uses the same turbo engine, but benefits from added turbo boost and a free-flowing exhaust to kick power output up to 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the automatic available as an option (late availability).

In recent Edmunds testing, a Regal with the base 2.4-liter required 9.9 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph, which is considerably slower than competing sedans. The Turbo improves that time to 8.4 seconds, but it's still off the mark for the class. In order to achieve a competitive time, you'd have to spring for the top-of-the-line GS, which turned in a quick 6.2-second run with the automatic transmission. Curiously, the manual was slower at 6.9 seconds due to the difficulty of launching it smoothly.

2013 Ford Fusion with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine

Sleek design will differentiate Fusion from other sedans in the midsize segment, with class-leading fuel economy in gasoline (37 mpg on the highway with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine), hybrid (at least 47 mpg in the city) and an all-new plug-in hybrid (with more than 100 MPGe).

Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s “One Ford” initiative, aimed at creating a global product portfolio with a consistent look and mission, has certainly been fruitful. A quick stroll through a Ford showroom will reveal models like the Fiesta, Focus, and upcoming 2013 Escape, a trio of vehicles whose genetics evidently were extracted from a common Petri dish. Ford wisely chose to let the inbreeding continue, this time with designers swabbing a touch of the corporate DNA on the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion.

The new Fusion’s overall look was previewed by last year’s Evos concept. The production model looks like, well, a big Focus, or possibly a small Taurus. Surprised? Neither are we, especially given the spy shots we nabbed last summer. (Europeans waiting for the new-generation Mondeo will be even less surprised than we were here, since this Fusion provides a deep look into that car.) But lack of astonishment or no, there’s no denying that the new Fusion is pretty darn handsome, even if it’s not as aggressively creased as the Focus.

2012 Honda Fit Review

The automotive press says the 2012 Honda Fit is a great choice because with its ample and flexible interior space, it can tackle nearly anything your family throws at it. 

Families may skip small cars, thinking that going for a small car means compromising on space. That’s not the case with the 2012 Honda Fit. The Fit has a Magic Seat that lets you haul anything from a bike to a tall plant in the back seat, and that’s in addition to the space in the rear cargo area. Even with the rear seats up, reviewers say they’re amazed that the Honda Fit has so much cargo space. Though the backseat isn't huge, it has space for three passengers or two car seats. All that utility and passenger space, as well as the Fit's outstanding safety scores has earned it our Best Hatchback and Subcompact Car for Families Awards.

The 2012 Honda Fit does have some flaws. Test drivers are disappointed that the front seats aren’t height-adjustable, and find that taller passengers will need more leg space. And while many reviewers think the base engine will be plenty powerful for most drivers, some say the Honda Fit struggles uphill and needs an extra boost on the highway.

But overall, test drivers think these quirks will be minor details for shoppers in this class because they’re looking for something affordable and fuel-efficient that can carry people comfortably, haul sports equipment or move their child into their college dorm.