Cars & Motors News

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2007 Toyota Yaris

Success tends to find economy cars that are easy to buy, easy to gas up, and easy on the wallet, but the Toyota Echo led a hard-knock life. Despite being functionally excellent and surrounded by toothless competition, by 2005 you could almost confuse sales of the Echo and the Enzo. Furthermore, the few fortysomethings that bought one would suggest it missed its Generation Y target by a letter or two.

In a rare instance of starting over, Toyota has cleaned the Echo from its North American slate and supplanted it with the Yaris. It's a little longer, stiffer in both body and suspension, and stopped trying to stand like an SUV. The choice between sedan and hatchback body types brings us in alignment with the rest of the world, as does the name - a double reference to the city of Paris and the Greek goddess Charis.

Toyota could surely use her blessing. Born in an era where gas costs twice now what it was then and when Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, and Daewoo are landing almost simultaneously to crash the party, the Echo's successor faces a life of increased importance but diminished presence.

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2007 Nissan Maxima

Future historians will record that, in the summer of 2006, astronomers revoked Pluto's status as a planet, and Nissan reeled in the spacey styling of the Maxima, bringing it down a little closer to Earth-car standard. Those same historians will also render a verdict whether either decision was a good one. Right now we're might be too close to these events to tell, but we're thinking the styling changes to the 2007 Nissan Maxima are a good thing. And we still like to think of Pluto as a planet. In both cases, call us old fashioned.
Gone is the beaver-toothed, studded grille from the '58 Buick, replaced by a more conservative, more elegant grille more in keeping with the Nissan Altima. In fact, all of the body work has been restyled. The 2007 Maxima gets new headlamps, new taillamps, and redesigned fenders, rocker panels, rear spoiler, and hood. The cabin gets a new instrument cluster and center dash for 2007, making for easier, more intuitive operation.

Underneath, a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, replaces the more traditional five-speed automatic for smoother, more efficient operation. Nissan excels in this technology and we found the Maxima's transmission responsive.

The Nissan Maxima fills a niche for aficionados who appreciate something different. Straddling the line between mid-size family hauler and a near-luxury sport sedan, it offers drivers an interesting alternative to mid-size sedans such as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. The Maxima is more focused on personal luxury and performance. And the 2007 model is just a little less quirky than last year's model.

Buyers choose between the more responsive SE and the more plush SL. Either way, cruising on the highway is effortless with Nissan's wonderful 255-hp V6 engine. For 2007, both the Maxima SE and SL come standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission, which translates to smooth, efficient power. Gone is the available six-speed manual, which is fine because we didn't care for it.

Both the Maxima SL and SE models abound with luxury features. The re-styled 2007 cabin is innovative and comfortable with supportive, luxurious seats. Surviving the 2007 revision is Maxima's daring Skyview roof, a narrow glass panel running lengthwise over the front and rear seats. It's the sort of feature associated with futuristic concept cars. Also interesting are the available rear bucket seats, a feature seen primarily on show cars or as an option on high-end luxury models.

Together, the rear bucket seats and Skyview roof make back-seat riders feel more like first-class passengers and less like coach-class cattle. The Maxima is not as family-friendly as the Altima, particularly with the optional four-bucket-seat interior. Instead, it's designed for people who don't have children or maybe just one and want a more interesting, more luxurious sports sedan. (A traditional rear bench seat comes standard for owners who may want to put three people in back.)

In short, the 2007 Nissan Maxima is an enjoyable and interesting sports sedan.

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2007 Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is something like a Harley-Davidson. It's an anachronism, and should probably be a dinosaur, but no, it's still popular because it fills a need like no other vehicle. Despite its inherent design limitations (we won't call them flaws), primarily balance and storage, the Wrangler delivers inimitable fun. Challengers have not been able to steal from the allure of the Jeep. The dynasty lives on.
Jeep engineers have kept the momentum rolling by making timely improvements. Model year 2007 brings an all-new Jeep Wrangler that (no surprise) looks just like the old Jeep, whatever "old" Jeep you might be talking about. Can you name one vehicle (besides the Harley) that has changed its looks less, in 60 years?

In 2007, Jeep introduces its first four-door, using the name Unlimited from last year's stretched two-door. You might wonder what took them so long. It's a perfect fit for the times. It doesn't change or pervert the character of Wrangler at all, it just makes the vehicle more attainable, and more desirable for many. It's much more comfortable and convenient, and holds way more stuff, including happy passengers.

Maybe best of all, a lot more content has been added, especially in the areas of comfort, safety and convenience; and there has been an average price reduction of $1200 down the line.

Each of the six models of the Wrangler uses the same new engine, a 3.8-liter V6 making 12 more horsepower than the previous trusty inline-6 that's been around for more than 20 years. It has the same peak torque but at a higher range, and that detracts some from the Wrangler's uphill performance; but gas mileage is about the same, at 16 city and 19 highway for the 4x4. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, which fits the Wrangler's personality quite well; the optional four-speed automatic overdrive is for those who appreciate convenience more than aesthetics.

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2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class of two-seat roadsters has been significantly upgraded for 2007. These were wonderful cars before, and they're even more wonderful for 2007.
For 2007, all SL models get revised styling, with new front, rear, and side sheetmetal along with new interior decor.

The entry-level model, now called the SL550, gets a bigger, more powerful engine, and a new seven-speed automatic, giving it a big boost in performance and a sportier sound. The SL55 AMG gets more power as well. The steering and active suspension have been upgraded on all the 2007 models, sharpening the handling.

At the same time, these cars provide grand touring intimacy, for quiet conversation or unimpeded stereo performance. New upholstery materials give the cabins a richer appearance. Drop the top and they deliver comfortable, top-down motoring, putting the wind in your hair, and whisking your troubles away. Buffeting is well controlled, so you don't even have to put up with much wind.

Few sports cars can boast a continuous 50-year history like the Mercedes-Benz SL can. First offered as a two-seat 300SL roadster in 1957, the SL-Class brought heart-stopping good looks, fuel injection, independent front and rear suspension and disc brakes to the sports car party, and has been in the Mercedes-Benz lineup ever since, leading the applied technology in the sports car segment with things like the disappearing steel top, radar, sonar, active hydraulic suspension and composite brakes. Today we have the safest, quickest, flattest-handling and prettiest SL-Class cars in half a century.

The SL-Class comes in one body style, a two-seat roadster with a steel retractable hardtop. The SL550, SL600, SL55 AMG, and SL65 AMG deliver varying levels of performance, however, ranging from fast to faster. The SL models compete in the luxury sports car segment with the BMW 6 Series convertible, the new Jaguar XK, the Porsche 911 Turbo cabriolet, and the Aston Martin V-8 Vantage.

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2007 Ford Expedition

When it comes time to fill up the tank, it's not easy to justify a full-size sport utility. But even as you pour 28 gallons of regular unleaded into the Expedition's gas tank, you can take heart in this sport-utility's ability to make a family vacation not only possible but also practical.
Ford is the first to admit that the sales of full-size, truck-based sport utilities have dropped some 40 percent since 2004 as people turn to smaller, more fuel-efficient, car-based utilities for their daily transportation. But Ford also reminds us that fuel prices have simply chased away the people who really shouldn't have been driving a full-size sport-utility in the first place.

The Expedition is meant for utility, not profiling. It carries people, hauls gear, tows boats, and pulls campers. The Expedition offers towing capacities in the 9000-pound range. When it's equipped with four-wheel drive, the Expedition will also get you there whether the road is dry, wet, snowy, or even when there's hardly any road at all.

Ford reminds us that full-size sport-utilities can still play an important role in our everyday lives. To start with, Ford's research shows that 92 percent of the Expedition owners use their big SUV for vacations. Some 60 percent use it to transport outdoor sports gear, while 40 percent of Expedition owners use the vehicle's towing capacity. Some 84 percent routinely carry more than three passengers behind the front row of seats.

Moreover, Ford notes that the place of the sport-utility in American life isn't going to disappear. Sales of personal watercraft have increased 9.2 percent since 2005, while there will be some 6.3 million households with tow-able recreational campers by 2010. Finally, three-generation families are becoming a substantial part of the vacation picture, so plenty of passenger seats are a necessity, not just a convenience.

With this in mind, the Expedition has been thoroughly revised for 2007 to make it a platform for family-friendly adventures. Every aspect of its utility has been improved: towing capacity, passenger comfort and even driving enjoyment. Meanwhile, a new, extended-wheelbase Expedition EL adds more cargo-carrying capacity, especially noticeable when trying to load groceries or gear behind the third-row seats.

Ford has made the Expedition even more family-friendly by substantially reducing its price. While the reductions have more to do with real-world transaction prices of the past and mirror similar pricing strategies at Chrysler and General Motors, the fact remains that a base model XLT Expedition retails for $29,995, some $5485 less than in '06. Ford tells us that Expedition models across the range have been reduced in price by an average of $4300. Just as important, a new warranty extends bumper-to-bumper protection to three years/36,000 miles, while the powertain is covered for five years/60,000 miles. In addition, the warranty is fully transferable to subsequent owners.

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2007 Dodge Durango

Dodge Durango looks tough but rides smooth, with a level of refinement not usually associated with Chrysler Corporation products. Its handling is stable and relatively agile given its size and heft. Inside is a quiet, roomy, comfortable and technologically sophisticated cabin.
This second-generation Durango, which first appeared as an '04, is significantly larger than the original, slipping between the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition in exterior dimensions.

For 2007, the Durango has been significantly face-lifted outside and updated inside. An entirely new front end maintains Durango's identity, while adding smoothness and sophistication.

Second-row bucket seats are now available. Seat fabrics are more stain resistant, and Limited models now feature dual-zone automatic climate control. Also new for 2007 are power windows that operate in express mode both up and down. A new one-touch lane-change feature allows the driver to quickly activate a three-blink turn signal when changing lanes just as with a Mercedes. Limited models can be ordered with full-screen CD/DVD navigation and Bluetooth hands-free communications.

Safety has been enhanced by making an electronic stability program (ESP) and side-curtain airbags standard. A tire pressure monitor is now standard in most models and ParkSense ultrasonic parking assist is standard on Limited and optional on SLT. Dual-stage front air bags and an occupant-sensing system for the passenger-side front air bag became standard beginning with the 2006 models.


Perhaps the best news of all is that, despite all this new equipment, Durango prices are actually lower this year than last.

One thing that has not changed is Durango's space efficiency. Durango can seat up to seven passengers with its folding third-row seat. With all seats folded, there's more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space. You can slide full-size sheets of plywood in back. And a properly equipped Durango with the optional Hemi engine is rated to tow up to 8,950 pounds.

A V6 is standard, but two V8s are available and both are superb. The popular 4.7-liter V8 is now a flex-fuel engine in 45 states, running on gasoline or up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). It's smooth and it's powerful, but drivers who want or need more can opt for the celebrated 5.7-liter Hemi. Both engines come with a five-speed automatic transmission that's smooth, refined, and responsive. This transmission includes a Tow/Haul feature we like that holds lower gears longer when towing to reduce gear searching.

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2007 Acura MDX

A few years back, Acura set out to realign its rather varied lineup towards a more common thematic focus, and the success of the effort are in clear view. The RL and TL sedans are faster, nimbler, and sexier than the duo they supplanted, the misfit RSX has retired, and the fresh RDX is staking new territory. With the identity crisis of its teen years safely behind it, 21-year-old Acura already knows what it wants to be.

Now it's the MDX's turn to get with the program. Born for 2001 as the more legitimate replacement for the old Isuzu-sourced SLX, Acura's first self-made SUV was a sales star and a critical coup, and wasn't easy to fault. Still, where other Acuras go, the MDX must follow, so the designers saw fit to move it from middle of the road into the fast lane.

In fact, they took it all the way to the track - Germany's Nurburgring, proving grounds for the most serious machines - to test and develop the chassis. They later unveiled it to Americans on our own tracks, bringing along European competitors from BMW and Volvo that represent the MDX's performance benchmarks.

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2007 Volkswagen Jetta

It's easy to understand the appeal of the Volkswagen Jetta. Designed and engineered in Germany, the Jetta offers some of the same strengths and design values as much more expensive European luxury sedans yet its base price falls into what we used to call economy car territory.
For 2007, the Jetta's appeal should increase substantially. In addition to minor updates such as a new tire pressure monitoring system and an auxiliary audio input jack for iPods and the like, Volkswagen has dropped the price of its most popular car by $1,400. The new Jetta sedan starts at $16,490, without a significant reduction in standard equipment.

At that price, the Jetta is a compelling buy. Even the base model is well equipped, fun to drive and economical to operate. Its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine is pleasantly robust, with a broad power curve and a raspy sound, and delivers an EPA-estimated 22/30 miles per gallon City/Highway. Inside, the Jetta is roomy and nicely finished, and its trunk is larger than many sedans costing $25,000 or more. Going up the model line, the Jetta only gets better.

The Jetta 2.0T starts about $4,500 higher, but its high-tech turbocharged engine is a blast to drive, with either the standard six-speed manual transmission or the trick Direct Shift Gearbox automatic. The 2.0T can be loaded with almost as many features as a luxury sedan, and the line-topping GLI is a sports sedan true to the German tradition. Of course, if you drive a loaded GLI away from your local Volkswagen dealership, you'll have paid close to double the base model's price, nearly $31,000 before tax.

Regardless of engine or equipment level, the Jetta is responsive around town and comfortable on long trips. It snicks through corners and carves through curves precisely, but rides quite comfortably.

The Jetta was redesigned and re-engineered from the ground up midway through the 2005 model year, and it still seems fresh. This one is larger than previous-generation models, and Volkswagen's attention to detail, particularly inside, is convincing. The driver enjoys excellent visibility and ease of operation, with logical controls and instruments, and even the base model offers a full array of safety features. Finish quality is good, inside and out. We find the styling more pleasant than exciting.

If you like the idea of a solid sedan with European flair, the Jetta is the best deal in town.

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2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CLK feels right in just about any role. It's good looking, stylish, sporty to drive and personal, yet it will work for two couples during an evening on the town. Those who prefer understated, buttoned-down elegance will like CLK Coupe. Extroverts and sun worshippers can choose the one-button convertible top on the CLK Cabriolet.
For 2007, the V8-powered CLKs have new engines. The CLK550 gets the latest-generation Mercedes V8, with variable valve timing and 27 percent more power than the engine in the 2006 CLK500, yet the same EPA mileage ratings as before. The new CLK63 AMG has a race-inspired V8 built start-to-finish by one technician at the company's AMG high-performance subsidiary.

The new engines mean a slight change in model nomenclature, but the CLK lineup really has not changed. There's still a coupe and convertible, with either a V6 or V8 engine. The super-fast AMG model is available only as a convertible.

The CLK has rear-wheel drive in a class increasingly populated by front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars, and it has a sporting flair some mid-size luxury cars lack. In general, the CLK is one of the sportiest cars in the Mercedes lineup. Most buyers will be quite happy with the CLK350 and its 268-horsepower V6. With its seven-speed automatic, the CLK350 delivers a fine balance of spirited acceleration, quiet cruising and decent fuel mileage.

Drivers who demand more performance can choose the CLK550. Its new V8 generates 382 hp and an even more impressive 391 pound-feet of torque. (Torque is that force that launches the car from intersections and propels it up hills.) Measured by acceleration and engine response, the CLK550 meets just about any standard of high performance. The CLK550 transmits a feeling of being more stuck to the road than the CLK350 does, with sharper handling and better high-speed stability.

The limited-production CLK63 AMG goes a couple of magnitudes better. It will out-accelerate, out-brake and out-corner all but a handful of four-place cars anywhere. Yet around town it's incredibly docile and belies its 475-hp AMG engine.

On the open road, the CLK, no matter the model, is satisfying, responsive and exceptionally stable at high speeds. It inspires confidence on twisty roads and bears up well in a spirited drive. It's also easy to live with. Its ride is firm, but not intrusive. Its relatively small size makes it easy to park and maneuver in crowded city centers, but its back seat is roomy enough for two adults.

In a word, the CLK is balanced. Its stylish design and elegant interior make it a pleasant place to spend time, and it delivers Mercedes cachet that works in almost any circumstance.

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2007 Acura TL

The market for near-luxury cars has changed dramatically in the last several years, and the Acura TL shows us the way in which personalized performance has become more important than restrained luxury.
The front-wheel-drive Acura TL combines dramatic style, a powerful V6 engine, a responsive chassis. Just as important, the TL offers an extensive complement of the latest electronic features, making the driving experience more entertaining and more enjoyable as well as faster and safer. Since its introduction in 2004, the current-generation TL has led Acura toward a bolder, more aggressive identity.

For 2007, the Acura TL receives a useful makeover that features styling changes and upgraded mechanical details, plus more electronic features. Most important, there are now two models, the standard TL and the performance-oriented TL Type-S.

As before, the standard TL features a 258-hp 3.2-liter V6 engine. For 2007, it has been re-tuned to deliver a relaxing balance of comfort, driving enjoyment and practical luxury. Meanwhile, the TL Type-S has a 286-hp 3.5-liter V6, and it's a hard-edged sports sedan, with unique styling and an aggressive personality more in keeping with the TL's original mission statement.

As popular-priced sedans have become quieter, more comfortable, and more spacious, premium near-luxury sedans have changed their focus, and they now emphasize style and driving enjoyment. The Acura TL's evolution over the last decade into a sports sedan reflects this trend. But in keeping with its Honda-bred heritage, the Acura TL is also about being modern and efficient. As a consequence, the lightweight, front-wheel-drive TL is refreshingly different from the heavy, rear-wheel-drive sedans found elsewhere in the near-luxury category.

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2007 BMW 5-Series

The BMW 5 Series puts an emphasis on the driving. This mid-size luxury sedan remains a true sports sedan in any of its variations, including the 530ix wagon and other models equipped with all-wheel drive. Regardless of engine size or equipment level, the BMW 5 Series delivers lively acceleration, precise handling and outstanding brakes. It's available with a conventional manual transmission, which is increasingly hard to find in this class.
For 2007, the 5 Series offers two new options. BMW's Night Vision safety system uses a thermal-imaging camera to highlight pedestrians and animals on dark roads, while HD Radio is designed to bring CD-quality digital audio to radio broadcasts.

Now in its fourth year on the market, the styling of the current 5 Series models has become familiar, perhaps less jarring than it was when first revealed. And while there are no significant changes for the 2007 model year, the 5 Series is anything but stale. For 2006, BMW introduced new engines across the board, including a high-tech magnesium alloy six cylinder for the 525i and 530i and a larger, more powerful V8 for the 550i.

Behind its kabuki-eyebrow headlights, the 5 Series is a true driver's car, with more model choices than most cars in its class. Even the base 525i boasts spirited performance, with decent fuel economy to lower operating costs. The more powerful six-cylinder in the 530i matches some V8s, while the 550i delivers true high performance by any definition. The limited-production M5 can out-accelerate, out-brake and out-corner some expensive sports cars, with comfortable seating for five. There's a wagon for those who want more room for cargo. And BMW's x-Drive full-time all-wheel-drive is available for drivers in the Snow Belt.

This car has just about everything you could ask for in a luxury car. It has the features, comfort and convenience of full-size luxury sedans, the sporting character of smaller ones, and a good compromise between interior space and physical bulk. In many respects, it's the benchmark for critics and auto industry engineers alike.

As such, the 5 Series is loaded with technology, and some of its systems have a dark side. The i-Drive point-and-click control system, for example, takes time and energy to learn, and drivers who aren't willing to invest the energy, or those who just prefer to keep things simple, might want to look at a competitor. But those who place a premium on driving satisfaction should start their shopping here.

The BMW 5 Series sedans are available with six- or eight-cylinder engines or an ultra-high performance V10, and manual, automatic, or automatic-shifting sequential manual transmissions and optional all-wheel drive. The 5 Series Sport Wagon is offered only with a six-cylinder and all-wheel drive.

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2007 Nissan Murano

Nissan hit a home run when it launched the Murano. The Nissan Murano integrates function and high fashion. It combines sport-utility cargo capacity sporty driving dynamics. It is the quintessential crossover vehicle, an SUV based on a car.
The Murano shares aspects of SUVs and cars. It accelerates like a sports sedan and handles much better than your average midsize SUV. Named after a region of Italy known for its famous glassware, Murano emphasizes refinement and on-road confidence. Getting in and out is easy and the back seats are roomy enough for a couple of basketball players.

Yet, as with an SUV, the driver sits relatively high. Flop the back seats down and there's more than 80 cubic feet of cargo space available, which is a lot. It's much bigger than it looks, bigger than a midsize sedan, nearly as big as a Ford Explorer. You sense this on back roads, a feeling magnified by fenders that fall away and can't be seen from the driver's seat.

Also, while the Toyota and Honda were designed to offer seating for seven, Nissan resisted the temptation to cram three rows of seats where two fit more comfortably. As a result, the Murano accommodates five full-size adults nicely, just like a luxury sedan, and offers a nice, big cargo space.

The Murano was ahead of its time when it was introduced. It eschews the square look of a truck in favor of a modern aerodynamic design. The Murano features a sleek front end with smooth lines front to back, and a greenhouse that slopes rearward, ending in a graceful C-pillar. Inside, the instruments and controls seem to float in pods that appear barely attached to the dashboard.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine, the same basic powerplant used in the 350Z sports car, delivers hearty performance, tuned here to produce 240 horsepower. In short, the Murano scoots. It comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT, that's smooth and responsive while offering good gas mileage for the class. Murano shares basic underpinnings with the front-wheel-drive Nissan Altima and Maxima sedans (but not, despite popular misconception, the Nissan 350Z-based Infiniti FX). As a result, its road-tuned suspension delivers smooth and sporty handling. All-wheel drive is available, for good grip and stability in wintry weather and hard rain, and we recommend getting it.

The Murano is unchanged for 2007, except for the addition of a tire-pressure monitor as standard equipment. Nissan freshened Murano's appearance a bit for 2006.

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2007 Toyota RAV4

Watching the recent evolution of the Toyota RAV4, one might conclude that, like children, little sport-utility vehicles eventually grow up. One day they are tiny, cute and cuddly, with feisty but economical four-cylinder engines. The next they've grown longer, wider, and taller, with family-size, three-row seating capacity and available V6 power. Cute just isn't enough anymore, and the RAV4 is a lot more than cute.
After a complete redesign for 2006, the 2007 RAV4 gets significant safety improvements. Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted, side-impact airbags are now standard equipment, as are roll-sensing side-curtain airbags for first and second-row seats. Both systems were extra-cost options last year. Electronic entertainment options have also been updated.

The recent redesign addressed the buying public's demand for power and space among compact SUVs. The RAV4's length increased by 14 inches, creating more headroom and legroom for second-row passengers, and increased shoulder room all around. Cargo capacity grew by five cubic feet. The base RAV4 still seats five and offers a more frugal four-cylinder power, but a third-row seat (that folds flat into the cargo floor) and a powerful V6 are available.

With these additions, the RAV4 has caught up with its competition. Its 3.5-liter V6 generates 269 horsepower, almost too much for the package, although it adds substantially to the RAV4's capabilities. A V6 RAV4 can haul as many as seven people and tow up to 3500 pounds, and it really scoots. Even the four-banger is more powerful than ever, and buyers still have the choice of front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

On the outside, this latest RAV4 is fresh, less flashy, with fewer styling gimmicks than previous models. The same can't be said for the interior, where some of the change appears to have been for the sake of change alone.

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2007 Infiniti M45

The 2007 Infiniti M series is enough to give German automotive engineers insomnia. The M35 and its more powerful sibling, the M45, demonstrate that Japanese luxury brands are steadily learning from their mistakes, improving their product and posing an increasing challenge to the traditional luxury cars from Europe.
The Infiniti M successfully blends aggression and sophistication for stylish visual flair. Its rosewood-trimmed interior is luxurious, with comfortable seats and a full array of standard safety equipment. Every model features the requisite luxury accoutrements, including keyless push-button starting.

The M35 can be rewarding to drive. Its V6 engine is one of the most powerful available. Enthusiast drivers will particularly like the M35 Sport, which features a firmer suspension and active rear steering. The V8-powered M45 delivers even stronger acceleration; the M45 is also available as a Sport model.

Those who live in slushy, snowy climates should be wary of the Sport versions of either M, however. These cars are equipped with sticky speed-rated tires, which are designed for lots of grip on dry pavement, and aren't much good for anything in snow. Better to choose the all-wheel-drive Infiniti M35X, which comes with general-purpose, all-season tires. The M35X adds an element of confidence and security in sloppy climates, without sacrificing the smooth, quiet running drivers expect in luxury sedan, or extracting a significant toll in reduced fuel economy.

Sedans in the $50,000 range comprise one of the most competitive chunks of the new car market, loaded with good cars like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac STS, Jaguar S-Type, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS, and Acura RL. The Infiniti M leans toward the sportier end of this spectrum, particularly in Sport trim. We strongly recommend a look at the Infiniti M35 or M45 for anyone looking for a car in this class.

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2007 Jaguar XK-Series

The outgoing Jaguar sports car, the XK8, is 10 years old, and in its later years, had become a patchwork as new technologies like satellite radio, navigation and airbags had to be adapted to it. Its V8 horsepower number began with a 2 instead of a 3, putting it way behind the competition. There were new safety and emissions goals to be met. So they threw out the XK8 and replaced it with a brand new car from the ground up, the first aluminum-chassis sports car in Jaguar's six decades of production. They've changed the name, too, in the process, from XK-8 to XK 4.2.
The all-new 2007 Jaguar XK 4.2 is the successor to every XK dating back to the first one in 1948 and, as such, it is Jaguar's franchise player. The XK's main competitors are the Mercedes-Benz SL, the BMW 650, and the Cadillac XLR.

The new XK is a tasty combination of Jaguar style, traditional British luxury car touches like wood, leather, and quietness, with every system in and under the car updated and improved to meet that very serious competition. It's design, while very, very pretty, is derivative of all previous generations since the XK-E, with some Aston Martin and Ford design cues thrown in (Jaguar's Scottish chief designer Ian Callum designed both the Aston Martin DB-7 and DB-9 sports cars).

As with the last generation, the new 2007 Jaguar XK will come as both a coupe and a convertible, now with a disappearing top that hides behind the second row of seats under a steel cover, instead of piled up under a tonneau cover.

Riding on a much longer wheelbase, the 2007 XK offers substantially more interior space than the 2006 model. The new seats are more comfortable, the gauges are nicer and everything works better. Benefiting from the lightweight chassis, the 4.2-liter V8 propels the XK from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds, Jaguar says. Its rigid chassis and the latest CATS adaptive suspension provides a smooth ride and demonic cornering, coupled with accurate steering and powerful brakes.