Tikva Davaran , Shahriar Davaran

2009-03-25T03:19:00.001-07:00

First drive: Hyundai i20 - Introduction

There's never a good time for a credit crunch to bite, but when it does it’s probably best (if you’re a car manufacturer) to be launching a range of cheap, fuel-efficient small cars.

That's the situation Hyundai finds itself in. Just as people downsize into smaller, more economical cars, it's perfectly placed with a clutch of good value, good-to-drive, and well equipped vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Performance

A muted growl under full throttle gives the strong and otherwise silent V8 some personality. With a 0-60-mph time of 5.2 seconds, the stunning acceleration is more full-on sports car than luxury sedan. Yet the sensation is muted, a product of the car's broad power band, smooth powertrain, effective noise isolation and aforementioned monolithic build quality. At speed, it's the same unflustered sensation; you may find yourself running down the freeway 10-15 mph faster than you realize. A radar detector is not included.

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Tikva Davaran : Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew
Performance

Our F-150 also proved to be a fine daily driver, thanks to its comfortable, quiet cabin, confident braking and precise, no-slop steering. A stouter yet lighter frame for '09, along with longer rear leaf springs contribute to the solid on-road feel and compliant ride.

Mini Cooper S Clubman Function

You know that old saying about form following function? Well, Mini's interior design team apparently prefers it the other way around. Aesthetically, the Clubman's gauges and control layout are every bit as cute as its adorable mug. Functionally, however, they leave much to be desired, from the center-mounted speedometer to those inscrutable banks of metallic toggle switches — and don't get us started on the downright nonsensical radio controls. (Good luck finding the volume knob.) To be fair, most Clubman buyers will probably be quick to forgive its ergonomic eccentricities. But we're not so sympathetic. Frankly, all of the Clubman's competitors offer more intuitive driver interfaces.

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