Auto News 5

I'll admit this Kia has grown on me. When it first debuted I dismissed it as a generic version of Japanese box cars, namely the Nissan Cube. That's still true -- the Soul won't turn heads or make the statement that Nissan's rolling washing machine does - but it also happens to be a better car. This holds particularly true inside. The Soul has its share of cute/annoying gimmicks, including houndstooth seats (cute) and mood lighting (annoying), but it also makes a genuine effort to accommodate the driver with interesting textures on the dash, comfortable chairs, and better fit and finish overall than I recall on the Nissan. It's quite a testament to the maturity of this Korean automaker.inline_mediumwraptextright27658513/reviews/editors_notebook/0912_2010_kia_soul_at0912_03_z+2010_kia_soul_aT+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Close readers of our magazine will be forgiven for experiencing a bit of déjà vu. For the second time in three years, the Volkswagen GTI is our Automobile of the Year, and for the second time in three years, one is joining our Four Seasons fleet.inline_mediumwraptextright26435348/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/0912_2010_volkswagen_gti_introduction0912_02_z+2010_volkswagen_gTI+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Months in fleet: Two
Miles to date: 5935inline_mediumwraptextright27665596/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/0912_2010_audi_q5_32_quattro_tiptronic_december_update0912_02_z+2010_audi_q5_32_quattro_tiptronic+front_view.jpgTrue

Family sedan buyers in search of extra pizzazz and performance face something of a paradox these days. On the one hand, it's not hard at all to find lots of power -- not when your average six-cylinder Toyota Camry pumps out 268 hp. At the same time though, "mid-size" cars have gotten bigger and heavier, the transmission choices have gotten fewer, and front wheel-drive has become even more dominant.inline_mediumwraptextright26386868/reviews/driven/0912_2010_subaru_legacy_25gt_vs_2010_ford_fusion_sport_awd0912_01_z+2010_subaru_legacy_25GT+2010_ford_fusion_sport_aWD.jpgTrue