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The recently face-lifted M-class has enough sparkle and presence, what with its redesigned front bumper, flashy new headlamps, and shiny nineteen-inch wheels, to satisfy all who yearn for the three-pointed star. This ML320 BlueTec replaces the previous ML320 CDI and is powered by Mercedes-Benz's all-new, so-called "clean" diesel, the first modern diesel engine from Mercedes that is approved for sale in all fifty states, including super-picky California, because it uses an AdBlue exhaust injection liquid that reduces NOx by some 80 percent. That is quite an achievement.

The first thing I noticed when climbing into this updated 3-series was the new iDrive interface. Wow, is it ever impressive. It is very intuitive and has very impressive graphics. I instantly felt at home juggling through the various menus. Well done, BMW.

The first thing I noticed when climbing into this updated 3-series was the new iDrive interface. Wow, is it ever impressive. It is very intuitive and has very impressive graphics. I instantly felt at home juggling through the various menus. Well done, BMW.

Apologies to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, but the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series has just trumped it as the most powerful Mercedes-Benz ever made. This rare and menacing SL is the third Mercedes to earn Black Series status, and while the third time is usually the charm, in this case it's a cruise missile. With all the king's horses - 661 of them - Mercedes says that its ber-Benz accelerates to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and needs to be electronically restrained to its 199-mph top speed.

Add the Tribeca to the list of vehicles I completely forget about, but actually like once I'm behind the wheel. This has to be Subaru's nicest interior, and the 3.6-liter boxer-six provides plenty of power. I'd complain that the looks of the Tribeca are just as bland as the rest of Subaru's current lineup, but bland is much better than the Tribeca's previous design, which was universally chastised.

During the three days I drove the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids along the coast of Maine, I distinctly remember asking one marketing executive what the exact differences were between the two SUVs. "Nothing," he candidly replied. "Some folks prefer the Chrysler name or fascia, while others are partial to the Dodge" - and hence the two coexist in what most would perceive as a blatant conflict of interest.

One in three cars Mazda sells wears a badge that displays the number three. Coincidence? Perhaps. But maybe the compact 3's name has something to do with its popularity. A quick Web search netted the following enlightening information about the number three: the numeral raises the spirits of others, spreads optimism and cheerfulness wherever it travels, and possesses the ability to sell itself. That's a hell of a recipe for showroom success. And since the 3's predecessors - the GLC, then the 323, then the Proteg - weren't nearly as popular, clearly their names must be at fault. Mazda's in-house numerology team obviously agrees, since they're keeping the name unchanged on the new-for-2010 second-generation car.

Our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has logged 16,289 miles during its six months in the Automobile Magazine test fleet. Predictably, staffers spent some time lamenting the Evo's SST transmission and keep wishing for a six-speed manual (as we usually do when we have a test vehicle with a DSG-style transmission). But when the snow started falling, Marc Noordeloos found a few kind words; "I've finally found a driving environment where I like the EVO's dual-clutch gearbox; 'rallying' through the snow." The rapid shifts allow the engine to stay in the sweet spot of its powerband and allow a driver to concentrate on the road.

Suspension
The complaints about the too-firm suspension, especially on rebound, has reached a fever-pitch now that the pavement has begun to crack and crumble in the winter weather. While a good number of those complaints have come from Road Test Editor Marc Noordeloos - our most vociferous stiff-suspension stickler-many others have now joined him to form a chorus of complaints. "Teeth-jarring," "a fair bit of impact harshness from rear suspension," and "the M3 coupe rides better than the 1-series, as does pretty much everything else BMW makes," are just a few. Short wheel-travel is partially to blame for the ride-harshness. And, because the distance between the tire and the surrounding sheetmetal is so small, snow tends to get packed inside the wheel well, causing some minor vibrations and further degrading the ride.

Do you have your original copy of Automobile Magazine's first (April 1986) issue on hand? Good. Take a look at the cover. No, no, the back cover. That's right: a Chrysler minivan. It was also included in our first list of All-Stars, made our "20 greatest cars" list, and has maintained a regular presence in our Four Seasons fleet. It's safe to say, then, that our staffers - especially those who have been around for a while - have a soft spot for what may very well be Chrysler's greatest contribution to the auto industry. But some ten months into our latest go-around, this time with a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, we're starting to feel the design's age.

My experience with the Sedona was rather limited - just an early morning drive from the airport during which I was more concerned with getting feeling back in my fingers than vehicle dynamics (it was -20 degrees with the wind chill). Still, I was pleasantly surprised when I got in the front seat and saw a modern, nicely turned dash staring back at me. It's a definite step up from what's in our Town & Country, which costs about $10,000 more, and it makes the whole minivan experience a bit less depressing. Just as with the Chrysler van, I was incredibly surprised by the Kia's acceleration. Having spent more time behind the wheel of large SUVs, it's something of a novelty to step on the gas of a big boat and feel it lurch forward with such energy.

Based on this coupe's voluptuous looks, you expect it to drive like a bargain-basement Infiniti G37. In fact, it's much more similar to the Pontiac G6 coupe and the Toyota Camry Solara. That makes sense given that the Altima is, like those cars, a variant of a front-wheel-drive sedan, and not a de-contented hot rod built on Nissan's venerable FM platform.

The ML no longer makes sense to me. I drove the GLK this summer and I'd quickly recommend the smaller ute to those who don't need three rows of seating, and the GL (with a diesel) makes a lot of sense if you're hauling more people or a trailer. So where does the ML fit?

Automobile Magazine's opinionated Design Editor, Robert Cumberford, sifts the wheat from the chaff at Detroit's Cobo Hall.

Other than the fact that I don't own a trailer to tow behind this big Ford, I used the Expedition to its full extent this past weekend. I loaded up two car seats and three adults for runs to Trader Joe's, Ikea, Target, and Whole Foods. I never ran out of space for the shopping and no one complained about not having enough room. The ride and lack of noise on the highway is impressive and it plugged through the snow with little trouble Sure, it's still a big huge beast and doesn't exactly handle well or slot easily into parking spaces but it does what it sets out to do quite well. I find the interior packaging far superior to that of a Suburban. The seats fold flat, making it very easy to load flat pack boxes at Ikea. In a Suburban, you have to decide if you need to remove the third row before heading off on your errands. If you then need to haul extra people, you have to reinstall the third-row seats. Not good. I also find that the Ford doesn't have the annoying secondary vibrations through the chassis and the suspension that you feel in the GM product.

Earlier this year I spent some time behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, and I walked away a bit underwhelmed. But I had the same car again for a weekend and loved every minute of it.

The 2009 Detroit show may be remembered as the event where green cars officially went mainstream, launching a green battle royal. Just about every company, including each of the Detroit Three, had environmentally friendly vehicles on display. Here's our list of the five most significant: