Although it shares basics with the Altima sedan, the coupe is significantly smaller — its wheelbase is 4 inches shorter, its overall length 7.1 inches less and its height 2.5 inches lower.

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6, 270 horsepower
Torque: 258 pound-feet at 4400 rpms.
Fuel: Premium
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic, front-wheel drive
Safety: Dual front, seat-mounted side and curtain-type air bags; four-wheel disc brakes with antilock; fog lamps; heated outside mirrors with turn signal repeaters; tire pressure monitoring
Place of assembly: Smyrna, Tenn.
Weight: 3,271 pounds
Trunk: 7.4 cubic feet
EPA fuel economy estimates: 19 mpg, city; 26 highway.
Price as driven: $29,380 including destination charge

 Hyundai Veracruz

Type: A front-wheel drive large crossover SUV.
Models: GLS, SE, Limited
Engine: 3.8-liter multi-point fuel injection, 6-cylinder, 260-horsepower, 257-pound-feet torque.
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, includes clutchless shifting
EPA mileage: 17 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
Estimated 12-month insurance costs, according to AAA Michigan: $687
Retail price*: $26,995 - $38,000
*Includes shipping

Report card
Overall: **
Performance : Fair: Sluggish acceleration and soft handling sap the fun out of driving.
Exterior: Poor : A clone of the Lexus RX 350 does not stand out in a diverse and growing selection of vehicles in the crossover market.
Interior: Fair: Offers lots of amenities and creature comforts.
Safety: Excellent: Standard side curtain airbags for all three rows, anti lock brakes, electronic stability control and electronic roll over mitigation.
Grading Scale Excellent: **** Good: *** Fair:** Poor: *

Hyundai Tucson Limited

Type: 4-wheel-drive, five-door, five-passenger crossover vehicle.
Where built: Ulsan, South Korea.
Key rivals: Nissan Rogue; Honda CR-V; Toyota RAV-4; Jeep Patriot; Ford Escape.
Power: 2.7-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, 173-horsepower V6; four-speed auto transmission.
Fuel economy: 17 city, 23 highway mpg; estimated annual fuel cost $2,209.
Chassis : Independent suspension with stabilizer bars, front-strut, rear multi-link; Borg Warner Electronic InterActive Torque Management 4-wheel drive system; electronic stability control/traction control; power disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution; 16-inch alloy wheels.
Length x width x height: 170.3 x 72.1 x 68.1 inches.
Wheelbase x track: 103.5 x 61 inches.
Curb weight: 3,266 pounds.
Towing: 2,000 pounds.
Standard: Tire pressure monitor system; front, front-side, side-curtain air bags; AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with seven speakers; keyless entry; leather upholstery; power windows/locks/mirrors; cruise control; auto-dimming mirror with compass; fog lights; roof rack side rails; 60-40 split folding rear seats; trip computer; cargo cover.
Price: $24,585 base; $25,880 as tested.
Options: Carpeted floor mats ($150); cup holder insert ($15); mud guards ($75); step rail ($395).

Standard equipment on the Limited is extensive, including leather upholstery, seven-speaker AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer and MP3 functions, power accessories, six air bags, fog lights, tire-pressure monitoring system and a number of other attractive features.

Hyundai Elantra GLS PZEV

Complaints: There is discernible engine straining and wheezing at speeds in the 60-mph range on low-altitude, straight roads. The car also encounters some breathing difficulties in the mountains.
Ride, acceleration and handling: There is generally good performance in all categories — a bit better than what many of us have come to expect from economy cars.
Head-turning quotient: Easily lost in a crowded parking lot. Attach a brightly colored balloon to the antenna.
Body style/layout: The Elantra is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive economy sedan with four doors and a traditional notchback trunk. There essentially are two trim levels, the tested base GLS and the spiffed-up SE. The PZEV designation is in compliance with the clean-air laws of California, which attempt to be stricter and more effective than the federal government.
Engine/transmission: Standard equipment includes a two-liter, in-line, four-cylinder engine that develops 132 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 133 foot-pounds at 4,600 rpm. The engine can be mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Capacities: There are seats for five. Maximum luggage capacity is 14.2 cubic feet. The Elantra can be equipped to tow up to 1,500 pounds (for those who are willing to pull a load at the expense of slow going, especially on elevated roads). Fuel capacity is 14 gallons of recommended regular unleaded gasoline.
Mileage: The federal government, using 2008 testing procedures, gives it 25 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which seems to be right on target at this point of the California drive.
Safety: Electronic stability control is standard on the Elantra SE; but it is not available at this writing on the GLS. Standard GLS equipment includes antilock brakes, side and head air bags. This column recommends the SE.
Price: Base price on the 2008 Hyundai Elantra GLS PZEV with automatic transmission is $14,625. Dealer’s invoice price on that model is $14,217. Price as tested is $16,995, including $1,750 in options and a $620 destination charge. A $1,000 rebate to consumers is available at this writing.

While it adopts many of the crossover exterior cues — sloping roof and slightly higher driving position — the EX35 manages to create its own identity.

Exterior: Good. Clean lines and sloping roof give the EX35 a smaller exterior profile than expected.
Interior: Good. Roomy up front and lots of great driver-friendly technology.
Performance: Excellent. Good power at launch and plenty of pep on the highway. Performs like a car but has the utility of a small SUV.
Safety: Excellent. Full compliment of front and side airbags. Electronic stability control and traction control is standard.
Pros: Fun to drive and very luxurious. Price undercuts the competition by thousands of dollars.
Cons: Cramped space in the second row may make it too small for four adults.
Overall: *** 1/2

Type: Five-passenger rear-wheel drive crossover. All-wheel drive is available.
MSRP: $32,715
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Power: 297-hp; 253-pound-feet torque
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with manual override.
EPA Mileage:
RWD: 17 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
AWD: 16 mpg / 23 mpg
Source: Kelley Blue Book and manufacturer

The EX35 shows everything around it via four cameras routed to a dashboard screen, making drivers the star of their own surreal video game.

Infiniti calls the cabin "wave-inspired." Legroom is plentiful … up front.

Jaguar XF

Powertrain: Naturally aspirated or supercharged 4.2-liter, dual-overhead cam V8 with variable valve timing; six-speed automatic with manual shifting; rear-wheel drive.
Horsepower: 300 at 6,000 rpm (n.a.); 420 at 6,250 (s.c.)
Torque: 310 pound-feet at 4,100 rpm (n.a.); 408 pound-feet at 3,500 (s.c.)
Weight: 4,017 (n.a.); 4,194 (s.c.)
Base price: $49,200
Price, as tested: $62,200
0-60 mph: 6.2 seconds (n.a.); 5.1 seconds (s.c.)
Wheelbase: 114.5 inches
Overall length: 195.3 inches
EPA fuel economy: 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway (n.a.); 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway (s.c.)
Final thoughts: 98 percent right

Jaguar XKR
Type: Rear-drive roadster.
Where built: Castle Bromwich, England.
Key rivals: BMW Z8; Mercedes-Benz SLK; Audi TT.
Power: 4.2-liter, 420-horsepower, supercharged V8; six-speed auto transmission with manual shift mode.
Performance: 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds; top speed 155 mph.
Fuel economy: 17 city, 25 highway mpg.
Chassis: Monocoque aluminum body; Dynamic Stability Control with Trac DSC traction control; power disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brakes Force Distribution, Hydraulic Brake Assist; active exhaust; 20-inch alloy wheels; power rack-and-pinion steering.
Length x width x height: 186.6 x 81.5 x 52 inches.
Wheelbase x track: 108.3 x 59.2/59 inches.
Curb weight: 3,924 pounds.
Price: $92,500 as tested.
Standard: Adaptive front lighting; power-adjustable seats with lateral support; automatic climate control; automatic top; instrument controls on steering wheel; tachometer; AM/FM/CD stereo, power accessories; front air bags; dual front cup holders; 3-channel programmable garage door and security gate opener; lighter and glove box powerpoints; power tilt/telescoping steering column; trip computer.
Options: Soft-grain leather interior, leather-trimmed instrument panel, 16-way power seats with adjustable bolsters ($2,100).

BMW 328i Sedan
Complaints: None about the car.
Ride, acceleration and handling: Superior compact sports sedan in all three categories. If I had $30,000 to spare, I’d buy and drive it without having a single moment of guilt.
Head-turning quotient: It is a work of understated sensuality — sinewy and attractive, yet practical and purposeful.
Body style/layout: The BMW 328i is a compact, entry-level luxury, front-engine (longitudinally mounted), rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with a traditional notchback trunk.
Engine/transmission: It comes with an in-line, three-liter, six-cylinder, 24-valve engine that develops 230 horsepower at 6,500 revolutions per minute and 200 foot-pounds of torque at 2,750 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Also available is BMW’s six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with manual shift capability–for an additional $1,275.
Capacities: There is seating for five people. Cargo capacity is 12 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 15.9 gallons of required premium unleaded gasoline.
Mileage: We averaged 29 miles per gallon on the highway and 20 miles per gallon in the city in the tested manual 328i.
Safety: Standard equipment includes side and head air bags, electronic stability and traction control, and four-wheel antilock brakes.
Price: Base price on the tested 2007 BMW 328i sedan is $32,400. Dealer’s invoice price on the base model is $29,810. Price as tested is $35,195, including $2,100 in options (eight-way power front seats, Dakota leather, onboard navigation system, Bluetooth telephone technology, automatically dimming/folding side-view mirrors, universal remote transmitter) and a $695 destination charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $32,414. Prices sourced from BMW, www.kbb.com, www.edmunds.com, and www.cars.com, an affiliate of The Washington Post.
Purse-strings note: A slam-dunk buy for people with the money who want a sports sedan that lives up to the "sports’ part of the name. Compare with Acura TL, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, Lexus IS250, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volvo S-60.

BMW X5

Powertrain: 4.8-liter, DOHC, 32-valve V8; six-speed automatic with manual shift mode; multi-plate center differential; all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 350 at 6,300 rpm
Torque: 350 pound-feet at 3,400-3,800 rpm
Curb weight: 5,335 pounds (est.)
0-60 mph: 6.8 seconds
Wheelbase: 115.5 inches
Overall length: 191.1 inches
EPA fuel economy: 15 miles per gallon city, 21 mpg highway
Final thoughts: Four-wheeled supercomputer
Base price: $55,195
Price, as tested: $65,590

BMW 550i keeps its classic lines.

Type: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive, five-passenger sedan
Engine: 4.8-liter V-8; 360-hp; 360 pound-foot torque
EPA fuel economy: 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway
Where built: Germany
Price: Base, $59,195 (inc. $695 shipping charge); as tested, $73,040
Estimated 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $2,374

Vehicle ratings
Anita
Rating: 5
Likes: The best-looking BMW sedan. World-class safety features. Nice pillows built into front headrests. Dark poplar wood trim. Awesome $1,800 Logic 7 audio system.
Dislikes: Ridiculously expensive. Almost $14,000 in options. Steering wheel feels too thick for comfort.
Paul
Rating: 4
Likes: Powerful, responsive 4.8-liter engine. Six-speed automatic trans is smoother, easier to use than fancy SMG. Useful, unobtrusive head-up display. Handles like a thoroughbred sports car. Auto trans gets better mileage than manual.
Dislikes: iDrive controller too complicated, not intuitive. Extremely uncomfortable seats, especially over long driving distances.