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The Boxster’s claim to fame was its impressive performance – acceleration, handling and braking – at a price significantly below that of Porsche’s 911 series. Although not as potent as the 911, the Boxster was and is a ball to drive. The mid-engine layout and low center of gravity provided superb handling and the comfy cabin helped passengers focus on the scenery flying by. A front and a rear trunk also provided lots of room for luggage (but not for golf clubs).

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The Lucerne was quite stylish compared to the previous LeSabre. The ride was quiet and cushy, which was preferred by buyer, most of whom were elderly. Despite that, the car was competent on most road surfaces, especially when fitted with General Motors’ optional Magnetic Ride Control that varied the density of the shock and strut fluid to suit the road conditions and driving style.

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The Canyon was small, but held its own against the competition, especially when it came to horsepower with either the base or optional engines. A five-speed manual transmission and an optional four-speed automatic were available on all except the V8, but the four-door crew cab came only with the automatic. Four-cylinder models equipped with the manual gearbox earned appreciably better fuel-economy ratings than the automatic, but transmission choice made little difference when it came to the five-cylinder.

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With a starting price in the $11,000-$13,000 range when new, the Rio was one of the more affordable models on the market and offered a strong alternative to purchasing a used car. Although small in stature, the interior provided plenty of space for four (five if back-seat occupants didn’t mind being crammed together) plus their belongings. The more versatile Rio5 wagon was the hauler of the two and was capable of transporting a considerable amount of gear with the rear seat folded down (although the load floor was not flat).

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As with previous models, the ES 350 arrived with plenty of upscale touches that separated it from the rest of the entry-luxury pack and, of course, the related Camry. The low-key styling was spiffed up compared with the previous ES. The suspension was also calibrated for a more luxury-oriented, but well-controlled ride, with one auto magazine calling it “as soft as a goose-down comforter”. ES riders continued to enjoy a whisper-quiet interior, with most of the engine and road noises prevented from invading the cabin.

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The cute-as-a-bug Mazda2’s smiley-face nose, neatly creased and curvy body panels and fashionable rear end made for a great looking runabout. Front-seat entry was through a set of wide doors, while rear-seat access was more awkward (this is a small car, after all), but wasn’t a major problem for average-size adults. Tall drivers found decent foot, knee and elbow room, but full-size back-seaters likely asked that those in front slide their chairs forward.

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The Sebring/200 sedan was a roomy mid-sizer that featured solid construction and a quiet and comfortable interior. The front seats offered good support and comfort, while the rear bench provided easy access and plenty of space. The 2011 addition of the 3.6-liter V6 was nothing short of revolutionary and allowed the 200 to compete more successfully with other mic-size sedans.

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Honda’s first pickup arrived for the 2006 model year with plenty of innovative features. The one-piece box/body and unitized (frameless) construction ran counter to the traditional body-on-frame ideology used at Ford, GM and Dodge. The Ridgeline’s standard all-wheel-drive system and five-passenger capacity made it the only vehicle of its type to be so equipped. A 3.5-liter V6 that made 250 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque.

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Compared to the original B9 Tribeca’s what-were-they-thinking grille, the revised 2008 model went in a more conservative direction. The standard all-wheel-drive created a slight power bias in favor of the rear wheels for optimum handling in normal surface conditions. When traction was limited, the system automatically dispersed power to the wheels with the most grip.

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Like their Chevy Suburban and Cadillac Escalade counterparts, Yukons could carry and tow just about anything imaginable. Inside, there was room for up to nine passengers as well as their personal effects. A gymnasium-sized cargo hold opened up with the middle and the rear seats removed. The new-for-2007 V8s were significantly more powerful and achieved better fuel economy.

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