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The V70 series was as practical as it was good looking and attracted customers who bought into Volvo’s reputation for ruggedness, comfort and safety. Although many buyers could have afforded pricier German wagons, V70 buyers tended to be more active, less conspicuous people who enjoyed their cars to the fullest.

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For hauling up to eight passengers and their personal effects, the original Sequoia was an impressive performer. Its Tundra-pickup-based chassis and available four-wheel-drive offered significant on- /off-road capability. Standard skid plates helped protect vital engine, transmission and suspension components. The generous 10.5-inch ground clearance also helped it negotiate rugged terrain.

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The 2005-’10 Sportage was far more practical and sophisticated than the original and better looking to boot. Folding the rear seat created a flat load area that could be accessed via the liftgate or by opening the handy rear-hinged window. In addition, the front passenger seat backrest folded flat for extra cargo room. Passenger space was plentiful for both rows and the seats provided good comfort. Following a successful six-year run, an all-new and incredibly stylish Sportage appeared for the 2011 model year.

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The STS came with a 255-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 (updated to 302 horses for 2008), optional was a 320-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. For 2006, the STS-V with a 469-horsepower 4.4-litre supercharged V8 was added to the lineup. The “V” lasted until the 2010 model year, one season before the retirement of the STS brand. The STS offered plenty of gadgets, such as Smart Remote Start that brought the car to life from up to 200 feet away. It also adjusted the climate control and the seat-ventilation temperature settings based on the outside temperature and, if needed, activated the window defrosters. Heated and ventilated Italian leather seats and eucalyptus wood trim and aluminum pieces were also standard.

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The Camry (which means “crown” in Japanese) has been a Toyota favorite since its 1982 introduction and continues as one of North America’s best-selling passenger sedans. For the 2007 model year, four-cylinder and V6 engines were available, as was a fuel-stretching gasoline-electric hybrid. An all-new seventh-generation Camry lineup was launched for the 2012 model year. Camrys have always been roomy, comfortable and quiet and the 2007-’11 version was no exception They were also a bit more stylish than their predecessors.

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The MKX arrived in a fully loaded state, which is just what you would expect. The MKX remained essentially unchanged for its first four years in production before receiving a thorough updating and a bigger engine for the 2011 model year. For buyers not requiring the services of Lincoln’s full-size Navigator sport utility vehicle, the 2007-’10 MKX was a solid, sensibly sized alternative. Suspension and steering were particularly car like, although the seating position provided a more commanding view.

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A completely new 2006 sedan appeared in early 2005, but the Sportwagen derivative was delayed until the 2009 model year. Both were available with a choice of five-cylinder and turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines as well as a four-cylinder turbo-diesel (TDI). An all-new Jetta rolled off the factory floor for the 2011 model year. The Sportwagen offered a blend of sharp styling, crisp handling and outstanding cargo capacity that exceeded similarly sized square-back designs.

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The original Tucson was a lot of vehicle for not a lot of money. Cargo space with the back seat folded flat was equal to that of the Ford Escape, Jeep Patriot and even the Mazda CX-7. All Tucsons could be equipped with four-wheel-drive that sent up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels when necessary. With the push of a button, the drive system could be locked, splitting the power equally between the front and rear wheels. The tidy interior provided a comfortable seating area and the dashboard and instrument panel was first-rate. Ride comfort was also a Tucson strong point. Overall build quality was considered to be above average.

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The CR-V was launched for the 1997 model year as Honda’s first in-house-designed sport utility vehicle. Based on the Civic platform, the CR-V combined a tall wagon body style, on-demand all-wheel-drive and more than eight-inches of ground clearance. The CR-V (which stands for Comfortable Runabout Vehicle) continues to lead the compact tall-wagon class. Along with its thrifty-yet-swift four-cylinder engine, the fully developed 2007-’11 edition excelled at interior-space efficiency.

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Honda’s first sports car was the tiny 1960s-era S600 micro-roadster that was briefly available in Canada. It would take more than 35 years for the follow-up S2000 to make its global debut, but it copied a similar formula of offering a lightweight package as well as a relatively small-displacement, high-revving powerplant. The S2000 was a perfectly balanced, rev-happy (9,000-rpm limit) machine that embodied nearly all of the qualities one could ever want in a sports car.

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