The Nissan 370Z is the latest entrant in the Nissan Z class, and they’ve done something fairly interesting with this car that may escape most people’s notice, but shouldn’t. Japanese car companies have inherited a bit of philosophy from the Samurai, called “horse and rider as one.” What this means is that there’s not only a union between the two, but that they can go back and forth between extremes within the union instantaneously. This increases both the enjoyment of the experience and the utility that you get out of that experience. It’s really not a bad way to look at any vehicle, anywhere.

By not trying to achieve the fastest, or the hardest, or any of the “-ests” that most sports cars strive for, Nissan has produced a car you can ride on a day-to-day basis, but that you can still take out for a thrilling ride on the weekend or to impress that special someone in your life. The 370Z has a larger – and quite frankly more powerful – engine than its immediate predecessor, the 350Z. The handling is also quicker and more responsive, and the 370Z comes with variable valve timing and lift, which puts out 332 horsepower. Overall, that’s 17 more horsepower than the 2010 V8 Mustang – look out, cowboys.

A six speed transmission comes standard, but any serious driver should opt for the sport package. This particular deal includes a SynchroRevMatch, which tweaks the throttle during downshifts, meaning that you no longer have to heel and toe downshift. In addition, the 370Z can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Interestingly, it will also stop from 60 mph in 101 feet. Best of all, it gives you all of this with a fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway – which is rather respectable for a sports car with this much power.

The interior also offers features that will make your daily driving experience much more pleasant. There’s an overall attention to detail that makes the car feel much more expensive that it really is. In addition, the steering column and the seats move in such a way that shorter and taller drivers alike will feel comfortable. The instrument pod will also tilt along with the wheel, although some drivers have reported problems with gauge reflection at the higher tilt settings.

Overall, you’ll find that the power under the hood transmits well to the driver and the road, giving you tight control that could be described as – well – how many ways can you say smooth? In short, this is a fine car that’s well worth its price tag.

Reliability is a big bug-a-boo with the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country. Several national surveys have given the Town and Country poor ratings based on repair costs and overall reliability. There are also issues in quality control and durability, which is a tragedy, really – there are some really great things to be found in this car.

First, there’s the popular Stow ‘n Go seating and a rear entertainment system, with kid friendly dual screens and TV options piped in via Sirius Satellite TV. For the audiophile in the family, there’s audio storage on the van’s hard drive. It also has those great minivan attributes of abundant room for passengers and plenty of cargo space. That’s nice, because you may spend a lot of time sitting around in the Town and Country. Unfortunately, that may be when you’re sitting on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck, instead of while you’re getting where you want to be.

And just like its corporate clone, the Dodge Caravan, the interior design is plain. There are some wood trim additions, but that’s no magic fix. In general, there’s nothing really wrong a plain design as such, but here it’s just another mark of a company that just isn’t trying anymore. Not that a significant design overhaul would radically improve the Town and Country. All the comfort and innovation in styling – none of which even touch this car – will be meaningless if you’re stuck on the side of the road.

When it comes to the technical specs, you can get either one of three V6 engine choices, a 3.3-liter V6 with an output of 175 horsepower and 205 pound-feet of torque, a 3.8-liter V6 with 197 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque, or a 4.0-liter V6 which gives you an 251 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, in spite the different power outputs; they all get about the same fuel economy – 17 miles in the city and 24 miles on the highway. While not bad for the minivan class, it’s certainly nothing to write home about – and it’s not enough to save this car from its existing problems.

In review, remember that generations of people preferred mules to racehorses because of their reliability. Minivans are a bit like that – you’re buying dependability and reliability for you and your family, and this isn’t it. There are other, better ways to spend your money. For example, try the Honda Odyssey or the Toyota Sienna – maybe even a Kia Sedona or its close cousin, the Hyundai Entourage. You could even step outside the minivan class and look at a full-size SUV crossover, like the Chevrolet Traverse. Just stay away from this one – it’s a problem waiting to happen.

You think I’m being harsh? In one tested Caravan, the “+” mark on the shifter wiped off, within six months of use. This is a hallmark example of the kind of quality you can expect on this van. The passenger side door is also prone to rattling. Shall I continue?

For starters, the leather quickly discolored. The rear bumper – which is plastic – warps, and severely too. In one test, it got so bad the tailgate wouldn’t even open. All of these are quality elements that are indicative of a company that isn’t really trying anymore.

When it comes to the interior, the elements of the design are plain and – at best – utilitarian. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but with the host of other problems, it brings nothing to the package. Dodge is still including the Stow ‘n Go chairs, but they’re just a holdover from previous models – better made models at that.

However, there are some upgrades available that are innovative enough to highlight. There are the Swivel ‘n Go seats that can be turned to face the third row. Hey! Presto! You‘ve gone from a bad minivan to a bad train car! There’s even a pole-mounted table that can fit between the Swivel ‘n Go seats, letting you play board games while waiting for someone to tow you away when this hunk of junk breaks down. There’s a Sirius Satellite option too. Ad the driver-seat umbrella holder didn’t malfunction… Much.

Comparatively, the picture is even worse. Even the SXT option level comes in behind the Honda Odyssey when you look at the ride and handling. The 3.8 liter engine comes in a V-6, but that delivers only adequate acceleration. If you try to save a buck or two and go with the 3.3 liter engine, you’ll find yourself stuck with a sluggish ride and no real savings in fuel economy.

To put it simply, the Grand Caravan isn’t well made. The only thing to be said in its defense is that it’s a perfect example of the drive to cut costs in design and quality in an effort to stay alive. Yes, there may be some bells and whistles that might be fun or innovative, but when it comes down to it, you need a level of reliability. This is, after all, a van that will – in all likelihood – be carrying your family around. You don’t want to risk their safety in this sloppy car.

Instead, you can do much better for your money with a Honda Odyssey, a Toyota Sienna, a Kia Sedona, or its close cousin, the Hyundai Entourage. You should also consider any of the full-size crossovers, like the Chevrolet Traverse. Maybe even a bicycle from a police auction. Whatever you do, just stay away from this piece of… problems.

Yes, stylistically, there’s little to write home about, but that’s par for the course in this class. There are only two other real competitors, the Chevy Express – which was recently cloned into the GMC Savana – and the Ford Econoline, neither of which has been redesigned in the last fifteen years. With that in mind, a design that’s only two years old seems like a fresh face in this class.

First, let’s get a few things out on the table. This van is a rebranding of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which means that it carries all the elements of the European design. For that reason, you’d expect the Sprinter to be more maneuverable and fuel-efficient, and you’d be right. There’s less power than in a traditional American V8 or V10, but who’s really looking for a passenger van to take out on the race track? For the fleet buyer, the increased fuel efficiency will certainly be a big draw.

There will be those who see the narrow-looking body as a drawback, but that’s only because it’s longer and taller than other vans in its class. In fact, the Sprinter’s standard wheelbase is longer than the Econoline’s extended wheelbase. And the 170-inch wheelbase dwarfs what either Ford or GM has to offer. This is also the only full-size van that has a choice of factory roof heights, meaning that you have access to a roof option that will allow a man over six feet tall to stand up inside.

This year, the 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 is the only available engine on the Sprinter, and it offers wonderful fuel economy and plenty of torque for most uses, especially driving around town. However, if you need to tow something with your passenger van, this isn’t your best choice – it has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while its competitors can haul upwards of 10,000. But is that really a concern? Keep in mind that you’re likely buying this van to move people.

So what about that interior? Know that the Sprinter’s interior is identical to the Mercedes-Benz version sold all over the world. In addition, the build quality is better than the other full-size vans on the market, to say nothing about other Dodge products. There’s a tilt/telescoping steering column, four different front-seat styles that have multiple adjustments to ensure plenty of comfort, while the Sprinter’s control layout is so good that it feels more like a mid-size SUV than a utilitarian van.

And due to its 51-inch sliding-door opening and a head of the class 20-inch step-up height, the Sprinter makes entering the passenger area a breeze. Add this to the aforementioned roof option and the Sprinter becomes an ideal choice for passenger shuttles or non critical medical transport. Really, when you have to move people in efficiency and comfort, the 2009 Dodge Sprinter is the best option for your money.

A funny thing happened, though. They took a shot aiming at the hard core truck buyers, but scored a hit with the recreational truck crowd. The Tundra wasn’t quite full-size, which appealed to those looking for a truck to drive to work during the week and to play in on the weekend.

Now, the 2010 Tundra has been redesigned and is taking another shot at the real truck people. You know – those people who use a capital “T” when they talk about their “Truck.” With several model year changes, Toyota now has an US-built, half-ton truck with real full-size proportions, options for any of three cab sizes, a choice among three bed lengths and one of three engine sizes. Measure it anyway you like, the Tundra can easily stand up in any truck shootout you’d care to line up.

To begin with, you can choose from a regular cab, a Double Cab or CrewMax body styles. The Double Cab is basically a large extended cab that has four forward-hinged doors, while the Tundra CrewMax is just an extra-large crew cab.

In the regular cab, you get a basic trim level only. But the Double Cab and CrewMax come in more upscale SR5 and Limited levels. For those who plan to haul things other than the family, there are differing bed lengths. The regular cab and Double Cab both offer a 6.5 foot and an 8 foot bed, while the CrewMax offers only a 5.5 foot bed.

All these combinations make it easy to equip a Tundra for use as both a work vehicle and family truck. That medium-size Double Cab – really an extended-cab version – is as large as other manufacturer’s crew cabs, while the huge Tundra CrewMax has the biggest and most spacious four-door cab in the full-size truck class.

And, as mentioned before, the engine comes in three models. Standard on the regular cab or the shorter-bed Double Cab is a 4.0-liter V6 engine which is rated at 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. A 4.7-liter V8 engine with 271 horses and 313 lb-ft of torque is optional on these models, but standard on all other Tundras. Optional for all models is a 5.7-liter V8 engine which puts out 381 hp and 401 lb-ft torque.

Your only transmission is a five speed automatic with the V6 and smaller V8 engines, while the big V8 is tied to a six-speed automatic. However, all models do give you some flexibility in that they’ll let you pick either a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive set up.

To all this choice, you can add the reliability that Toyota has worked so long to achieve. Do the math for yourself, but in the end, you get a fine truck with the 2010 Tundra that will appeal to all members of the Truck Nation.

A truck company has to appeal to all parts of that market. Consequently, full-size trucks have become family vehicles that offer automatic climate control, leather seating and in-dash CD changers in their luxurious cabs. If you’re after one of these new breed of family-friendly trucks but still need some towing capacity, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will be a good choice, fulfilling both your need to work and need to play.

In recent years, the Silverado was justly criticized for their – quite frankly – cheap cabin styling. That all changed as General Motors realized that people want good-looking styling, high quality materials and an interior that they actually enjoy being in with their families. Thanks to a full redesign, the Chevrolet Silverado’s interior is better than it’s ever been before.

The latest model comes with handsome styling, good driving dynamics and more safety features than previous model years, including side curtain airbags and stability control. The 2009 Silverado also has a six speed automatic transmission available, which is – thankfully – an improvement over their standard four speed.

In this class of truck, there’s fierce competition amongst top brands, to say the least, although the 2009 Silverado is a strong entry into this market. Frankly, it would be hard to make a bad choice – there’s such a bewildering number of choices among options and configurations that you’ll certainly be able to find the exact model you want.

Specifically, the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers one of three body styles – standard, extended and crew cab. The standard cab has either a standard or long bed, while the extended cabs offer the option of a short, standard or long bed.

Regular cabs are offered with two trim levels – the base level called “Work,” and the midlevel called LT. There’s also a more plush LTZ trim line available for the extended and crew cabs, while the crew cabs also have an optional LS package. The Work package comes with all the basics, including air-conditioning, OnStar, a trip computer, a split-front bench seat, vinyl seats, a CD/MP3 player, a satellite radio option and tilt steering. If you move up a level, you’ll find that the LS package features full power accessories, cruise control, driver’s lumbar supports and keyless entry.

In addition, there are five different engine options. The standard Work trucks have a 4.3 liter V6 engine, with 260 pound-feet of torque and 195 horsepower. You can upgrade to a 4.8 liter V6, with the same torque and horsepower. Or, you can get 315 horsepower and 338 pound-feet of torque of you move up to the 5.3 liter V8. With the LT trim package, you can choose from either of these V8 engines, while the LTZ trim package has the 5.3 liter V8 standard. There are also two larger 6.0 liter V8 engines available with certain packages, boasting 367 horsepower with 375 pound-feet of torque, and 403 horsepower with 417 pound-feet of torque respectively.

With this level of customization available, it’s easy to see how the 2009 Chevy Silverado can meet your needs – whether they involve hauling lumber, construction materials or just the family around town on the weekend.

For good or ill, those days are over. We want trucks to multi-task these days. They’ve got to take us to work Monday through Friday, out on Saturday night and to early services on Sunday. Today, you’ll even see luxury options on trucks that are, realistically, luxurious. In fact, you’re much more likely to see an entertainment system for the rear seat than a bare bones cab with an antique looking bench seat and windows you have to crank up by hand. For a fine example of this new breed of truck, look no farther than the 2009 GMC Sierra.

It all began a while back; when GMC began to really listen to the truck buying public. For old hands at the truck game, it was quite a shock when they opened the doors of the newly revamped Sierra and saw a really nice looking interior – not the shoddy materials they’d come to expect. There was a stronger quality, a robust frame and a steering column that was worthy of showing off. The handling was much better and the ride was more comfortable. Someone had curry-combed the mule and presto – we’ve got ourselves a horse!

Today, the new GMC Sierra calls out to a wide range of buyers who are looking at trucks. There are options for the run of the mill truck buyer or the professional contractor. You can get the Sierra in a wide range of body styles. There’s a V8 with 403 horsepower that offers a comfortable ride, good handling and a large enough number of entertainment features to compare it favorably to any luxury sedan. When you compare it to the Chevy Silverado, the 2009 Sierra is a bit more upscale – especially if you choose the Denali trim option – but really, the differences aren’t very substantial.

Specifically, you can get the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 with a standard, extended or crew cab. Standard cabs come with a standard bed (6 feet, 6 inches) or a long bed (8 feet). With the extended cab, you can have a short (5 feet, 8 inches), standard or long bed.

And as for the trim packages, the regular cabs come in base or SLE trims with nice amenities. The extended and the crew cabs are also available with plush SLT trim. The crew cabs have the option of the SL trim package or the top-of-the-line Denali trim package.

Like the other strong entries in the full-size truck class, the GMC Sierra is a reliable truck with a whole host of options that will make it not only what you need, but also what you want.

Following the lead of the best selling truck line in the U.S. – the Ford F-150 – Toyota has combined reliability with a dizzying array of options. You can go from a bare bones truck that will appeal to any fleet buyer to a high grade luxury package called the Double Cab SR-5 with a long bed. Somewhere in this range is the perfect truck for you and the Toyota Tacoma makes it easy to match your needs with the right features.

In addition, you can have an impressive interior that includes a substantial amount of available equipment. With an improvement in the safety features in the 2009 model, the Tacoma can be serviceable tool for the plumber and his crew or a valuable addition to a family of four.

Before, it was easy to dismiss the four-cylinder engine that came with the basic package, as it was evident that the V6 was a far better option for the Tacoma’s bulk. But now, with steadily rising gas prices, the four-cylinder is looking even better. Keep in mind, though, that it only has an output of 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. If you’re considering reliability and don’t plan to do any heavy hauling, the fuel savings of that four cylinder is well worth the loss of power. The Tacoma still offers more power than most other four-cylinder trucks, while still giving better fuel economy and being a more complete truck candidate than either the Chevy Colorado, the Dodge Dakota or the Nissan Frontier.

Specifically, both the 2009 Toyota Tacoma Regular and Access Cabs come with a standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that gives off 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. There are also rear-wheel-drive models that come with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto. Sadly, the four-wheel-drive model only gets the manual option. The fuel economy for the rear-drive four-cylinder with the automatic is 19 mpg city or 25 mpg highway. Going for the manual will improve those numbers slightly, and getting the four wheel drive version will also cut into it a bit.

At the top of the line, the 4 liter V6 on the Double Cab (an option on the Access Cab) will give you 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. However, know that the Double Cab comes as a 4×4 only. Except on the PreRunner Double Cabs, a five-speed manual is standard, with a five-speed automatic optional. Surprisingly, the Tacoma Double Cab V6 will get to 60 mph in just 7.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest among the mid-size trucks. You do, however, trade this extra power for decreased fuel economy – coming in at 16 mpg city and 20 mpg highway for the 4×4 Double Cab model.

Now, this isn’t to say that this is a car for everyone. Say you need to carry your friends or family members around in the back seat all the time. If this is the case, get another car – unless you’re carpooling with the Lollipop Guild from Munchkin Land. Don’t get it? Let me make it clearer – the backseat is cramped. If you need to haul people or cargo, you need to look elsewhere. There are also some road noise issues and the level of luxury – while not bad, per se – is exceeded by other offerings.

On the plus side, this car has a positive personality that will appeal to a wide range of drivers. And by that, I mean drivers who seek out a driving experience. The base Mini Cooper has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that will give the driver 118 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque to play with. Now, if you want to step up to the John Cooper Works, you’ll find it equipped with a redone version of a turbocharged motor that puts out 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque.

With these specs, the Cooper S has been timed at 6.5 seconds from zero to 60. But consider the base coupe for a moment. Mini says that it’ll do the 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, which is really good when you consider the other draw of the car – its remarkable fuel economy, which will give you 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. These are the figures that come with the manual transmission. If you go to the Cooper S or the John Cooper Works, you’ll get 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Add that to the performance and you’ll see why this really is a fun car.

Of course, a small, powerful car that gets good fuel economy means something else – a light car, which usually means a less safe car. Not here. Granted, this is no tank, and there won’t be any serious demolition derby competitors out there choosing the Mini. But there’s nothing wrong with a safety rating of four stars out of a possible five for frontal crash protection. The Mini’s side-impact tests turned in a perfect five stars for front side protection and four stars for rear occupants, making it a great choice for fun-loving singles or for small, growing families everywhere.

The Kia Boreggo is boring. Overall, the SUV market is in trouble – whether that’s because of fuel costs or environmental concerns isn’t really the issue. The issue is that the market segment is shrinking, so to claim any part of it, you have to really stand out. This car doesn’t. Not only is it not remarkably good, it’s not even bad enough to be remarkably bad. It’s just kind of….there.

Over the past decade, Kia has made a name for itself by producing lower priced, entry level cars. And yes, the Borrego lists for about $2,000 less than the Ford Explorer. With current Ford rebates, however, this doesn’t give the Borrego much of an advantage.

Kia’s slogan is “the power to surprise.” The only surprise here is that Kia has made an SUV that has absolutely nothing to distinguish it from any other SUV on the market. There’s nothing remarkable about its styling, storage or features. Nothing. The biggest innovation seems to be that the needles on the gauges look a bit like hockey sticks. Kia didn’t even bother to tweak the sheet metal styling to make the car look different. You almost have to ask yourself, were they really even trying?

Currently, Kia is selling the Borrego as a luxury SUV – a niche that they’ve already filled with their Sorrento, however. The Sorrento is a mid-size SUV with two rows of seats that does a much better job than the Borrego, which is supposedly full-sized with its three rows of seats. There’s technically sufficient leg room in the Borrego, but it’s nothing you’d call luxurious. And yes, it has an independent rear suspension, but then again, so does every other SUV out there.

The fate of the Kia Borrego might have been different if you could get a V8 engine option, but it isn’t available yet. Instead, you’re stuck with a V6. The problem is that this V6 is tacked to a transmission whose ratios are too far apart. Your “get up and go” isn’t even coming in the door – much less going anywhere.

The fuel economy on the Borrego is fine – it’s actually the best in class – but just like being the best banjo player in Moscow, that doesn’t really mean a whole lot. You can get the same fuel economy from a bigger, more luxurious GM model, plus a whole lot of other perks.

So really, I’m at a loss. There’s nothing really wrong with this car, but there’s nothing really right about it either. The Borrego isn’t something you should go out of your way to buy, but if someone gave you one, you’d probably drive it and be fine. Just know that as expensive as new cars are, you can do a lot better for your SUV bucks.