Driving the 2012 Audi A3 TDI daily last week revealed it to be a comfortable if still compelling Eurowagon with performance and efficiency perfect for the commuter with a primarily intercity work routine, like exburb residents who regularly drive to and from metropolitan suburbs.

Sometimes driving is more about the passengers as was the case when I drove the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE to Wichita last week to visit Ms. Eva, a respectfully submitted pseudonym for my dear mother’s true name.

The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI was among the cars driven throughout Colorado as part of the Green Car Convoy this week, a prelude to the Denver Auto Show, revealing many of the reasons the small VW is a favorite of some automotive pundits.

Hyundai’s goal with the new Veloster was to create a fun-to-drive hatchback that offered incredible fuel economy and a truly unique design, with two doors on the passenger side while just a single door on the driver’s side – and the result is a sporty 4-door hatchback that gets an impressive 40mpg on the highway that also offers easy access to the rear seat thanks to the “extra door”.

There was a point in the not-so-distant past where buying an affordable compact 5-door meant that you were sentenced to a bland, amenity-free driving experience but the 2012 Kia Rio 5-door is a great illustration of how much you can get for your money in the modern compact segment.

The key issue facing the hybrid automotive segment in North America is that hybrids can either be affordable or luxurious but with the 2012 Lexus CT200h, a new car buyer who wants the efficiency of a modern hybrid and true luxury amenities can have just that without a massive shock to the savings account – with a price starting under $30,000.

Since I first laid eyes on the Fisker Karma at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, I have been enamored with the high performance electric luxury sedan with extended range capabilities and earlier this week, I was among the first journalists to drive the production ready Fisker Karma on US soil – a drive that met every expectation that I have had for the sleek new sedan over the past 4 years.

When the Dodge Charger was reintroduced as a full sized four door sedan for the 2006 model year, some Mopar faithful grumbled about the addition of the “extra doors” but as the new Charger powers through its second generation with a sleek new exterior design – the only people who could question whether the 2012 Charger SRT8 car is deserving of the Charger name are those who haven’t been behind the wheel.

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V sedan is shining proof that American carmakers have no problems making luxury, high-performance four-door cruisers that compete on level footing with foreign OEMs and beat them by thousands of dollars in price.

Until this year, my admiration for the New Beetle had to kept largely silent because no self-respecting automotive journalist could like this chick car. All that has changed with the 2012 VW Beetle because men can like it, too.

The compact and fuel efficient 2012 Fiesta is light on your pocketbook, and light on the environment. It is part of Ford's Power of Choice tour which came to San Francisco yesterday.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 packs a supercharged V8 engine first offered in the Cadillac V-Series models along with a high tech suspension system that has made its rounds in General Motors’ Corvette ZR1 and Z06 supercars. These are two features of many that help make the 2012 Camaro ZL1 one of the most amazing performance cars of all time but is the new super Camaro one of the best muscle cars of all time - or is it the best muscle car there will ever be?

The Porsche name is well known for being among the most well respected performance/luxury brands in the world and while the 2012 Boxster S is Stuttgart’s "entry model" – this car is a beautiful example of what Porsche can offer to those who are looking for a European sports car sans the six figure budget.

The Japanese car maker has achieved its objective with the 2012 Toyota Prius, but it had to give up something to reach its goal.