From $31,000
Luxuriously appointed cabin, above-average passenger and cargo space, good ride and handling balance, widely available all-wheel drive.
Not as quick as many rivals, controls can be fussy, convertible employs previous-generation platform.
Audi’s entry-level sedan and companion Avant wagon get a complete redesign for 2009. The new A4 is longer and wider, resulting in more interior room and cargo space. The optional Drive Select system allows the driver to customize steering, suspension and transmission settings, and a rearrangement of the front axle has yielded a less-nose-heavy weight distribution. New technology features include direct injection for both engines, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system and a revised version of Audi’s MMI systems controller. The convertible A4, however, carries over from last year.
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Volvo XC60 2010 review video clips test drive. Distinctive design inside and out, many safety-oriented features, long list of standard equipment, sublime front seat comfort, strong turbocharged engine. Relatively steep base price, not particularly involving to drive, subpar fuel economy. The 2010 Volvo XC60 is all-new. This small luxury crossover boasts an upscale interior, a 281-horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder engine and many safety-oriented features. 
Starting MSRP $23,200 – $32,940Volkswagen’s answer to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Tiguan mixes onroad sport with what VW describes as more offroad ability than you’d get from most of its competitors.
Starting MSRP $25,200 – $38,500The Routan, Volkswagen’s version of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, will hit dealerships in summer 2008. The Routan is more upscale than both its siblings, but it forgoes some of their most versatile features. Competitors include the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Entourage.
Starting MSRP $27,100 – $39,800The CC is Volkswagen’s newest luxury car. The CC stands for “comfort coupe,” which is an attempt to define the vehicle’s combination of a coupe-like body style and four doors. While the Passat and CC share a similar platform, the CC wears different sheet metal.
Starting MSRP $25,975 – $29,250The all-new Toyota Venza is a large hatchback that has room for up to five people. It’s available with four-cylinder or V-6 power and can have either front- or all-wheel drive. It also has a large helping of standard safety and comfort features. Competitors include the Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7 and Subaru Tribeca. The Venza hits dealerships late in 2008.
Starting MSRP $16,290 – $20,760Toyota’s Matrix gets a redesign for the 2009 model year that gives the hatchback a new look inside and outside, plus a choice of two four-cylinder engines. Available in February 2008, Matrix competitors include the Kia Spectra5, the Mazda3 and the related Pontiac Vibe.