The Power Wagon positively churns through hostile terrain, the HEMI singing a song of unembarrassed horsepower, yet the steering remains responsive even with all three differentials locked up.

In spite of the general trend toward bigger and beefier pickups and SUVs, there’s a segment of the marketplace that’s always going to go for the flyweights.  Proud Ford Festiva and Geo Metro drivers (I’ve met more than a few) haven’t been well served in recent years.  The Honda Insight isn’t very practical, and the Kia Rio, while related to the departed Ford Aspire under the skin, just doesn’t have the “small and proud of it” attitude of a Geo Metro.

Tiny-car fans rejoice!  The 2004 Chevrolet Aveo just might be …

Nissan has successfully packed space for five into a very compact package. Rear legroom is the best in class, and you won’t feel bad for stuffing your friends back there.

Yes, it looks like a giant Passat.  But it isn’t.

Volkswagen’s new ultra-luxury sedan, the Phaeton, has been criticized for its anonymous face, but we had a moment that belied this.  We found ourselves cruising through upscale Farmington Hills, Michigan, on I-696, and a Mercedes S-Class raced up alongside, braving triple digits to catch up, and then paced us.  Within moments, there was another S-Class on our right, also matching our speed.  The affluent couples in both cars were looking at the Phaeton and talking excitedly to each other.  Even if …

Buick seems to have been focusing all of its recent energy on moving into new segments; first the Rendezvous crossover, then the Rainer SUV, and next the Terraza minivan.  But what about the sedans that helped to make the brand what it is?  Never fear, Buick hasn’t forgotten its core customers.  The new LaCrosse is proof of that.

Taking its name from the 2000 show car of the same name, the LaCrosse replaces the Century and the Regal in Buick’s lineup.  This simplification makes perfect sense; both the Regal and Century …

Don’t let the autopilot take over full-time; you’ll miss out on the exhilarating rush from the 5.5 liter double overhead cam V8 under the hood.

This is a car that feels good when driven hard, but doesn’t demand rough treatment.

For those BMW fans who hated the looks of the 7-Series, redesigned in 2002, and who can’t stand the sight of the new Z4, we have some bad news.  The distinctive “flame surfacing” design theme isn’t going away any time soon, you see.  The 2004 BMW 530i is the latest offering from the German manufacturer to display the carefully sculpted, organic surfaces that have been envisioned on BMW show cars for years.

The new bodywork is evidence of a ground-up redesign.  In addition to the new face, the 530i reenters the …

There’s nothing quite like the confidence of driving with all four wheels.  Case in point:  2004 Audi A4 versus surprise early-spring Michigan snowstorm. As the snow came down and the salt trucks were sluggish to respond, drivers were fishtailing left and right.  The medians were full of overconfident sport-utes. Meanwhile, our serene silver sedan plowed through the worst of it without a complaint, illustrating the results of Audi’s long-term love affair with all-wheel drive.

The A4 is Audi’s lowest-priced entry into the sports sedan market, and it’s a familiar face. Getting …

Prices down, ability up? That’s the kind of deal truck guys like to hear about.