The American auto market continues to fragment, meaning that more models target niches rather than mainstream buyers. We once had to settle for sedans, coupes, and wagons, but now we have SUVs, crossovers, SAVs (sport activity vehicles), coupe-like sedans, and an even stranger collection of designs that might best be called boxes on wheels, like the new Kia Soul and Nissan Cube.

 

What's right for you? Obviously, you have to consider your needs:

 

• How much time do you spend on the road, and in what driving conditions?
• Do you need something showy or would you prefer simplicity or space?
• Do you spend your day chauffeuring clients or hauling for-sale signs?
• How much are you willing to spend?

 

With more than 200 different models on the American market, there is certain to be one that's right for you. Here's a look at a dozen models from the new-car class of 2010.

 

Here's an overview of cars according to budget:

 

• Low-cost: Under $25,000
• Mid-range: $25,000-$40,000
• Luxury: $40,000 or more

 

 

Low Cost: Under $25,000

 

 

Kia Soul

Kia Motors

Pricing starts at $13,300 and tops out around $17,900

 

It's hard to figure out how to categorize an assortment of new models that delight in their boxy shape. The Kia Soul is one of the newest and hippest—as you may have picked up from the widely aired TV commercial featuring a pair of hip-hop hamsters. Making a box-shaped ride hip is no mean feat for marketers, but it happens to be one of the most efficient packaging designs. Despite its small footprint, there's plenty of room for five inside. Soul is an alternative for those who hate entry-level econoboxes, so don't expect a luxury interior, but it's far better than utilitarian, even though you'll find it really does deliver quite a bit of utility. The mileage is 26 city/31 highway with the base power train. We may see the addition of an all-wheel-drive version eventually.

 

Nissan Cube

Nissan Motors

Pricing starts at $14,710 and stretches to around $25,000

 

Nissan is the latest to join the box revolution—ironically, as an earlier version of the Cube was available in Japan for years. This variety adopts left-hand drive, delivers more interior space, and moves a bit up-market in what is the most expensive offering in this new space. "Funky" is the first word that comes to mind, especially if you add the optional shag rug remnant that sits on the dash. But get past the quirky elements and you'll discover a surprisingly large cabin somehow squeezed into a tiny exterior package, providing lots of room for clients and cargo. Depending on your power train choice, you'll get as much as 28 mpg city/30 highway.

 

Honda Insight

Honda Motor Co.

Pricing starts at $20,510 and can push to $26,000

 

If the name is familiar, that's because the original Insight, which launched at the start of the new millennium, also was the first hybrid-electric vehicle to reach U.S. showrooms. That version, a teardrop-shaped 2-seater, wasn't very practical. The new model is a reasonably roomy four-door, and though it's roughly the size of a Civic, it's worth considering if you drive a lot but don't spend too much time with passengers in the back seat. It's not a lavish model, but isn't as spartan as the old Civic Hybrid it effectively replaces. You'll get 40 mpg city/43 highway.

 

Toyota Prius

Toyota Motor Corp.

Pricing ranges from $22,720 to the low $30,000s

 

Toyota is spending big bucks to convince America that the Prius is ready to save the environment. That may be an overstatement, but there's no doubt the new third-generation hybrid is a big improvement over the old model and ready to deliver some amazing fuel economy. The 2010 version is roomier, with the subtle but distinct redesign notably improving headroom for the two backseat passengers. The interior is more lavish and well-equipped. But with Prius, it keeps coming back to mileage, and here it simply can't be beat: The Hybrid Synergy drive train delivers an amazing 50 mpg city/49 highway.

 

Chevrolet Equinox

General Motors

Pricing runs $23,185 to around $35,000

 

Detroit hasn't been known for building the most fuel-efficient automobiles, but Chevy is dead-set on changing that perception with the all-new Equinox. Of the three crossovers listed here, it's by far the most mainstream, but Equinox is likely to banish your old expectations of Chevrolet. It's an appealingly stylish new model that comes quite well-equipped, even if you opt for the mileage-miser inline-four-cylinder package, which delivers 32 mpg on the highway—better than comparably sized hybrids—and 24 mpg in the city. The interior is well-appointed and skillfully finished, which will impress clients, who'll also appreciate the leg and headroom.

 

 

Mid-range: $25,000-$40,000

 

 

Ford Taurus

Ford Motor Co.

Pricing ranges from $25,995 to around $38,000

 

There was a time when Taurus was the best-selling car in America, but in more recent times, it was little more than a made-for-the-rental-fleets sedan. Now Ford has launched an all-new, stylish, and fun-to-drive model that offers many of the same luxury touches and high-tech features you'd normally expect in a luxury car, such as Cross Traffic Alert, which will watch for oncoming traffic as you back out of a parking spot. The full-size sedan has plenty of room for five passengers and a cavernous trunk, so it's great for carrying clients, gear, or both. Taurus' peppy, 253-horsepower V-6 still gets 18 mpg city/24 highway, and if you want even more performance, consider the reborn SHO, which bumps that to 365 horsepower but maintains the same mileage. Give strong consideration to the all-wheel-drive package if you spend much time driving in inclement weather.

 

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford Motor Co.

Pricing starts at $28,350 and nudges into the mid-$30,000s

 

Ford updated its midsize sedan earlier this year, and that would have made a bit of news by itself. But what really grabbed the headlines was the announcement that the hybrid version would deliver an impressive 41 mpg around town—36 on the highway—a surprising 4 mpg better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid. For 2010, the updated Fusion is more stylish and the interior is decidedly more upscale, something you would feel comfortable using to truck up to five passengers around town. Suddenly, you don't need to worry about clocking all those miles.

 

Cadillac SRX

General Motors

Prices begin at $34,155 and push north to the low $40,000 range

 

The original Caddy crossover was an odd amalgam, but the new model's styling brings it squarely into the CUV (crossover utility vehicle) category, or perhaps atop that field, since it now boasts a decidedly attractive look that also offers plenty of functionality and comfort. Once the luxury leader, Cadillac has an uphill battle regaining ground against the imports—in the case of the SRX, it squares off against the dominant Lexus RX—but the Detroit offering is a visual standout, sharing some of the edgy lines of the Cadillac CTS sedan. The spacious and well-trimmed 5-passenger cabin is a measure of how much the new SRX has traveled since the original crossover was introduced. Mileage is 18 city/25 highway, though you'll lose a bit if you opt for the effective all-wheel-drive drivetrain.

 

Audi Q5

AUDI AG

Pricing starts at $38,175 and pushes to the $45,000 range

 

The German automaker came late to the crossover party but scored a hit when its first arrival, the Q7, finally made its debut. Now, Audi is double-dipping, unveiling the handsome and sporty but slightly downsized Q5. The design is somewhere between utility vehicle and wagon, the taller seating position being a definite plus for hauling four passengers—five, in a pinch—around town. The cargo bay isn't the biggest, but you'll find room for plenty of for-sale signs and the rest of your gear. The lavish and well-detailed interior is arguably best-in-class, so the Q5 says a lot about your taste. The all-wheel-drive system is a definite plus. And at 18 city/23 highway, the mileage is reasonable.

 

 

Luxury: $40,000 or more

 

 

Lexus RX450h

Toyota Motor Corp.

Pricing starts at $42,535 and pushes to near $50,000

 

The Lexus RX is the best-selling luxury crossover in America. It may not feature the most cutting-edge styling, though it's handsome, nor is it the most fun to drive. But it's got more than enough room for five passengers, plenty of luxury accoutrements, a peppy engine, and easy ingress and egress. Better yet, it comes with either a strong 3.5-liter V6 or, in the form of the RX450h, a sophisticated hybrid power train that delivers 32 mpg city/28 highway—the mileage of a small sedan, rather than a big crossover/SUV. (There's also a useful all-wheel-drive hybrid package, for the Snow Belt part of the United States, which cuts city mileage to 30.) Overall, the latest RX is likely to appeal to real estate pros with its looks, room, and efficiency.

 

BMW 335d

BMW

Pricing starts at $44,725 and runs up to around $56,000

 

Spend enough time behind the wheel and even $2.50-per-gallon gas starts to eat into your wallet. Some experts predict the numbers will be back up to $4 within a couple years, so the new Beemer has come along just in time. The 335d sedan is the first American offering from the Bavarian marque to feature diesel. Yes, diesel. While U.S. motorists usually turn up their noses at these "oil burners," these days they're a lot different from those we drove 20 years ago. The new diesels are surprisingly fast, clean, and quiet, and don't have the distinctive smell. They're also fuel-efficient, yielding 23 mpg city/36 mpg highway. The back seat can be considered cramped—don't try more than four people. If you need more room, consider BMW's other new diesel, the X5 335d "Sport Activity Vehicle." One downside is the lack of all-wheel-drive.

 

Mercedes-Benz E350

Mercedes-Benz

Pricing ranges from $47,995 to around $60,000

 

The most popular midsize luxury sedan just got more affordable, even though an all-new model is making its debut for the 2010 model year. There are plenty of reasons why the E-Class is so admired. It's roomy—with space for 5 adults and whatever you or they might want to bring along—stylish, and comfortable. And while it makes a definite impression, it doesn't seem quite ostentatious. The E350 is the most fuel-efficient version of the E-Class line available in the country, delivering 17 mpg city/24 highway. And in wintery climates, the all-wheel-drive version will get you going when everyone else is stuck in a snowbank.

 

 

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