2012 Acura TL
In typical Acura and Honda fashion, the new TL has received a midlife refresh with slightly resculpted front and rear bumpers, new foglight surrounds and tinted headlights. Engine specs remain the same, although a new 6-speed automatic transmission finds its way under the hood that Acura claims to improve both performance and fuel economy. A new Advance Package includes a blind-spot information system, vented front seats and upgraded wheels, and the hard drive on the navigation system has been upgraded to 60GB for larger music storage. Changes easily overlooked to the casual buyer are improved NVH levels and higher quality interior trim.
2012 Buick Verano
Smaller than the Regal, the all-new Verano is the fourth and junior member of the Buick sedan family. As a Buick, it’s appointed with luxuries such as laminated glass, triple door seals, premium leather upholstery, and 10 standard airbags—items not typically found on compact sedans. The front-wheel-drive Buick is equipped with a direct-injected 2.4-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder, which sends 177 bhp and 160 lb.-ft. of torque to the standard 6-speed automatic transmission. Pedal on the Buick metal, the Verano dashes its way to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds. At highway speeds, the Verano gets an impressive 31 mpg.
2011 Hyundai Sonata
Despite its puggish looks, the Sonata has put the automotive industry on an uproar. And no, it’s not because of its polarizing looks, but because of its incredible value. The base 2.4-liter inline-4 starts under $20,000; the 274 bhp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 runs in the mid $20s and the Sonata Hybrid will cost in the neighborhood of $28,000. The Sonata Hybrid gets an impressive 36 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. And don’t forget: All Hyundais have a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
Following on the heels of all the standard Optimas leaving Kia showrooms, the new Optima Hybrid makes its debut soon. As a parallel hybrid, a direct-injected Atkinson cycle 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is paired to a 40-hp permanent-magnet synchronous motor, creating a total output of 206 bhp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Running solely on the 30-kilowatt lithium-polymer battery pack, the Optima Hybrid—a mechanical twin of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid—can operate up to 62 mph. If green isn’t really your thing, there’s a 200-bhp 2.4-liter inline-4 engine option or a 274 bhp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. We’ll take the latter.
2012 Volkswagen Passat
The bigger new Passat has a choice of three engines: a base 2.5-liter inline-5 with 170 bhp, a 280-bhp 2.6-liter V-6 or a 140-bhp 2.0-liter turbodiesel. A 6-speed automatic is standard, but a 6-speed DSG is available with the V-6 and the diesel. Estimated at 43 mpg on the highway, the TDI Passat has a bladder-testing range of almost 800 miles. Road trip, anyone? Options for the big new VW sedan include an 8-inch touch-screen (with or without nav), remote start, keyless entry with pushbutton start/stop and a Fender sound system. The new Passat will be the first model to roll out of VW’s new $1 billion factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
