MotorMouths

In either wheelbase and with any of its three engines, the 2011 Jaguar XJ stands among the world’s loveliest and most refined luxury cars.

The 2010 Range Rover Supercharged displays Land Rover’s chief virtues: extreme off-road ability and beautiful interior design.

The 2012 Porsche Panamera S is an immersion course in modern powertrain technology. It is arguably the peak of drivetrain and chassis technology. Disappointingly, it lacks some features far less expensive models offer.

The CTS coupe’s style and performance close the first stage of Cadillac’s renaissance with a resounding success and set a high standard for the next cars from GM’s luxury brand.

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco’s highway fuel economy seemed too good. Its price versus the competition looked too low. The new Malibu Eco is a terrific car at a good price.

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is by far the most powerful station wagon you can buy. Anybody looking for a fast, lovely and practical luxury car will have a hard time topping it.

The light, sleek 335i sedan’s comfort, performance and fuel economy set a high standard that goes a long way toward justifying the car’s high price. A quieter interior and better auto-stop would be welcome, though.

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible is a fast, pretty and advanced car. Its value and style kept me satisfied behind the wheel, and its virtues outweigh its faults.

The 2012 Fiat 500 coupe is an eye-opening double-shot of espresso to the subcompact segment. It should also be a wakeup call to any automaker who thinks it can still get away with selling dull, poorly equipped small cars.

Its shortcomings would be a problem in a car that was boring to look at and drive. They’re an afterthought to the sheer pleasure of walking up to a Fiat 500 Abarth and hearing its powerful little engine spring to life.

The beautiful and powerful 2012 Ford Mustang GT convertible is a confounding juxtaposition of advanced new features and ergonomic oversights. The car’s price, fuel economy, looks and performance offset its faults, however.

The BMW 1M adds power and performance to the Bavarian automaker’s smallest model, but at a daunting price.