2008 Subaru Impreza

I wasn't planning to be a Subaru owner, The line of cars always seemed a bit awkwardly styled -- until I saw this five-door wagon. I did a test drive of the Impreza on an icy day in December. With its asymetical AWD, this car handles on ice like most cars do on dry pavement! And on dry pavement, the 170 hp engine moves this little toy up to highway speeds and through intersections quickly. Add to that the safety features (vehicle dynamics control, anti-lock brakes, air bags everywhere you look) and you've got a great small car that gets decent mileage: I'm averaging 24 in town and up to 32 on the highway. The interior is beautifully designed, better than anything in its class, and the seats are comfortable and keep you in place during hard cornering. For the price, it is a great car.