2008 Hyundai Accent

Despite belonging to the cheapest class of cars in America, the Accent wasn't the dullest of the ten cars I drove on the track -- or even second-dullest. Sure, we're talking about 106 horsepower here, but once you adjust your expectations to the lower velocity, the Accent becomes the little Hyundai that could.

Pulling out from the parking lot, the Accent seems to have the world's longest shifter and the world's soggiest brakes. But once up to speed, your attention turns to how those 16-inch tires have sports car-level sticking power -- oh, the wonders of a 2,400-pound chassis! The steering is quick and easy to handle, and the shifter glides in and out of every gate; this is a car that sends all the right signals to its driver. The Accent can't do much, but what it can do, it does quite well.