[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/auto/2008_in_review_a_year_of_surprises_and_letdow_5584 80500/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] 2008 in review ? A year of surprises and letdowns
With the new year rolling in, and the Detroit auto show just hours away, let?s take a (belated) look back at the last year?s worth of testing. Some automakers showed their consistency, with impressive redesigns like the Honda Accord and Subaru Forester. No surprises there. But let?s single out the models that delivered more than expected, as well as those that fell short:
Hyundai Genesis ? The Genesis moves Hyundai to a whole new stage, topping our upscale sedan scoring and delivering roomy refinement at an aggressive price. Another surprise from Hyundai: 26 mpg from the freshened 2009 Sonata four-cylinder model, impressive for a family sedan from a company that wasn?t known for optimizing fuel efficiency. (See the Hyundai Genesis road test.)
Cadillac CTS ? From the brand that brought you the badge-engineered Cimarron, who would have expected this: a well-tailored, fun-to-drive sports sedan that outscored rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz at their own game. (See the Cadillac CTS road test.)
Pontiac G8 ? It?s been a long time since Pontiac has had a competitive car?until now. It?s not necessarily the blistering acceleration that impresses here; there are V6 competitors that are nearly as rapid as our tested V8-powered G8 GT without the G8?s mid-sized SUV fuel economy. No, what really impresses is the ride and handling balance of this big sedan. It rivals some snooty high-dollar sports sedans but at a relatively bargain price (especially with current incentives). (See the Pontiac G8 road test.)
Chevrolet Malibu ? This car balances the quietness of a Toyota Camry with the agility of a Honda Accord, all bundled with arguably more eye-catching styling than either. With a new six-speed automatic, the four-cylinder version gets better fuel economy than the Camry or Accord, and first-year reliability has been strong. One downer: the "light" hybrid version doesn?t bring a big bump in fuel economy for the additional cost. (See the Chevrolet Malibu road test.)
BMW 135i ? It didn?t sound all that promising at first: charge nearly 3 Series money for a smaller car. But the 135i was one of the most popular cars in our fleet this year, just the thing for a spirited drive home. It scored at the top of its class to boot. (See the BMW 135i road test.)
Ford Flex ? The Taurus X was a competent but unassuming (and slow-selling) wagon-like SUV. But take that basic platform, improve and enlarge the interior, and wrap it all in styling that looks like the box it was shipped in. The result is one of the top SUVs we?ve tested this year. (See the Ford Flex road test.)
But there were also some letdowns:
Saturn Astra ? We were excited by the promise: European road manners with a well-finished interior. The Astra indeed delivered those, but was let down by a milquetoast and not-so-efficient drivetrain and cryptic controls. (See the Saturn Astra road test.)
Honda Pilot ? It?s not that the new Pilot is a bad SUV ? far from it. But the 2009 redesign lost some refinement relative to the best in this class, with abundant road noise, so-so braking, and unimpressive fit and finish. (See the Honda Pilot road test.)
Acura TL ? Between the TL and the TSX (which we?re still testing), Acura?s new direction seems to be overwrought styling, button-festooned dashboards, and less steering feel. Like the Pilot, the TL was once a CR Top Pick, but the redesign doesn?t make the cut. (See the Acura TL road test.)

Ford Focus ? Maybe it?s that we long for the well-finished, refined-handling European Focus and all of its available body styles. Instead, the American Focus got restyled, adding stuff like SYNC and lighted foot wells and cup holders. Unfortunately, it lost some of its handling sharpness and didn?t really fix the cheap interior or engine noise. We also miss the practical hatchbacks and wagon. (See the Ford Focus road test.)
Infiniti EX35 ? Infiniti?s sedans rank at the top of their respective categories. The fun-to-drive EX shares their high performance, but it?s a bit of an odd duck. The snug rear seat and small cargo hold limit the practicality you?d expect from a small SUV/wagon. (See the Infiniti EX35 road test.)
?Tom Mutchler
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