BEST CARS 2007| Car 10| Mazda MX-5

Fun to drive

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Cost: $21,000 to $27,000

The Miata offers balanced handling, pinpoint-precise steering and a crisp six-speed manual transmission.

Its cloth top can be raised and lowered with one hand without leaving the seat. A new power-folding hard-top is available for 2007.

Reliability is fair, but that's good enough to earn a recommendation.

The Miata competes against the Pontiac Solstice and the closely-related Saturn Sky. So far, the Solstice has been outselling the Miata.

"I think [the Solstice] is going to do very well for the first couple of years," said David Champion, head of Consumer Reports' auto testing, "but I think, over the long term, this is the better sports car."

BEST CARS 2007| Car 9| Toyota Prius

Green car

Toyota Prius

Cost: $23,000

The Prius got 44 mpg overall in Consumer Reports' testing, the best the magazine has ever measured for a 5-passenger vehicle.

The interior is also roomy enough, for both occupants and luggage, to make the Prius a viable alternative to an ordinary family sedan.

A rearview camera is available and, the magazine says, "highly recommended."

BEST CARS 2007| Car 8| Toyota Sienna

Minivan

Toyota Sienna

Cost: $26,000 to $28,000

When Consumer Reports first started releasing "Top Picks" in 1997, the minivan chosen was the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager.

The Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey have traded the top spot ever since. With the addition of a more powerful engine, the Sienna takes it back after two years of going to the Odyssey.

"It's a little bit quieter, a little bit more refined, little bit more comfortable than the Odyssey," said David Champion, head of Consumer Reports' auto testing.

Champion also said that, for his personal use, he would go for the Honda.

"I'm a bit more of a driver," he said. "I prefer the Odyssey. It's got a bit more of a sports car performance in a minivan."

BEST CARS 2007| Car 7| Toyota Highlander

SUV, more than $30,000

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Cost: 35,000 to $40,000

Although the Highlander Hybrid is a Top Pick, even Consumer Reports wouldn't advise you to buy it now. That's because the redesigned 2008 version will be available very soon.

The 2007 Highlander offers a comfortable, quiet ride and excellent quality, according to Consumer Reports. The new version will have a movable second row, to allow for more space in the third row, according to Toyota.

The Hybrid offers all the benefits of the non-hybrid Highlander with better acceleration but only slightly better fuel economy (22 mpg) in Consumer Reports' testing. The redesigned will be the same, in terms of the drivetrain, as the current version.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 6| Toyota Rav4

SUV, less than $30,000

Toyota Rav4

Cost: $23,000 to $27,000

The Rav4 was redesigned for 2006, adding more room and an optional third row of seats. An optional V6 engine gives smooth performance and good power while provided just 1 mpg lower fuel economy in Consumer Reports' testing.

The Rav4 also got top marks for reliability and crash protection.

The newly redesigned Honda CR-V is another good choice, the magazine said.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 5| Nissan - Infiniti M35

Luxury Sedan

Infiniti M35

Cost: $42,000 to $45,000

The M35 earned the highest score of any sedan in Consumer Reports' testing, according to the magazine.

"Well equipped and comfortable, it's just as capable on a twisty two-lane road as it is cruising down the highway."

Like the smaller G35 - also a Top Pick - it's available with either rear- or all-wheel-drive. The V8-power M45 costs about $55,000.

In the same class, the BMW 530i and Audi A6 are also worth considering, the magazine said.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 4| Nissan - Infiniti

Sedan, $30,000 to $40,000

Infiniti G35

Cost: $35,000 to $39,000

The G35 is available in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.

The G35 "really blows the BMW 3-series away at its own game," said David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "It's extremely fast - 306 horsepower, zero-to-60 in 5.4 seconds - really agile handling, great steering, reasonable amount of room inside and really easy to live with on a day-to-day basis."

Its reliability has also been excellent, Champion said, although the record for parent company Nissan has been spotty.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 3| Honda Accord

Sedan, $20,000 to $30,000

Honda Accord

Cost: $20,000 to $33,000

Like the Civic, the Accord is availaible in a hybrid version, which offers only slightly better fuel economy, however.

In Consumer Reports' testing, the Accord Hybrid got 25 mpg, while a V6 Accord got 23 mpg and the 4-cylinder version got 24.

"The Accord provides an excellent balance of comfort, roominess, ride and handling," the magazine says.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 2| Honda Civic

Sedan, less than $20,000

Honda Civic

Cost: $17,000 to $23,000

Cosumer Reports praises the Civic for its "relatively roomy interior, comfortable ride, smooth powertrain and good handling."

It also helps that the Civic has good reliability, crash test results and fuel economy.

In Consumer Reports' tests, it got 31 mpg with a manual transmission and 28 with an automatic. The hybrid version got 37 mpg.

BEST CARS 2007| Car 1| Honda Fit

Budget Car, subcompact

Honda Fit

Cost: $14,000 to $16,000

Consumer Reports calls the Fit the "best overall in a new class of fuel-efficient cars."

Fuel economy, as measured in Consumer Reports' controlled tests, was 32 mpg with an automatic transmission and 34 mpg with a manual.

"Not only is it fun to drive, but its compact dimensions pack an impressive amount of interior room and versatility," the magazine said.

The Fit got top scores in "Reliability," "Crash protection" and "Satisfaction." Its road test score was good, but not the best.

This has become a crowded market segment with a number of good entries, said David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports.

"The Nissan Versa we thought was very good," he said. "The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were very good."