HONDA ACCORD 2013

The ninth generation of the longest-running 10Best winner. Unlike many of  its mid-size competitors, the Accord will continue to be offered as a coupe and a sedan. Slightly smaller and lighter than the current Accord, the new version also will have softer lines and more cohesive styling. The new Accord likely  will be based on an updated version of  the current car’s architecture. While many mid-size competitors are dropping their six-cylinder options, the Accord will offer a revised and more powerful version of its familiar 3.5-liter V-6 with cylinder deactivation. But the bread-and-butter Accord will be the four-cylinder model. Direct injection helps the 2.4-liter four make at least 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, with improved fuel economy. A six-speed manual will be offered; the automatic will be a CVT. A plug-in-hybrid version will couple a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 161-hp electric motor.  A 6-kWh lithium-ion battery  will offer 10 to 15 miles of city driving range and will recharge in less than four hours using a standard 120-volt outlet. Three selectable modes will allow the hybrid driver to choose among fully electric, hybrid, and “direct drive,” which decouples the electric motor for more efficient cruising.

Mercedes-Benz C-class / C250 / C350

For 2012, Mercedes gutted it, refinishing the C with soft, rich plastics befitting the pricier E-class. There are new gauges with higher-quality displays, the seats are more comfortable, and the switchgear looks to have been lifted from the new CLS. It’s so much nicer inside that we actually feel a little bad for customers who already bought a C-class.Under the new aluminum hood, will find one of two new engines, both of which will be paired with a seven-speed automatic. At the bottom of the lineup is the new C250. The C250 will get a turbocharged 201-hp, 1.8-liter four. If you’re in a big hurry, you’ll find yourself regularly revving past 4000 rpm, but the turbo does provide a good percentage of its 229 lb-ft of torque from just 2000 rpm. Most of the time, the four is barely audible, but it emits a healthy growl when worked hard. Figure on a 0-to-60-mph time of about seven seconds flat. Fuel-economy numbers have not yet been set, but we expect to see a city number of about 23 mpg and a highway figure of about 31.For those craving a bit more speed, the C350 has more horsepower, courtesy of a new V-6. For this engine, Mercedes adopted a 60-degree design, its ideal bank angle eliminating the need for a balance shaft. At high rpm, the V-6 feels slightly smoother than before, but not remarkably so. A high 12.2:1 compression ratio and direct fuel injection endow the V-6 with 302 hp and 273 lb-ft. Mercedes claims a 0-to-60 time of 5.9 seconds. Our brief drive of the C350 gave us enough confidence to call that guess conservative by about a half-second. The C300 sticks around, its carry-over 3.0-liter V-6 shuttling power exclusively to all four wheels. It is the only C-class available with 4MATIC.To mark the inward changes, the C-class has a few exterior tweaks—basically, if it’s plastic and on the outside of the car, it’s new. New bumpers front and rear help update the C-class to the latest Mercedes-Benz styling, as do the new head- and taillights. Like before, Sport models have their grilles laid back with an inset Mercedes star; Luxury models get a more upright grille with a stand-up hood ornament. The overall effect of the changes is subtle, but it helps bring the C-class in line with the rest of Mercedes’ sedans. For the collision-prone, the C-class is now offered with the brand’s latest safety equipment. To ensure you’re awake, there’s Attention Assist. To keep you in your lane, there’s active lane-keeping assist, which vibrates the steering wheel when the car senses it has wandered from its lane. And active blind-spot assist will tell you if a car is lurking in your blind spot.

BMW X6

The BMW X6 is a four-door luxury performance SUV. Powered by a range of six- and eight-cylinder engines, it ranges from capable to brutally powerful. Introduced in 2008, the X6 is a new take on the combination of coupe and SUV body styles. Primary competition for the X6 includes the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne, and Infini FX range. Priced to start from $56,500-$67,200 for the standard models, $88,900 for the hybrid version and $89,000 for the X6 M, the X6 spans a wide range of available configurations. The 2008 BMW X6 was available in xDrive35i and xDrive50i trims with a choice of an inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine rated at 300 horsepower or a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine rated at 400 horsepower, respectively. BMW calls the X6 a "sports activity vehicle," seeking to distinguish it from the more typical sports utility vehicle, or SUV. Its characteristic sloping coupe-like roofline, tall stance, and four-seat layout further blur the line between traditional SUV and luxury sports sedan. It shares much of its underpinnings with the BMW X5, but due to its shape, doesn't offer as much cargo space. It nevertheless remains a fairly competent off-roader thanks to its all-wheel drive system, though true trail-worthiness remains out of its reach. A six-speed automatic transmission was the only option for 2008-2010 models of any trim or engine package, paired to BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. Subsequent model years saw the introduction of the X6 M in 2009, which turns up the power on the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 to 555 horsepower. Upgraded suspension, larger wheels and tires, more capable brakes and advanced performance-tuned traction and handling electronics combine to make an impressive performance vehicle despite its size and weight. For the 2010 model year, the ActiveHybrid X6 offers a combination of power and efficiency that errs on the side of performance. Rated at 480 horsepower, it's an upgrade of 80 horsepower over the standard V-8 X6, yet delivers one more mpg on the highway. Upgrades for the 2011 model year saw the introduction of a new entry-level six-cylinder engine that goes to a single-turbo, twin-scroll configuration with direct injection that maintained the same performance levels as the previous twin-turbo engine while reducing complexity and cost. Also on the docket for the 2011 model was a three-passenger rear seat option, which increased the X6's capacity to five in total from the prior four-seat configuration. An eight-speed transmission became standard equipment for all but the X6 M, which retained its robust six-speed drivetrain. The new transmission promised smoother shifting and better efficiency. The X6 returns for the 2012 model year, though the ActiveHybrid model has been dropped. With a coupe-like profile above the waistline, comfortable seating, high-quality materials and fitment and more high-tech options and features than you can shake a stick at, the X6 has a lot of appeal. On the other hand, the X6 requires premium fuel, can get pricey when loaded with options, and features bulky truck-like styling below the waistline--elements which can turn off some buyers. None of the X6 family are particularly efficient, however, rating between 15/21 mpg city/highway for the 2010 xDrive35i, 13/18 mpg for the xDrive50i, and a thirsty 12/17 mpg rating for the X6 M

VOLVO S60

The Volvo S60 is a sporty, dynamic sedan combining excellent performance and a great design with outstanding safety features. New for 2013 is an all-wheel drive T5 model. Headlamp washers and rain sensor wipers are standard on all trims. The S60 comes in two models, a front-wheel drive T5 or all-wheel drive T5 or T6 sedan. Included on the T5 is a turbocharged 250-hp five-cylinder, the T6 includes a turbocharged 300-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Both are matched with a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. The T6 R-Design includes a turbocharged 325-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Chassis equipment includes dynamic stability traction control (DSTC) with advanced stability control, and corner traction control with torque vectoring. Safety features include Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake, City Safety, whiplash protection front headrests (WHIPS), anti-lock brakes, and six airbags. Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth are standard. The T5 includes T-Tec cloth upholstery, the T6 has standard leather upholstery. Optional equipment includes a glass moonroof, navigation system, an upgraded premium audio system, rear seat entertainment system with dual DVD players, and xenon high-intensity headlights.