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Volvo Cross Country XC70

  • Safe — you feel like you're in a bank vault
  • Solid, quiet
  • Handles great
  • Plenty of power: 281 HP
  • All-wheel-drive standard
  • Very comfortable ride

  • Pricey
  • Only gets 20 MPG on highway — lousy mileage for a car that's marketed to socially conscious consumers
  • Expensive to repair
  • Two-step process to start car is cumbersome


Lincoln MKS

  • Less expensive than other cars in luxury class
  • All-wheel-drive (optional)
  • Nice looking
  • Reasonably sized
  • Handling leans more towards comfort than sportiness
  • Very comfortable rear seat
  • Rear-seat heaters are a nice touch

  • Still not as reliable as Japanese cars
  • Handling leans more towards comfort than sportiness
  • Mileage only just okay


Toyota Matrix

  • Toyota quality
  • Small
  • Inexpensive
  • All-wheel drive
  • Good ride

  • Poor rear visibility




Infiniti M35

  • Seven-speed transmission
  • Very nice handling
  • Nice size, powerful
  • All-wheel-drive option
  • Very smooth ride
  • Tight and well-built

  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Poorly located steering wheel buttons can result in changing radio stations



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