The sexy new body design of Mazda 6 has allowed for almost six more cubic feet of passenger space, making all seats roomy for adults. Interior build quality is superior to the outgoing models, and the instrument panel boasts a sleek and highly intuitive look and feel.

Tactile steering and sport-tuned suspension bless the CX-7 with surprising agility and response. Its turbocharged engine delivers a torque-filled surge that will put a smile on anyone’s face, and it’s keen to snappily turn into whatever corners you throw at it. For all intents and purposes, it drives like a car. A fun car at that. But unlike most fun cars, when it comes time to load in bulky cargo or tackle adverse conditions, the CX-7 loses none of its flair. It just might change your idea of what a crossover can be.

Unlike most full-size SUVs, the CX-9 doesn’t rely on V-8 power, but instead uses a 3.7-liter V-6 to motivate it along. The engine produces 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, which is transmitted to the front or all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with manually selectable gears.

A consequence of the rear half-doors is a chunky C-pillar that limits over the shoulder visibility. Rotary engines are notoriously thirsty creatures (with an appetite for both gasoline and oil), and this 1.3-liter engine returns small V-8 fuel economy as a result.

A pure sports car experience, the MX-5 is a survivor of an era gone by, when high horsepower and massive grip were far less common than skinny tires and four-pot engines. The simplicity of the cabin is a relief when compared to other modern roadsters that boast huge sat nav screens and complex computer systems. Lots of standard features mean you won’t end up overpaying for more car than you need.

The new 2.5-liter unit offers more punch than the 2.3-liter it replaces, though Mazda has also kept the frugal 2.0-liter engine in service for those preferring efficiency to outright grunt. Inside the 3 puts the focus on the driver, with improved ergonomics and a new Multi-Information Display that sits atop the center stack.

Bizarro two-tier semantics aside, Mazda got a lot right with its first shot at the Mazdaspeed3 back in 2007. Wisely then, they aren’t fiddling with the recipe too much. Crammed into the shell of the new 2010 Mazda3 is the same drivetrain as the last Mazdaspeed3, which would be a 263 horsepower turbocharged engine, six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip front differential.