We recently tested the re-designed 2009 Subaru Forester. The ‘09 Forester boasts a new look, from the front to the back and also gained a few inches of ground clearance for those who like to explore off of the beaten path. Despite the new higher ground clearance, the Forester still has the lowest center of gravity in its class, where its main competitors are the ever-popular Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav-4.

This rugged SUV from Subaru comes with two engine options. We tested the 2.5 L 4-cylinder engine that produced 170 horsepower at 6,000 rpm 170 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm mated to a manual transmission. The other option is the 4-cylinder turbo engine from the WRX sedan, mated to an automatic transmission. Yes, that’s right, a turbo paired to an automatic transmission. Subaru, unfortunately, will not offering turbo motors with manual transmission in Foresters.

Everything about the 2009 Forester is practical, from the gas mileage, to the interior features and price. For an SUV, the Forester does not disappoint in its fuel economy numbers, getting 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The interior design has also improved with nice features like the over-sized sunroof and consideration for backseat passengers with the sliding cupholders and ample legroom. Lastly, and in the current economy, most importantly, the cost of the Subaru Forester can almost be called cheap, starting at a base price of $22,495 and an as-tested tag of $24,011.

Join us as we test the 2009 Land Rover LR2. Sibling to the LR3 and the Range Rover, the LR2 can be described as the baby of the family, both in price and size.

The LR2 uses the same engine that is found in Volvo’s XC90 and S80, the aluminum 3.2 L V6 that produces 230 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 234 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual control options. Even with the power, you still get decent fuel economy, getting around 19 mpg in mixed driving, 16 mpg in the city, and 23 mpg on the highway.

The LR2 fits the bill for someone who likes adventure but also needs a vehicle that can serve as an everyday driver. The price is reasonable, as the value-buy of the Land Rover line, starting at a base of $35,375 and an as-tested price of $41,400.

Take a quick spin with us as we test the 2009 Acura TSX. The ‘09 TSX does not feel like your typical entry-level luxury car but has an aura more like its sophisticated sibling, the TL sedan. For the feel and look of a much more expensive car, you can enjoy luxury at an affordable price because the TSX starts at $28,960 and topped out at a reasonable as-tested price of $32,060

The new TSX is the picture of refinement, both performance and design-wise. Despite the additional 160 pounds to the 2009 model, the TSX is still agile with incredibly precise steering. The motor gets the job done with 201 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. The fuel economy is surprisingly good for a sports sedan, getting 30 mpg highway and 21 mpg city. On the exterior, you may recognize the new grille that’s also found on the TL and RL. Inside, the cockpit design is new and aggressive. No more touch-screen for the nav-display but there is now a centralized wheel for control. The navigation also comes with real time traffic and weather reports.

The only gripe we had with the 2009 TSX was that the shifting in manual mode had to be done with the paddles mounted to the steering wheel, without an option to shift on the gear selector. However, with everything Acura does right with the TSX, our complaint is easy to overlook. Despite losing a little edge that the Prelude and Integra fanboys crave, the TSX will most certainly grow on them.