There’s no better testing area than the road connecting San Jose and the Monterey Peninsula. Part of the Central California route includes the Pacheco Pass, and no vehicle I’ve driven over the steep climbs, sharp descents and winding, tight roads has negotiated it better than the 2008 Ford Focus.

Designed as a versatile crossover that combined sport utility vehicle characteristics with a sporty, youthful appearance, the Toyota Matrix never hit its intended audience — young car buyers. But that doesn’t mean the hatchback wagon was a bust. Introduced six years ago, the Matrix has enjoyed success, particularly considering its affordability.

Its name connotes royalty, but who would have known 40 years ago when it was first sold in the United States that the Toyota Corolla actually deserved such a lofty title?

Corolla means “little crown,” and now in its fifth decade and with more than 33 million sold, there’s no reason to deny it. The Toyota Corolla, a little engine that could, continues to be royalty.

One friend took out the rear-seat headrest while driving so he could get a better view out the rear window. Another friend ripped through the gears of the automatic transmission to test the car’s sportiness. And a lot of other friends still didn’t recognize The Fit.

The subcompact is in its second year in the United States and eighth worldwide since its debut in 2001 in Asia. By either name, Honda’s entry-level vehicle in 2008 is much the same as it was last year. Which is to say: For about half the average price of the “average” new car in this country, Fit owners benefit from one of the most economical, efficiently constructed and versatile vehicles available.

With a steady increase in gasoline prices and perhaps no relief in sight, sub-compacts are getting much more attention. And while not directly replacing the Aerio, the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki decided to slip the SX4 Sport into its lineup in 2008.

Suzuki unveiled the SX4 a year ago and received positive feedback as the most affordable all-wheel drive vehicle sold in the United States. Like its Japanese equivalent, the Swift, the SX4 comes with a 100,000-mile, seven-year transferable warranty on the car's engine and transmission. It also has 24/7 emergency roadside assistance and plus a sizable list of standard safety features.

Friends often ask the same question in different ways: “Why don’t you just drive Ferraris or Maseratis all the time?” Or, “If you’re going to drive to Los Angeles and back, you might as well do it in a top-of-the-line BMW or Lexus, right.”

They’re all good choices, likely fun to drive, and in some instances, impractical. Instead, my recent, round-trip trek from Sacramento to Pasadena was accomplished just fine, thank you — in a 2008 Suzuki SX4.

Gas prices continue to rise, and can $4 a gallon be far off? No wonder going small is becoming more popular and buyers focus more toward economy cars and away from often gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.

Making a memorable debut in the sub-compact class a year ago was the Nissan Versa. Available  hatchback or sedan, the Versa sales were more than 60,000 for 2007, a solid number in the entry level category. Nissan became an immediate competitor in the subcompact category when it beefed up the Sentra, previously its entry-level vehicle in the U.S. market. Versa stepped into the Sentra’s previous spot and received immediate notice, getting favorable recommendations when compared to primary rivals — Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra.

I’ve learned through research that women think highly of the Mazda 3. It possesses the cute factor, which means females universally like the look of the Mazda 3, especially the bright, 2008 red one driven here for a week.

And though I don’t have the research to back up this statement, my guess is that men find the Mazda 3 appealing as well. Chalk that up to the manufacturer's well-known "Zoom-Zoom" slogan.

The median price of a new car in the United States is now $30,000. But what if you're in the new car market and have half that amount to spend?Are there quality new vehicles available for $15,000?

Honda can respond with an unqualified "yes" with its 2007 Fit, a compact, wonderfully space efficient compact wagon.

Far less unheralded but not to be overlooked is the Suzuki, SX4, the Japanese manufacturer's smallest car.

The stretch of road that connects Northern and Southern California via Interstate 5 through a pass in the Tehachapi Mountains is mostly known as The Grapevine. It's not named because of its steep grade, ominous presence or legacy of high-speed accidents. Its name comes from the wild grapes that grow in the region.

More than a few cars, plenty of trucks, campers and transportation trucks struggled over the Grapevine. And yet, there I was in an entry level, 138-horsepower, 4-cylinder four-door sedan, a Hyundai Elantra. And I was scooting over the notorious mountain pass without a concern.

For the past several years, I've been touting various Hyundai offerings to friends, and this recent experience added another fine example. My weekly driver was the Elantra SE with a five-speed manual transmission.