Less Can Be More

The siren song that lures buyers into auto show rooms never seems to change—more power, more features, bigger size—but finally technology has at least changed the tune. Across from the dazzling top-of-the-line models in the show room are some basic models worth considering. They no longer are the stripped-down, comparatively inept vehicles they used to be. Downscale versions of upscale cars even might be wiser choices sometimes, offering adequate power plus high technology, lower prices, and—with gas prices reaching a $3 level that was beyond comprehension when the new 2006 models were planned several years ago—good gas mileage. Here are some examples:

BMW—The new 3-Series 325i and 330i both now have the 3.0–liter inline V6 engine, built anew out of magnesium and aluminum, with electronic tuning that gives the 330i a potent 255 horsepower and the 325i—priced about $7,000 lower—a sufficient 215 horsepower and better fuel economy. I got 28.6 miles per gallon in combined city-highway driving with the 325i, and more than thirty miles per gallon on a highway trip. Look for winter-friendly all-wheel-drive versions, designated by an X. The 330i is awesome; the 325i is close to awesome.

Ford—The newest Ford is the Fusion, a strikingly designed sedan that’s slightly smaller than the Taurus and has a roomy interior and contemporary safety structure from a stiffened version of the Mazda6 platform. Ford’s 3.0–liter V6 has 221 horsepower, 205 foot-pounds of torque, and a decent twenty-nine-miles-per-gallon rating. Starting at $20,000 with a six-speed automatic, the car should be a huge success. The majority of Fusions sold, however, are likely to be powered by a 160-horsepower four-cylinder—the high-tech 2.3-liter jewel from global partner Mazda. Ford acknowledges that women make or influence 80 percent of all U.S. new-vehicle purchases, and the four-cylinder may be the clear choice of crafty female shoppers. The Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr are similar except for style. The V6 is frugal, the 2.3 more frugal.

Pontiac—One of the biggest hits of the 2006 model year will be the Solstice, a flashy two-seat roadster that doesn’t depend on the trend toward bigger models (the Corvette, GTO, or other General Motors specialty models) to generate fun. A 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, with 177 horsepower and 166 foot-pounds of torque, is the only engine, and it complements the Solstice’s balance for handling and performance. Plus the Solstice looks great and costs under $20,000. Gas-gulping horsepower is not required for fun.

Audi—Two new engines with direct injection send a high-pressure charge of fuel into each chamber for more thorough combustion, which means more power and economy. The top engine of the new A6 midsize sedan is the powerful 4.2–liter V8, but with its base engine—a 3.2–liter, direct-injection V6—it feels lighter and sportier, even with quattro, the company’s legendary all-wheel-drive system. In Motor Trend’s same-length slalom tests, an A6 with a 255-horsepower V6 actually beat the 335-horsepower V8, with an average speed of 63.9 to 63.8 miles per hour. The 3.2 V6 is optional in the new and more compact A4, with the base engine being an all-new, direct-injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which can deliver more than thirty miles per gallon, with quattro, and I got 34.5 miles per gallon with the FrontTrak front-wheel-drive model on a freeway trip. The 2.0 is the only engine available on the new and more compact A3.