Unidentical Twins

The HEMI gets its name from the hemispherical combustion chambers dominant in Dodge and Plymouth NASCAR stock cars in the 1960s and ’70s, and on the road, there is no shortage of power—except when you don’t need it. The V8 drops to four-cylinder operation at cruising speed, which helps the car achieve the EPA highway estimate of twenty-five miles per gallon. The four snoozing cylinders kick in seamlessly when you hit the gas, taking the car from 0 to 60 in about six seconds.

I'm anxious to try the optional all-wheel drive in the winter, but traction  control and the electronic-stability program with brake assist help rear-wheel traction on  straight-ahead and around-the-curve driving. The four-wheel antilock brakes are impressive, and safety is bolstered by a stronger high-grade-steel construction, plus front and optional side-curtain air bags that surround occupants.

It's easy to spend more than $30,000 for a solid family car these days, but it’s difficult to find many competitors that can match the price, size, roominess, sporty flair, and flexibility of the new unidentical DaimlerChrysler twins.