For our October issue test group, we put sporty cars to the test. Three of them are modern muscle or “pony” cars--the Ford Mustang GT, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger. These vehicles offer rear-wheel drive, plenty of power, and distinctive sporty styling with iconic profiles. Different from the rest of the group is the rear-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe; our tested model is powered by a V6 engine in contrast to the muscle cars’ V8.

In addition to these vehicles, we also tested the updated Subaru Impreza WRX, which received a bump in power and suspension adjustments for 2009, and the redesigned Nissan 370Z. Needless to say, it was an entertaining few weeks testing these performance machines.

The full road tests from the magazine (available to subscribers) have been posted online, along with videos of some of the models hosted by our automotive experts. These videos highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicles, bringing the road tests to life.

In the November issue, we’ll report on the Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Cube, Subaru Outback, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Routan.

Ratings for all of the sporty cars we have tested can be found with our dynamic New Car Selector tool.

Also, see our recent reports on these vehicles:
From the logbook: Dodge Challenger
First Drive: Dodge Challenger
First Drive: Hyundai Genesis Coupe
First Drive: Nissan 370Z
Video: Muscle car showdown

—Liza Barth