Paying more for a new car doesn't guarantee that it will be reliable. Fuel-efficient hatchbacks, wagons, compact sports sedans, compact pickups, and small SUVs are the most reliable vehicles according to our 2012 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on our subscribers' experiences with 1.2 million vehicles. Upscale cars, minivans and luxury SUVs are among the least reliable.

The Camaro been offered in numerous special editions and treatments through the years, with many going on to adorn museums and inspire muscle-car enthusiasts. Like the recent Transformers package, the Hot Wheels edition is certain to bring out the inner child with Camaro enthusiasts.

Few redesigns are received with as much fanfare in the automotive industry as a new Chevrolet Corvette. Self-proclaimed as America's sports car, the Corvette has been an icon and inspiration since 1953. As the hype machine begins firing on all eight cylinders ahead of the January introduction, one has to wonder: Will the new 'Vette live up to expectations?

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) recently released their claims data showing which vehicles have the highest and lowest overall insurance losses. The safety research organization found that even though many vehicles now do well in crash tests, the role of vehicle size is important.

Since it first arrived in 1997, the Porsche Boxster has served as a fun, "attainable" entry point into the illustrious automaker's sports car line. After a protracted model generation, our staff has been anxious to experience the redesigned 2013 Boxster. The wait is over.

BMW's 6 Series has always been a large, high-end coupe with grand touring sensibilities. The current 6 line now consists of a traditional coupe, convertibles, and now a four-door version. Prices start at $76,000 and climb rapidly from there.

Abarth has been Fiat's racing division for decades. And now it's the little 500's turn to get souped up and dressed to perform with the classic scorpion badge proudly displayed on its nose. We borrowed a top-of-the-line $23,500 Gucci spec Abarth from Chrysler (Fiat's new beachhead in North America) for a fee to check it out.

With the 2013 Focus ST, Ford aims to prove its EcoBoost engine technology isn't just about fuel economy. The turbocharged engine and suspension modifications make the Focus ST a blast to drive and a credible competitor to the Volkswagen GTI and its ilk at a starting price of about $25,000.

Consumer Reports recently posted the road test results for a trio of summer-friendly cars, each with their own distinctive personalities: Chevrolet Camaro convertible, Dodge Challenger, and Fiat 500C. The common theme among them is that style and character often come with compromises.

A few days after we bought our 2012 BMW Z4 for testing, we noticed—thanks to the car's tire-pressure monitoring system—that the left rear tire was losing air. The tire would start the day at its recommended 44 psi, but by the next morning it was down to about 34 psi. Somehow, 10 pounds of air a day was going missing for no obvious reason.

With the approach of summer, it seems a natural supposition that a muscle car would be even more enjoyable with its top down. While there is some truth to that, the reality is most convertibles spend much of their time with the top up. And as we have been experiencing, the Chevrolet Camaro convertible doesn't shine when closed.

Nearly identical to the Subaru BRZ sport coupe, the rear-drive Scion FR-S offers the same sporty handling and energetic acceleration. The suspension has slightly different tuning, giving it an ever-so-slightly more compliant ride. But other than that—and a different nose job and trim—the two cars are just about interchangeable.

Waking up to an automotive-related Father's Day gift this year would certainly be an improvement over last year (an ER visit with our eldest child!), and it would definitely be better than breakfast in bed or a garish tie. But choosing just one dream gift has proven difficult.

For years, Subaru used the tag line "The beauty of all-wheel drive" to promote their all-AWD lineup, until the age-old line was quietly traded in for "Confidence in motion." And as we've been experiencing at our test track, the BRZ coupe lives up to the new pitch line. And then some.

It is not easy redesigning an icon. But that's what Volkswagen has now done to its Beetle—twice. The new squashed proportions of this latest version are both truer to the original form, more practical, and arguably more masculine. But does that make this latest Beetle a better car?