Proving paying more doesn't automatically equate to safer, some midsized cars do better than luxury models in the new frontal offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

This week's recall of 7.43 million Toyotas for a faulty power window switch that could catch fire has been billed as one of the largest in history. But how big is it really?

The Volkswagen CC is like buying designer clothes at ready-to-wear prices. It looks really good, and you look good in it. But don't expect it to score aces for practicality.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has just introduced an additional test, a frontal crash that simulates just a small overlap between the front of a car and an object or vehicle it hits.

Volkswagen is recalling a small number of its 2012 Beetle sedans that are equipped with inappropriate summer tires. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the improper tires may become overloaded or under-inflated for the vehicle and increase the risk of collisions.

Volkswagen's Up! minicar has received complimentary reviews overseas, as well as being named 2012 World Car of the Year. VW doesn't sell the Up! in the United States, but we got the chance to borrow one and live with it for a week on our home turf. Turns out that the Up! resets our expectations for minicars.

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?

The countdown is on to Father's Day: Are you prepared to reward Dad with a gift worthy of a lifetime of love and sacrifice? Our Cars team has assembled their own four-wheel personal picks for Father's Day to inspire your decision making. Should this not be the year for a new car, it may be fun simply to play the "What if?" game with your Dad.

A sleek version of the previous-generation Volkswagen Passat, the CC sacrifices function for style. But an update for 2013 added functionality, giving the sedan a third rear-seating position, thereby expanding its abilities. And as fashion dictates, it also brings stylish LED daytime running lights that look like illuminated eye shadow. To assess the freshened car, we bought a 2013 Passat CC to enter into our test program.

You would assume that if an automaker poured millions of dollars into a major redesign of one of its models that the new version would be better than the old one. But more and more, that’s not the case. In fact, a lot of the slip-sliding we’re seeing here at Consumer Reports has been coming from some traditionally high-performing brands, including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. (See our automaker report cards.)

Back in 1998, when Volkswagen recast its iconic Beetle, it produced a caricature of the original--a car with modern technology, but having more style than substance that ended up appealing to drivers (mainly women) who put a premium on cuteness. A frequent question was whether the company could continue to keep such a design fresh.

Our Annual Autos Issue presents a dizzying array of facts and figures, all aimed at helping car shoppers choose the right model for their needs and budget. While we rate the automakers and present numerous best and worst lists, we haven’t offered a simple guide to the best and worst models by brand. Until now.

Most shoppers focus on the purchase price and resultant monthly payments, if financing, when buying a new car. While it may be the most visible cost, the purchase price is really just the beginning. There are many real costs that are not so clear upfront and can vary widely between models and car segments.

The car market is regaining traction. And in testing about 80 vehicles in the past year, we’ve gotten a good look at what’s new and notable. With erratic pump prices and stricter gas-mileage standards being phased in, fuel economy is a prominent goal. Automakers are pursuing it with more small cars, hybrids, and diesels; more efficient gas engines and transmissions; and a budding wave of electric vehicles (EVs). Here are some highlights:

We all want a car to be safe, reliable, and perform well, but since we all spend too much time behind the wheel (and making payments!), it might as well be fun to drive, too. Our automotive engineers have combined their test data and notes to come up with the cars they have found to be the most fun to drive.