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.

The future of vehicle safety depends on talking cars. That is, cars that can communicate wirelessly, sharing data on their speed and positioning, giving them the ability to alert drivers of potential dangers.

Last week, we looked at whether cars rated at 40 mpg EPA highway could actually deliver on that estimate in the real world. It turns out that most can based on our tests, but the Hyundai Elantra fell a bit short. Are there other cars that are also challenged to live up to their window sticker?

If you are an automaker launching a new, fuel-efficient car, claiming 40 mpg (EPA highway fuel economy) is like the new black. Basically everyone’s doing it. But, will consumers actually achieve that magic number in the real world? To find out, we compared the highway fuel economy in Consumer Reports’ tests to the EPA numbers for cars claiming over 40 mpg on the highway.

A latecomer to the small SUV market, Volkswagen introduced the Tiguan in 2009, after the segment pioneers were well into their third generation. Competing in a popular category that is seeing several key models redesigned, we bought an updated 2012 Tiguan SEL 4Motion to see how it has progressed and chart how it stacks up.

The upcoming March 2012 issue of Consumer Reports magazine features road tests of the BMW X3, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Toyota Prius V. These new or updated models were treated to the full battery of more than 50 tests, and the full results are available now to online subscribers.

Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have a commanding lead in car brand awareness, as determined from interviewing car owners for the 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey.

The people have spoken: Toyota, Ford, Honda, and Chevrolet excel over other brands in the minds of adult car owners, though the brand’s advantages are less this year than in the past. These are among the findings of the 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

If much of the country is still focused on value for the 99 percent, the Detroit auto show still has plenty of room for the remaining 1 percent. For those with money to burn, some of the finest hardware anywhere is on display.

Volkswagen’s recent redesign of the Jetta-bigger, less nimble, cheaply-trimmed inside - left us concerned about the 2012 redesign of the Passat. The good news: The Passat is a lot more competitive than the Jetta. But we’re not exactly putting it on any Consumer Reports “Car of the Year” lists, either.