The Kia Rondo: Because Style is Overrated Anyway

Here at BuyingAdvice, we will admit that there is nothing particularly thrilling about the Kia Rondo in terms of performance or looks. But, value and practicality are attractive vehicle virtues. And with the Rondo, Kia has once again delivered on those fronts.

The Rondo is best described as a multi-purpose vehicle, a cross between a wagon, minivan and a utility vehicle. It can seat up to seven passengers and has more interior room than a lot of competitors, a long warranty and a nice quality interior. Safety scores are pretty strong, although the Rondo only achieved perfect scores for frontal crashes. The handling and solid insulation make for a nice, relatively quiet ride even with a less stunning V6 than some competitors. Overall there's a lot of value and space to be had with the Rondo.

One of the most direct competitors is the Mazda MAZDA5 which costs a few hundred more and has 30 less hp, though it has sliding side doors and may have a slightly better resale value. Other versatile crossovers that you may want to check out are the Pontiac Vibe and the Scion xB.

Saturn Brings A European Hit to America With the Astra

After being a hit in Europe for a number of years, Saturn finally replaces the Ion with the US debut of the Saturn Astra. The Astra comes in two hatchback configurations, either with 3 or 5 doors, and is a welcome compact addition to Saturn's lineup adding some European flair.

The interior styling is very strong for its class with elegant looks and a soft feel and materials. Fuel efficiency is rated at a smile-inducing 24/30 mpg for the automatic. The ride in the Astra is backed with smooth suspension and is particularly pleasing with the manual transmission. Some critics and buyers have complained that certain controls are a little too European and take some adaptation from American drivers. Also, there is no center armrest and AC is not standard on the base trim.

Some other compacts you may be interested in are the Mazda Mazda 3 if you are looking for an even sportier ride, or the Honda Civic Sedan if you are interested in checking out a top-selling compact.

The Lincoln Navigator: Plush and Quiet at a Nicer Price

If you need an SUV that will advertise that you like to ride in style and you don't mind paying for it, you can at least save a bit of money by purchasing the Lincoln Navigator. It still has tons of luxury features, like power front seats with heating and cooling systems, a power-folding third row and a 14-speaker audio system. And it costs about $8,000 less than its chief rival the Cadillac Escalade.

So the good things about the Navigator are: it has really comfortable and roomy seating, the ride is incredibly quiet, and it handles quite well for such a large vehicle. It also has bold (maybe even over-the-top) styling, which buyers may have differing opinions about. But at least the Navigator cannot be accused of being bland.

One major drawback is the engine is not as powerful as many rivals. For some, the Navigator has all the right looks, but cannot compete with some in terms of raw performance. For instance, the Escalade has over 100 more horses and only averages 1 less mpg than the Navigator. Another issue is just the lack of certain standard features, like AWD and a moonroof, though both are options.

Mitsubishi Endeavor: Is It Distinctive Enough for the Price?

When the Endeavor debuted in 2004, the crossover segment was a lot less crowded. And while the Mitsubishi Endeavor still has a solid ride and performance, plus more distinctive exterior styling to offer; it falls behind some competitors in terms of miles per gallon and its starting price.

The Endeavor starts at around $27,000. And while that is not a bad price, the Endeavor does not come with a third row or AWD standard. For its segment, its mpg figures are below average. But it should be noted that in exchange, the Endeavor offers a lot of power and towing capacity. Reliability has been average, but the Endeavor is backed by a generously long warranty. Also, something to think about when considering the Endeavor is that the resale value will be less than some of the mainstream competition.

If you are thinking about a crossover, you may want to look into the Endeavor's slightly smaller sibling the Mitsubishi Outlander which will save you some money and increase your gas mileage.

Creating Car Names: Where the Real Money Is

Now that many strong car names have already been used at some point in automotive history, consulting firms who come up with names for new models can make around $50,000 for the perfect, marketable name. Sometimes there is a per letter fee, which explains why so many models these days end with a collection of letters, like STS, XL, TT etc.

The price tag to come up with a new name is a far cry from when Alden Giberson made 147 dollars worth of clothing for naming the Ford Thunderbird. Nowadays, marketing a vehicle is incredibly important and experts point out that there are certain patterns to which names are selected. Luxury cars need a lot of frivolous letters at the end to sound sporty and technical. SUVs often need a name that refers to the American west somehow. And many others choose to have a youth-centric name, like the Nissan Xterra and the Ford Edge.

Some of the better naming mishaps over the years, are the "Subaru Gravel Express" and Daihatsu's "Charade". To read more about the business of naming cars, check out this article on CNN.com.

Dealerships Specializing in Electric Vehicles

There is a new type of dealership springing up to serve a new breed of customer-electric vehicle dealerships. There are already a number of electric cars out on the market from companies like Zap and Myers Motors. And as our environmental consciousness rises, there are more dealerships springing up to sell electric cars which can range in price from about 11K to 99K.

And although many of these new dealerships are highly concentrated on the west coast, electric vehicles are no longer something that only eccentric hippies are interested in. One dealership manager Darlene Kelly mentions that most of her customers have families, while Tesla VP Siry refers to his customers as "very intelligent people with an engineering orientation".

Perhaps as early as April, Tesla plans to open their first dealership in Hollywood to coincide with the release of their much anticipated electric roadster. Although the buyer segment is increasing for E.V's, there are still limitations in the technology and the volume of E.V.'s being sold. So dealerships like Ecomotion in Portland, OR also sell used hybrids like the Toyota Prius to keep sales up.

To read more about some of the electric vehicle dealerships out there, check out this article in the New York Times.