Some cars are made for having fun, and that's all there is to it. You could say that about the 2019 Toyota 86.
This two-door, rear-wheel drive sports coupe is made on the chassis of the Subaru BRZ. Under the hood is a standard 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 205 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is also available, with horsepower of 200.The 86 comes in three trim levels: the base model, GT (which our tester was) and TRD Special Edition.
The manual transmission in the 86 shifted relatively smoothly. Acceleration was solid, but not overpowering. Handling was good, as it seemed to embrace curves nicely.
Taller and larger drivers would probably do well to avoid this car because interior space is very limited. There are two seats in the back, but they really aren't to be occupied by humans.
Fuel economy is rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway.
Styling is attractive, with flowing lines that convey motion.
Our tester came with a sticker price of $30,949.
The 86 is a pretty good joyride car that is reasonably priced.
One of the fastest growing automotive segments is the small SUV category, of which this week's tester, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, is a member.
It offers seating for five and has a maximum cargo capacity of 49.5 cubic feet.
It comes in three trim levels: ES, SE and GT.
Under the hood of the Outlander Sport is a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 148 horsepower and is linked to a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission.
An optional engine is 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 168 horsepower and 167 pounds-feet of torque and comes with the CVT. That engine was featured in our test model.
Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive being optional.
Fuel economy on the 2.4-liter is rated at 23 mpg city, 28 highway. That's disappointing for a vehicle this small; other competitors in the segment do better.
Driving dynamics were solid, with adequate acceleration and firm braking.
Comfort-wise, the Outlander Sport is not bad. While the cabin doesn't offer a whole lot of room, head room and leg room are mostly adequate, and the seats were comfortable.
Our test model carried a sticker price of $28,160.
The Outlander Sport provides a solid ride and comfortable interior for those seeking a compact SUV.
Are there still good, affordable small sedans on the market? Yes, with case in point being the 2019 Toyota Yaris Sedan.
This subcompact four-door used to be called the Yaris iA up until a year ago. Kudos to Toyota for giving it a more fitting name.
This Yaris has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 106 horsepower and is linked to a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic.
Obviously, this is far from a muscle car, and it can be a bit sluggish when it comes to acceleration.
But the upside of course is that fuel economy numbers are really strong. The Yaris Sedan is rated at 32 mpg city, 40 highway by the EPA.
A recent trip to the gas station almost filled the Yaris's tank for about a whopping $12.
Interior space is rather limited, so this is not what you would call a family car. But if you just need something to zip around town in, it's a great choice. Seating up front was comfortable with the seat pushed as far back as it goes for us tall drivers. But it leaves next to no room for back seat passengers.
The Yaris Sedan comes in three trim levels: L, LE and XLE.
Our test drive model was an XLE trim that carried a sticker price of $19,470 and it was fully decked out.
A nice small sedan with a nice price tag and great gas mileage is what you get with the Yaris Sedan.
