5 sensible cars for volatile times

OnCars put 550 miles on a 2008 SX-4 all-wheel-drive crossover, and it was a joy. A steady 26.6 mpg around town and pushing the limits on a 70-mph freeway beat the EPA estimate. Weekend road trip adventure, cargo including two girls, boxes of books, one big box of tee-shirts, bag with race-driving attire, three small duffels and a small cooler. Plenty of room.

The durable cloth bucket seats fit so well they are almost dreamy. Suspension and ride couldn't be better, and we almost never say that. Clean gauges, tidy console with nooks, good headroom and visibility, tight 5-speed gearbox, versatile power from the 2.0-liter engine, acceleration always there when needed, downshifting hardly necessary. Sweet.

The $17,839 Touring model includes electronic stability control, tire pressure monitor, six airbags. Show us a better value in an all-wheel-drive vehicle. Or maybe we'll show you, with our number one pick...