1. 2007 Mini Cooper S
Editors' rating: 9.3
The good: The engine in the 2007 Mini Cooper S accelerates well and brings in good fuel economy. Its automatic transmission is surprisingly good, while the standard audio system delivers rich sound. And you can't beat the Mini's looks.
The bad: We can find very little wrong with the Mini Cooper S, but as a minor critique, it only fits a single-CD player in the dashboard. A six-disc changer is optional, but its mounting area probably won't be terribly convenient.
The bottom line: Good-looking and one of the most fun cars on the road, the 2007 Mini Cooper S is well-engineered throughout. While we were impressed by the audio and handling, these can be made even better with an optional premium speaker system and a limited slip differential.
