Oh No, Not Another Uphill Ahead...

Make: Hyundai

Model: Elantra

Lowdown: One of the most underpowered cars I have ever had the pleasure of driving, the Elantra isn't a car you'd choose if you wanted to get anywhere on time. Oh yes, Hyundai claims it may have 33mpg on the highway, but in order to actually GET anywhere on the highway, you'd be flooring it constantly, cutting your mileage way down. And anyways, anyone who actually took this car on the highway would be crazy. "Honey, can you pass this guy? He keeps staring at me and winking." "No, sorry babe, I can't. We took the Elantra, remember?" "Oh dear..." To put it simply, the anemic 138 hp engine is just not large enough to move 2900 lbs of car anywhere soon. At least you'll be safe in a crash, because you won't be able to get up to speed enough to have a dangerous crash at all.

Verdict: Fugly!

You Know What They Say: A Small Car Means A Small...

Make: Mini

Model: Cooper

Lowdown: The Mini Cooper is one of the most influential cars that made engineers stop focusing on more power and start focusing on less weight. With an anemic 118 HP engine, it would seem like the cooper would be lacking in speed, but it's not. Coming in at around 2500 lbs, the little packet of energy has plenty of kick. The base model will get you to 60 in 8.5 seconds, whereas the S model will take you there in 6.5 -- not bad for a 172 HP engine. And, considering the base model comes in under $19k, it's not a bad bang for the buck. The only problem is when that Hummer in the lane next to you on the freeway decides it wants to come over and join you...

Verdict: Fast!