The Car Exam Quick Quiz Extra: The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

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Good Grades: Good Exterior Styling, cool-looking gauges (especially the fuel economy monitor), acceptable acceleration, handy Ford/Microsoft Sync system, decent ergonomics, seat comfort and headroom (even with the moon roof), great fuel economy with the hybrid power train.

Bad Grades: Gruff-sounding, loud engine noise upon hard acceleration (it sounds like you’re driving a bus): while the interior is somewhat better than the 2006-2009 models, I feel it is still lacking the feel that it is built “around” the passengers--not to say the ergonomics are not good- they could be even better.

Final Grade: The Fusion has been one of the most reliable American cars in the market since 2006. While it isn’t perfect, it does make a good choice for a family sedan or for anyone wanting a large, yet fuel efficient car.

The Car Exam Grade: B/B+

Base MSRP: $27,950

The Car Exam Quick Quiz # 12: The 2010 Toyota Venza Front-Wheel Drive V6

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Good Grades: Attractive exterior styling (with the exception of one detail), nice ride feel, strong engine acceleration from the 3.5 liter, 268 horsepower V6, good ergonomics and interior room, comfortable seats, good quality interior materials and solid build quality throughout the Venza. This is the most impressive Toyota I’ve driven in a long time.

Bad Grades: The grille looks weird (Please fix it, Toyota), huge blind spot caused by thick c-pillars, the load floor in the rear could be a bit lower, fuel economy from the V6 could be better. If you do want better fuel economy with the sacrifice of less power, go with the 2.7 liter, 182 hp 4-cylinder engine. However, with the 4-cylinder Venza's weight tipping the scales at 3,760 pounds, it may be too underpowered for some buyers.

Final Grade: I really like the Venza. The CUV looks good and drives just as well. Toyota did a solid job with the Venza, and it is a worthy competitor in this segment.

The Car Exam Grade: A

Base MSRP: $28,100

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #11: The 2009-2010 Toyota Yaris Three-Door

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Good Grades: Light, quick acceleration at low speeds from the 1.5-liter, 106 hp 4-cylinder engine, decent climate controls, bi-level glove boxes, easy to park, excellent fuel economy.

Bad Grades: Annoying center-mounted speedometer and gauge cluster—who in the world thought that was a good idea? Uncomfortable driving position (especially the steep angle of the gas pedal)—this is not a good road trip car—the fatigue sets in quickly. Also: loud engine (especially at highway speeds), cheap, low quality interior plastics, cumbersome rear hatch operation, seat belt placement on the back seats are annoying; folding the seat backs down can be a chore. The Yaris three-door is too small when it comes to carrying larger cargo, or something like a bicycle.

Final Grade: I had the opportunity to drive several of these recently, and my impressions were the same for both. The Toyota Yaris three-door is okay for around town, light errand-running or maneuvering through traffic jams on the highway. But if you need more out of a car--and most people do--you may want to look elsewhere.

The Car Exam Grade: C

Base MSRP: $12,605