Acura calls the ZDX a "sports coupe." Seeing as it's built on the same platform as the MDX SUV and shares its powertrain, all-wheel-drive layout, and high seating position, the purists might argue. But in the context of BMW's new X6 M, and Infiniti's FX50, Acura might have a point. These days, almost anything with a cabin where space has been deliberately compromised for the sake of style is called a sports coupe.

For 2009, Acura made drastic changes inside and out to its fourth-generation TL. With edgy, albeit polarizing exterior styling and a sporty, tech-laden interior, the new TL shows no signs of getting lost in the entry-luxury crowd. Long Acura's best-selling model, the TL is now available in either front- or all-wheel-drive configuration, with the former offering a 3.5-liter, 280-horse V-6, the latter a bigger 3.7-liter rated at 305 ponies. Both are backed with a five-speed automatic; a slick six-speed manual will be available with the 3.7 for the 2010 model year.

No two ways around it, the revamped 2009 Acura TSX is a larger, heavier car than the version it replaces. Sure, the suspension wizards tinkered around with anti-roll bars, increased the track width, fitted some trick new dual-mode dampers, and shifted the roll center to keep the new TSX feeling as composed as its lighter, nimbler forbearer. Even the drivetrain techies got involved, bumping the 2.4L four-banger's compression ratio, improving its breathing for a small increase in torque (8 lb-ft to 172), and shortening the gear ratios in the manual-equipped car to prevent acceleration times from slipping.

First off, let us all recognize the 2800 pound, leaf-eating pachyderm in the room. Though the 2009 Insight is Honda's latest hybrid, it looks suspiciously like the Toyota Prius. It's not hard to understand why. The Prius has been a massive hit for Toyota in sales and image greenification. It's won car of the year awards in Japan, Europe, and North America, as well as our own COTY award back in 2004.

In truth, we’re still a little befuddled by the whole SUV-as-sports-car notion, and we have been since the dawn of the breed, which we trace back to the GMC Typhoon. If you want a sports car, well, why not start with a car instead of a truck? Still, this genre has flourished since the BMW X5 proved the mass-market appeal of these high-powered beasts, and the specter of $4 gas seems to be the only thing working against them in the future. In the meantime, the 2009 Infiniti FX50 is here to make its case as one of the sportiest of sport-utility vehicles.

Honda consulted Pilot owners by the roomful before embarking on the redesign of its well-loved kid carter. From its rookie season in 2002 to now, the Pilot has stood out from its competition with smart handling and genius-level packaging. We have bestowed 5Best Trucks awards for eight years, and Pilots have earned six. Still, parents, the superdelegates among Pilot buyers, found a few things to crab about.

The CR-V has been a success for Honda since the first version came out in 1996, and the current, third-generation model that debuted in 2007 is the bestselling SUV in America. The interior is straightforward and comfortable, and the rear seats fold flat. There are three trim levels: LX, EX, and EX-L. All three come with a 166-hp, 2.4-liter four and a five-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can opt for front- or all-wheel drive.

The Honda FCX Clarity is a technology of the future and may always be just that, but nonetheless, the Japanese automaker is cautiously bringing out its hydrogen fuel-cell car for a stroll. Starting this summer, Honda will lease the FCX for a fixed three-year contract at $600 per month without an option to buy. Production numbers are privately held, but Ferraris will be as common as paper clips by comparison.

Let’s just get this out of the way. Yes, the beaky nose on the new Acura TL looks odd. Maybe it’s just the shock of a new look; maybe it really is weird-looking. We’ll need more time to gaze critically upon it before we decide. We can, however, testify that it looks better in the flesh than in photographs and that the rest of the TL’s angular, modern shape is assuredly handsome, especially in the pointed shape of the trunk.

At the 2007 Los Angeles auto show, Honda raised the bar for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles by unveiling the 2009 FCX Clarity, a production-ready vehicle presently being leased by a select group of customers. One year later, the company has attempted to upstage itself with the introduction of the Honda FC Sport concept, essentially a reinterpretation of the FCX Clarity as a sports car.

We like the current Honda Jazz very much. So much that we've given it a Car of the Year Award. Twice. Now there is a new Honda Jazz on the way. We think we may like this one even more. Slightly larger than the first-gen Jazz, and with much sleeker styling, it goes on sale in the UK this autumn.