The Countryman has both the circular pluck of the Mini and the contours of a small SUV.

Quirky, carefree Mini Cooper continues to tread along that well-traveled distinctive path that is Mini dating back to Britain in the late 1950s.

The Mazda 3 hatchback is strong on likability.

The Volkswagen Golf R gives us good feels — and almost a throwback to another era when small cars ruled the road.