(MONEY Magazine) – Best concept. To you, it may look like a glorified go-cart. But to more than 200,000 drivers in Europe and Japan, DaimlerChrysler's eight-foot-long "smart car" (right) is a very big deal. Think of it as the T-shirt of cars: cute, comfy and cheap (the U.S. equivalent of $7,450 to $10,780). The smart car comes in nine fashion-conscious colors, and owners can easily change hues for a few hundred bucks by ordering new side panels from a dealer.

Beyond the adorability factor, the smart car is an environmentalist's own rolling Kyoto treaty. Its 600cc engine gets almost 60 miles per gallon and accelerates up to 85 mph. Ozone-destroying carbon-dioxide emissions are low. And about 85% of the materials used to make the car are recyclable. DaimlerChrysler won't say yet whether it plans to start importing it--2003 is a possibility. Three words of advice, guys: Start shipping now. --J.F.

Best new sedan. Automakers have finally caught on to the fact that you can lure Americans out of their SUVs by offering them truly weather-ready sedans. This year, you can find all-wheel-drive versions of Jaguars, BMWs, Mercedes and Volkswagens as well as the perennial Audis and Subarus. The 2002 Volvo S60 all-wheel-drive sedan, which first hit showrooms in August, is a stellar example of the trend. The car offers the on-road traction of an SUV (though it doesn't go off-road) without the ungainly size or rollover risk. And it's got a turbocharged engine to make it fun.

For decades, the Swedish automaker was known for producing safe yet squarish sedans. But Volvo has been reinventing its line with sleeker and more aerodynamic models. With its $32,800 (or so) price tag, the new S60 offers all the class of its luxury competitors at a more modest cost. (The 2001 AWD Mercedes E320 lists for $50,700.) And with an estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, the S60 is hardly a gas guzzler. --M.J.

Best new kind of pickup truck. Cross the size and comfort of an SUV with the power and loading space of a pickup. Result: the crossbreed, a sport utility vehicle with a pickup bed in the rear. Chevy's six-passenger Avalanche is the latest version: Just imagine the front of a Suburban, souped up with macho body cladding and, in back, a five-foot-long utility bed. Perfect for bushwhacking through the suburban jungle to the nearest Home Depot, right?

What makes the Avalanche a particularly flexible schlepper is its "midgate," a fold-down panel that extends the truck bed over the rear seats. Inspired by the pass-through in many smaller cars, the midgate extends the length of the rear bed to eight feet. The standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine cranks out 285 horsepower, with a pulling capacity of 8,100 pounds (8,300 if you choose two-wheel drive instead of AWD), and you can upgrade to 340 horsepower and 12,000 pounds of hauling power.

Chevy didn't forget that most SUV fanatics rarely rough it. The company loaded the truck with indulgences like remote keyless entry, an eight-point mirror compass, an OnStar navigation system and a power sunroof. Safety features like air bags and anti-lock brakes add to the appeal. This new species will set you back $30,245 to $35,145, several thousand less than its big brother, the Suburban LT. As for the gas mileage? Don't even ask. --K.Z.J.

Best new starter luxury car. For $54,205, you could buy the 2001 Lexus LS 430, flagship model of the country's best-selling luxury automaker. For about 20 grand less, you could opt for the 2002 Lexus ES 300, which shares many amenities with its big sister. Hitting showrooms this month, the completely redesigned ES 300 boasts a refined suspension (for a smoother ride) and increased legroom and headroom. For an extra $1,500, you can get the same leather-covered memory seat used in the LS 430. Or pay for such LS-level options as rain-sensing windshield wipers or an Adaptive Variable Suspension system for extra comfort (a feature not usually found in the entry-luxe segment). The V-6 engine is paired with a new five-speed electronic automatic transmission that gets an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. It just goes to show you: Bigger might not necessarily be better. --M.J.

Best new luxury model. Sometimes the understudy really does get a big break, and this year that understudy is the Infiniti Q45. The luxury-car division of Nissan has never had the star power of better-known brands like Mercedes and Lexus, but for the 2002 season (a year when other top-of-the-line models have rolled out more or less unchanged), Infiniti has come up with a contender in its redesigned Q45. The car has amenities galore--we especially like the optional reclining rear seats--in addition to a seriously powerful 340-hp engine and a five-speed automatic transmission with optional manual-shift mode (which means you can shift gears by hand, if you like, without fussing with a clutch pedal). The exterior is spare--no screaming "I just spent beaucoup bucks for my car"--save for the aggressive (and extremely bright) headlights. The luxury is inside: Standard features include lots of wood and leather, an eight-speaker Bose stereo system, and voice-recognition technology for the audio and climate controls. Of course, there's a sunroof, anti-lock brakes and stability control. Add the $8,000 premium package to the $50,500 "basic" model, and you'll get a sportier suspension, heated seats, a DVD navigation system and a rearview videocam that displays what's behind you on a computer screen when you shift into reverse. All the better for getting you through a dentless and ding-free executive commute--and valet parking. --M.A.