Price: $21,750 - $28,190
Fuel economy: 28 highway; 22 mpg City
Test score: 89
The MX-5 has quick, precise steering, a crisp-shifting transmission and and near-perfect balance, Consumer Reports says. The MX-5's soft top is easy to raise and lower without leaving the car; or it is available with a power-folding hard top.
In the magazine's performance and handling tests, the MX-5 nearly tied the Porsche Boxster, which costs about twice as much.
NEXT: Small SUV: Toyota Rav4
Last updated February 26 2009: 3:46 PM ET