Winners & Losers at the L.A. Auto Show: Production Cars

There were some wild concept cars here at the L.A. Auto Show, but it’s the production cars that have the most impact on everyday car buyers. The models we saw are on sale now or will be next year, and some of them are extremely important to their makers’ bottom line. Mike Hanley and David Thomas took some time to dissect the winners and losers — plus a few cars they couldn’t agree on — in this photo blog.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
DT – Winner: Pure sensuality in this British roadster. Though it’s more exotic than the Audi R8, I still prefer the German car. I wouldn’t turn down a ride in this, though; it turns heads standing still.

MH – Winner: You really have to see this car in person to appreciate its perfect proportions and sleek profile, so if you live near L.A., stop on by the convention center; I give it the nod for best in show.

Saturn Vue
DT – Winner: Definitely the big winner of the production cars. Compact SUVs are a hot segment, and this is the best of the new wave of GM products I’ve seen. The interior actually holds up to glowing press shots.

MH – Winner: With an attractive exterior, premium interior and wide range of powertrains (including a hybrid system), the 2008 Vue is well-positioned to challenge segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Nissan Altima Coupe
DT – Winner: This one was a surprise and is a looker. Without driving the thing, it already looks head and shoulders above the Toyota Camry Solara and the Honda Accord and Pontiac G6 coupes.

MH – Winner: Nissan definitely did a good job differentiating this model from the sedan, and the interior looks pretty nice, too. This is the car for those who love the lines of the Infiniti G35 coupe but can’t stomach its $30,000-plus price tag.

Chrysler Sebring Convertible
DT – Loser: Even though the Sebring looks good as a convertible, the overall design still leaves me somewhat perplexed. When I see a Sebring sedan on the road it looks either just fine or horrendously ugly, depending on the exterior color.

MH – Winner: Most of the time you don’t have to think about what kind of top you want when you buy a convertible, but this one offers three different power roofs: vinyl, cloth or a retractable hardtop. It also has a usable backseat.

Land Rover LR2
DT – Winner: The interior is as plush as any in the Land Rover lineup, and the price is right. If the rear seats were easier to fold — and the cargo floor not so high — I’d consider buying this one myself to replace my aging SUV.

MH – Loser: There’s just a bit too much Ford Escape in the exterior shape for me, especially when you consider its near-$35,000 list price.

Audi TT Roadster
DT – Winner: How Audi created a masculine “chick car” I will never know. Guys won’t have to worry about their perceived manliness in this one.

MH – Winner: I like the edginess of the new TT, and it looks sharp with the top up. The piano-black insert in the large front grille is a nice touch.

Audi R8
DT – Winner: Of all the cars I saw, this is the one I want to take home. Of course, it’s not hard to love a $100,000-plus sports car, but this is one of the most stylish, yet still understated, exotics I’ve ever seen.

MH – Winner: The R8 reminds me of a pumped-up, “Monster Garage”-modified TT, but it brings Audi into the exotic sports car segment and is a halo car most automakers would love to have in their showrooms.

Buick Enclave
DT – Winner: It’s just like we thought it would be, and that’s a good thing. I’m still going to wait on a price tag and a drive before making a final judgment, but from the show floor I think it’s one of the most attractive large vehicles in a long time.

MH – Winner: Buick’s official spokesman is Tiger Woods, but until now the brand hasn’t had a model I could really see the golf superstar driving on a daily basis. That changes with the introduction of this distinctive crossover SUV.

Volvo C30
DT – Loser: It looks great, but the rear hatch reveals a tiny cargo compartment that is not at all practical. The VW GTI stows like a station wagon in comparison.

MH – Winner: The C30’s rear glass hatch is definitely unique, and its small size should be a boon for urban commuting. What it loses in utility to boxier hatchbacks it makes up for with its streamlined shape.

Nissan Sentra SE-R
DT – Loser: It sounds like it can perform, but it looks like a boring economy car — even with those 17-inch wheels and SE-R badges.

MH – Loser: Dave summed it up; the Sentra’s snub-nose styling lacks any sense of sportiness.

Ford Escape, Escape Hybrid
DT – Loser: Ford made the Escape better, but I don’t think it does enough to distinguish itself in the crowded field of small SUVs out there. The new Saturn Vue made the Escape look outdated after one day of public existence.

MH – Loser: The Escape’s rugged front end should give it some road presence like the Dodge Nitro, but that’s not enough when so much is still like the prior model.

Kia Rondo
DT – Loser: I just don’t understand the point of this car. There’s no way anyone of adult age could fit in the third row, yet that optional third row seems like the big selling point. I also don’t think it will be that appealing to the young 20-somethings it’s supposedly made for.

MH – Winner: I like the tall wagon looks of the Rondo, and its interior quality seemed decent on an initial inspection. The optional third-row seat is indeed small, but it’s no worse than the ones other automakers cram into compact SUVs