Funky, compact multi-tasking vehicles are all over the place these days. Where the subcompact station wagon once ruled the light-cargo roost, these days there are retro Chrysler PT Cruisers and Chevrolet HHRs, quirky micro-minivans like the Mazda5, and offerings with more contemporary style, like the Kia Rondo and Pontiac Vibe.
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It's hard to find fault with any aspect of the new Land Cruiser's on and off road credentials. We saw first hand that it had lost little if any of its famous off-road capability that has made it a vehicle of choice since the early 1950s for people navigating the Sahara Desert or an African jungle. And it's as powerful, comfortable and quiet as anything in the luxury SUV class when driven on pavement. 
The newest Pontiac has a muscular yet conservative stance. The lines are clean, totally devoid of the tacky body cladding and other add-ons that have adorned recent Pontiac products. And there's no boy-racer wing attached to the trunk lid. An aggressive front air dam with foglights and twin hood scoops enhance the go-fast look. Two dual exhaust pipes speak louder than a wing. 
The automotive mantra when a manufacturer launches a new or significantly upgraded vehicle is that it has held the line on prices, particularly when figuring in equipment now standard that was optional last year.
