By Tom Crosby

These vehicle reviews may help you choose from the more than 225 different 2007 models. Base prices are quoted. For more information, contact AAA Carolinas Car Buying Service at 800-231-0349 or visit AAA.com, click on automotive, new car purchasing and car reviews.

TOYOTA TUNDRA CREWMAX LTD 4WD 5.7 -  $41,850
Toyota has been selling pickup trucks since the 1970’s. This year the all-new Tundra has so many improvements it creates a new genre for pickups. The CrewMax back seat has limousine-like room with rear seats that slide and recline to create unexpected comfort. Climate controls are quieter but more robust, 18-inch wheels are standard, a back-up camera aligns the hitch-ball and trailer yoke by itself, door handles are big enough to open with a beefy hand inside a work glove and the tailgate is dampened so it doesn’t bounce when down while underway. Storage space is plentiful and the CrewMax uses a 5.7 liter, 381-horsepower engine with 401 lb-ft. of torque with the muscle reducing gas mileage to 14 city and 18 highway. Off-road control awes and on-road handling feels more like a sedan than a truck. Brakes are heavy-duty and gripping.  With 31 confiqurations, the Tundra offers customization along with its pugnacious profile.

LIKES: Looks, power, comfort, handling
DISLIKE: Low miles per gallon
BOTTOM LINE: Tundra takes technology to new heights for a pickup truck.

SATURN AURA XR - $23,945
Replacing the ill-fated Saturn L-series this year, the Saturn Aura is a front-wheel drive, 5-passenger sedan with good looks, excellent road manners and enough engine to make a difference off the line or on the highway. Aura, with an XE and XR, our test-drive, brings street style back to Saturn. The XR uses a 3.6-liter, 252-horsepower engine that complements its sleek look, chrome signature grill, and LED taillights that illuminate quicker than incandescent bulbs. Polished 18-inch, 14-spoked cast aluminum wheels with performance tires grip tightly in turns and Stabiltrack aids in providing sure handling. Fit and finish inside resembles a Japanese import and option upgrades provide a higher degree of refinement and comfort.

LIKES: Power, handling, looks
DISLIKES: Engine noise without performance growl
BOTTOM LINE: Excellent entry into highly competitive midsize sedan market

MERCEDES-BENZ E-350 - $50,550
The Mercedes-Benz E-class gets a major safety upgrade this year with PRE-SAFE, a sophisticated system that automatically adjust seats, braking power, closes windows and moonroof and adjusts steering to counter skidding when a crash is imminent. It has been used since 2002 in Mercedes’ upscale S-series vehicles. Our test drive E-350 had a 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower engine with excellent acceleration using a double-overhead camshaft, a first for Mercedes. A 7-speed automatic smoothly accrues speed but occasionally downshifts more than one gear when the driver’s foot is off the brake, a reason to use the manual TouchShift. A sport package lowers the suspension at no cost and handling is a strong plus, with a suspension system that mitigates rough road surfaces. Trunk space is smallish, the two front and three rear occupants all enjoy ample room. Braking is above average for a nearly two-ton vehicle. Inside, luxury is Mercedes smooth – everything you expect in an well made German car.

LIKES: Luxury, power, handling
DISLIKES: Trunk space,  transmission
BOTTOM LINE: Safety upgrades increase attractiveness of E-350.