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While Australian and American appetites are in perfect alignment on performance, there’s divergence when it comes to design tastes. Ford Australia’s U.S.-born design director, Scott Strong, has summed up the distinction nicely. “Aussies like American scale, but European aesthetics,” he’s said in past interviews. Ford Australia dynamics engineers would add that the preference for European also extends to ride and handling, steering, and stopping. – Motor Trend

It’s very obvious the Cayman is built for drivers. There aren’t any buttons on the steering wheel (save for the typical horn effect if you push on the middle). These days manufacturers seem to be in a race to complicate the most basic of controls in vehicles. The bare steering wheel and hidden cup holders remind you the car is built for driving, not commuting or running errands. – Automobile

It’s depressing to see a company – any company – forget what made them great and there’s perhaps no clearer example of this than Honda’s interior design these days.

The virus started with the Acura RL then spread to the MDX, but now its found its way into the Accord and even the Pilot. Not only are the controls arranged in a completely nonsensical manner, there’s a visual clutter – a hodgepodge of shapes that seems contrived to make the braindead feel they’re getting more for their money.

I can understand why you’ve gone to overly large and wide tires now that your cars are overly wide and large as well but please Honda, stop the madness. Sure, plastic is easy to mold into any shape you desire but that doesn’t mean you should. To paraphrase Chris Rock, “You can drive a car with your feet, but that doesn’t make it a good idea!”

Not even a Lexus is immune to the laws of physics…

As long as the road is smooth, it’s a serene ride, but sealed cracks and potholes in the pavement kill the serenity. Even in its soft setting, the adjustable suspension can’t compensate for the reinforced sidewalls of the Dunlop run-flat tires. – Car And Driver

The second generation is more evolutionary than revolutionary. And in the time following the Mini’s arrival, the GTI has arguably become king of this category, one we’re not sure the new Mini can dethrone. Many judges also feel ergonomics have taken a step back: neither the center-stack controls nor the Mini’s version of iDrive are intuitive. Offering go-kart fun in an incredibly charming package isn’t enough for the Mini to earn the title of Car of the Year, especially when some aspects of the car aren’t as good as those of the one it’s replaced. – Motor Trend