The Pontiac Solstice looks great, puts wind in your hair and is fun to drive. The base model starts around $22,000, but air conditioning, power windows, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are extra-cost options. The GXP adds those features along with a turbocharged engine. A lack of storage and cargo space and the cumbersome top make the Solstice a poor choice as an only car. But it's a hoot to drive, particularly on clear days, and it turns heads fast and often. Those may be the two most important reasons to buy a small roadster. It does this at a reasonable price, with objective performance that matches that of cars costing considerably more.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Northern California's Central Valley and Sierra Foothills; with Mitch McCullough reporting from Los Angeles.