3 for the road

1. Mazda3 This sporty, fun-to-drive car is welldesigned inside and beautiful on the outside. If you had to make a comparison to a luxury car, you could link it to a BMW 3-Series. If you get the Grand Touring trim package, you get some nice amenities, such as a moonroof, leather and an optional navigation/satellite-radio package. Sticker price: $25,400. In today's hypercompetitive auto market, manufacturers are trying to give consumers the most value for the money. That means that you can get luxury-type features in a nonluxury car, and most importantly, at a nonluxury price. In today's Three for the Road, we take a look at our favorite pseudo-luxury rides that come with less-than-luxury sticker prices.

2. Volkswagen Jetta You can buy the A4 sedan from VW's luxury brand, Audi. Or you could save yourself a bundle and buy the Jetta, a great-handling little sedan that offers a roomy interior and eye-catching style. With a moonroof, leather interior and 18-inch wheels, you can grab one of these for about $24,700. That's sweet. 3. Kia Sportage This small SUV is a hoot to drive, offers versatility and looks cool. Think BMW X3 or Acura RDX. Then think about the mortgage, putting the kids through college and saving for retirement. Suddenly, this thing is looking really hot. Fairly well-loaded up, the Sportage can be had for an are-youkidding me price of under $25,000.