Stars of the road: Mazda6, F-150

Need trumps want in 2008 for The Detroit News Car and Truck of the Year.

There are lots of vehicles I want: the $100,000 Corvette ZR1 super-duper car; the Nissan GT-R, with its fancy carbon-fiber everything; or even the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, a silky smooth big ute that glides along the road in semi-environmental friendliness. But few need those vehicles, much as it pains me even to write those words.

This year, many people have lost the value of a ZR1 in their 401(k) since August.

And all 18 people buying a new vehicle in December should know three things: What they need, what they want and what The Detroit News picked as best car and truck of the year.

For 2008, The Detroit News selects the 2009 Mazda6 as Car of the Year and the 2009 Ford F-150 as Truck of the Year. They are the very best of a great crop of vehicles that arrived as all-new or redesigned vehicles during the calendar year.

Car of the Year

The new look for the Mazda6 is astonishing.

Because family sedans have been replaced by crossovers, picking out a midsize car means finding other uses for it. It's no longer just the vehicle you load up and take to Grandma's, it has to carry the family and friends and still offer something else. Bigger sedans have to provide styling, performance and utility -- a tall order as those attributes tend to work against each other. The Mazda6 provides the most harmonious combination of the three.

First, it's got great looks. It stands taut and ready for action. The optional 3.7-liter V-6 makes the Mazda6 quick, nimble and still able to stretch a gallon of gas out for 25 miles -- talk about vroom-vroom. All are important. Even better, the base model, with a zippy 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, starts at $19,220 -- a steal compared with much of the competition.

The curvy front fenders, extra-large intake below the bumper and sweeping headlights give the Mazda6 an aggressive front end that begs to go fast. The curvy roof line reflects the front but allows for a spacious interior.

There is room for five, and the cabin is comfortable with touches of more luxurious cars. From the technology that makes driving safer -- such as the blind spot detection -- to the silky smooth six-speed automatic transmission, the Mazda6 never feels techno-heavy. It just glides along the road, responding to your every input with ease. The steering is like a sports car, the acceleration linear and suspension taut but never overbearing.

There's a point in your life when you have to leave the coupe in the garage -- don't worry, you can pull it out when the kids go to college -- and the Mazda6 makes that transition much easier. It's fun, stylish and grown up in all of the good ways.

Other finalists for car of the year are the redesigned Audi A4, Honda Fit, Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Nissan Maxima. The Hyundai (please use all three syllables if you're from Michigan) Genesis was the only all new car to make the list of finalists.

The most expensive and luxurious Hyundai ever created, the car follows a simple mantra: Provide more for less. A nicely loaded luxury sedan starts at $33,000.

The A4 is another favorite. The most important vehicle in America for the German automaker, the A4 reflects the new more muscular face of Audi. The compact sedan can squeeze in five people and uses a fabulous 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive for $33,000.

The Honda Fit and VW Jetta TDI were my two economical choices for 2008. The redesigned Fit gobbles up the subcompact segment with its fun driving characteristics, interior versatility and 30-plus fuel economy. While it's one of the most expensive subcompacts, its reputation for reliability and performance make it worth the added cost.

The TDI is pure fuel efficiency: It's the only diesel vehicle in the U.S. to cost less than $25,000 (it starts at $22,640) and hits more than 40 mpg on the highway.

The redesigned Maxima also impresses with its sportier look and ride. Nissan provides some of the best, meaning least noticeable, continuous variable transmission in its vehicles.

The Maxima, the company's flagship, may use a fuel-saving technology instead of a traditional transmission, but that takes nothing away from its sportiness, ride and comfort.

Truck of the Year

The 2008 F-150 was the best all-around truck on the road. Now, the 2009 F-150 replaced it.

That's just the way Ford rolls.

It was a tough task to improve an already great truck. But Ford (please add an "s" if you're from Michigan) managed to improve the truck's towing capability and its payload capacity despite its big V-8 being the smallest among the competition. Ford also overhauled its good interior to make it great and created more room inside the cabin. It also added innovative practical features that will assist the people who use these machines on a daily basis. Some features, such as the tailgate step and integrated trailer braking, were taken directly from the Super Duty trucks, while others such as the box step is all new.

The suite of Ford Work Solutions seals the deal for the F-150 as truck of the year.

From the simple Master Lock bed lock to keep toolboxes safe to the RFID tag reader that can be mounted in the bed to let the driver know if every tool he took to the site goes home is something that many people who need trucks will relish.

The Dodge Ram 1500 was the other true truck to make the final list. Dodge gambled and used coil springs in the rear suspension to vastly improve the truck's ride, and the interior overhaul is equally impressive.

Dodge added a true Crew Cab to its 2009 model lineup, and the RamBox is another innovation that provides lockable storage in a space that was just a fender before.

The all-new Ford Flex may be late to the large crossover party, but it's a vehicle that stands out for all of the right reasons. The polarizing boxy design wins some people over right away, while others shun it.

It seats six or seven comfortably and offers an excellent ride. Its 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission also help it reach 24 mpg on the highway.

The Volkswagen Tiguan was one of the most welcome surprises in 2008. The compact SUV provides plenty of pep with its 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an excellent ride.

The last of the finalists was the Infiniti EX35, a small luxury crossover with more punch than Hector Macho Camacho.

Infiniti has managed to combine sporty performance with an array of technology, including the single best backup camera ever made: the around view monitor.

Something for everyone

Finding the best of the best in 2008 was a daunting task, in part because of the continued improved quality and fragmentation of the market. There's a lot to choose from nowadays. Luxury and compact now go together as well as turbochargers and four-cylinders. Cars and trucks offer more creature comforts than many homes, and there's little these vehicles cannot do.

There seems to be a car or truck or crossover for nearly everyone. No matter what you want, or what you need.

Scott Burgess can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com">sburgess@detnews.com.