Would You Buy It? 2012 Volkswagen Up!

Historically, tiny cars haven't found much success here in "bigger-is-better" America. Change is afoot, however, as more micro cars hit U.S. streets. Smart's ForTwo may have been a flop, but Fiat's 500 is gaining some traction in the market here despite a weak debut. Is the U.S. ready to go smaller and is Volkswagen the brand to help us do it?

One appealing new model that just went on sale in Europe is the Volkswagen Up! Its tiny 139.2-inch footprint and too-cute styling could make it a hit with young city drivers. It joins like-sized competitors the Ford Ka, Fiat Panda and Hyundai i10 in Europe. Reviews from across the pond are favorable, but VW doesn't plan on selling it here. Is there a market for the Up! in the U.S.?

Do Kids Influence Parents' Car-Buying Decisions?

One decision after another: That's what our days have become. Each decision seems to come with more and more options whether ordering coffee or buying a new car. And now my kids have opinions, too? What's up with that?

Buying a car is a complicated process. What are the safety and reliability ratings? Does it have a third row? Is there enough space for that rear-facing child-safety seat? What about all-wheel drive and the all-important keyless entry?

When Cars.com's editors review cars we provide shoppers with this baseline information as well as our first-hand impressions. However, I recently discovered another strong variable. In addition to a spouse's reaction to a car, apparently kids have strong opinions about them, as well. This makes me wonder, how much weight (if any) do parents give their kids' opinions during the car-buying process?

Shoppers Say Chevy Volt Expensive, Nissan Leaf Ugly in Study

Despite their small share of total vehicle sales, the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius garner a lot of attention from new-car shoppers, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Avoider Study.

The study finds that gas mileage is the most important attribute shoppers are looking at now, surpassing older key reasons such as exterior styling, reliability and price.

That puts the Volt, Prius and Leaf in a good position as each are among the most fuel-efficient cars in the country.

2012 Honda Crosstour Priced at $27,655

For the 2012 model year, the Honda Crosstour gets a new four-cylinder option that starts at $27,655, excluding an $810 destination fee. The model officially went on sale today at Honda dealerships.

The base EX four-cylinder Crosstour comes with features that include heated side mirrors, a backup camera, Bluetooth connectivity, seven-speaker stereo and a 10-way power driver's seat.

That figure is $2,685 less than a base EX V-6-equipped Crosstour, which starts at $30,340 and adds more features than just the engine, including noise cancellation, fog lights, chrome door handles, dual-zone automatic climate control and a four-way power passenger seat.

The EX-L trim four-cylinder Crosstour is available for $30,705. The model comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, power passenger seat and leather upholstery. The four-cylinder is rated at 21/29 mpg city/highway and 24 mpg combined.

The four-cylinder is only available with front-wheel drive, while the V-6 has an all-wheel-drive option — it's available for $1,450 on the EX-L trim.

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Hyundai Genesis

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan is one of those cars that looks a lot more expensive than it really is, says Cars.com Senior Family Editor Kristin Varela. She was pleasantly surprised by how well Hyundai's sedan fit her family’s needs. Varela reviewed the 3.8-liter V-6 version, and the model's peppy power, sharp looks and loads of convenience features were a hit with her husband and three kids.

2012 Hyundai Genesis Review

Consumer Reports Study: Perception Gap Narrows Between Car Brands

Consumer perceptions between the best and worst car brands are narrowing, says a new study from Consumer Reports. The magazine's 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey found top brands like Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota kept their lead but fell closer to other automakers' scores.

The telephone survey — CR's fifth — took place last December and included more than 2,000 adults with at least one vehicle in their household. Surveyors gauged brand perceptions across seven automotive categories: safety, quality, value, performance, environmental friendliness, design and technology/innovation. It's important to note that overall scores reflect perceptions among respondents who could name a given brand, deputy editor Jeff Bartlett told Cars.com.

"We've made awareness a non-factor, so we've equalized it across the brands," Bartlett said. "So everyone knows Toyota, [but] a few people know Fiat. The question is, of those brands that you're aware of, which stand as exemplary in each of the seven categories that we're looking at?"

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Now on Sale

The wait is over for customers eager to get into the redesigned-for-2013 Malibu, but there's a catch. The Malibu is just now hitting U.S. dealerships, but the first model offered for sale is the Eco version, which uses the gas/electric powertrain GM calls eAssist.

The mild hybrid system is a re-engineered version of the hybrid powertrain in the old Malibu and now-defunct Saturn Aura sedan and Vue compact SUV. It was a flop for GM due to elevated prices and disappointing fuel-economy figures.

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The Honda CR-V is one of the best-selling vehicles in the country, let alone in the small crossover segment. For 2012 it gets updated styling, more standard features and improved fuel economy. But does the redesigned-for-2012 version live up to its predecessor? Continue reading the full review to find out more. Also make sure to check out our other top reviews of the week:

1.    2011 Toyota Camry
2.    2012 Honda CR-V
3.    2012 Honda Pilot
4.    2012 Subaru Impreza
5.    2012 Acura TL
6.    2012 Volkswagen Beetle
7.    2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
8.    2012 Hyundai Elantra
9.    2012 Ford Focus
10.  2012 Volkswagen Passat

2013 Nissan GT-R Starts at $96,820

Nissan's most expensive car is getting even pricier for 2013. GT-R prices are going up — way up. The automaker just announced the following base prices for the 2013 GT-R sports coupe:

2013 Nissan GT-R Premium:  $96,820
2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition: $106,320

Last year, the GT-R Premium started at $89,950 and the Black Edition at $95,100. All prices exclude a $1,000 destination fee.

Nissan's refreshed-for-2012 halo car gets more horsepower and a standard backup camera for 2013. Black Edition models also get a new dry carbon fiber rear spoiler. The GT-R’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6 now makes 545 horsepower compared with last year’s 530 hp. Torque is up too, from 448 pounds-feet in the 2012 model to 463 pounds-feet for 2013.

The 2013 GT-R is on sale now.

2013 Lexus LX 570 Pricing Announced

Lexus’ largest SUV took model-year 2012 off, but it returns for 2013 with fresh exterior styling, an updated interior and a slightly higher base price.

The automaker recently announced that the 2013 Lexus LX 570 will have an $80,930 base price (excluding an $875 destination fee) when it goes on sale in February. The 2013 model will cost $1,475 more than the outgoing version.

Other new-for-2013 additions include a beefed up off-road system and an updated version of the Lexus Enform multimedia system.

Related
2013 Lexus LX 570 at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show
2013 Lexus LX 570: Photo Gallery
2013 Lexus LX Chases Infiniti QX For Luxury-Loving Families