Commuters' cars put to the test

LONG POND, Pa. - When testing cars at a place like 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, the first inclination is to go fast in expensive high-performance vehicles. But this time we decided to slow down to try out cars that mere mortals will drive, using Pocono's road course and back stretch of the racetrack to test their limits.

While others on hand recently for the annual International Motor Press Association test days waited in long lines for the obvious bullets - Vipers, Porsches, and Corvettes - we made our selections from the more "normal" cars. And we came away impressed by their agility and safe handling.

Here are some favorites:

2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER: Its hotter stablemate, the Lancer Evolution, looms in coming months as a screaming, all-wheel-drive sedan that will likely cost about $35,000. But the front-wheel-drive sedan I pushed down the straight and through some pretty gnarly corners was a sure, stable ride - even with only about half the 300 horsepower the Evolution will pack. And you can buy the Lancer for about $20,000 or less.

2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI FAHRENHEIT: At close to $30,000, it's pricey, but with 200 horsepower and six-speed automatic transmission the Fahrenheit felt like a perfect combination of weekday commuter car and zippy weekend toy. Plus, it featured typically perfect Volkswagen interior fit and finish, as well as standard stability control.

2007 HONDA CIVIC: Here's a car that offers some fun, even if it's primary use is for commuting to work. At just over $20,000, the Civic is a solid buy, especially when it comes with multiple air bags front and rear, navigation with voice recognition, a power moonroof, and a 140-horsepower 1.8-liter engine that will deliver fuel economy in the 30s. It also isn't scheduled for a tune-up until the 100,000-mile mark is reached.

2007 KIA SPECTRA SX: Like the Civic, the Spectra is loaded with air bags. It's a bit smaller in feel, yet the steering feels heavier than the Civic's. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, generating about 140 horsepower, had no problem accelerating to - and maintaining - hefty commuter speeds as it came off the road course and onto the back straight. This sporty model costs $16,000 to $18,000.

2008 SAAB 9-3 SPORT COMBI: An all-wheel-drive version is headed this way (breathe easy New Englanders), but even in this front-wheel-drive form it handled superbly on corners, coming off a 90-degree onto the straight and then back into a 90-degree. That latter move tossed it into a sharp series of curves, but the 2.8-liter, 250-plus-horsepower engine pulled it through corners with delicate power. The 9-3 isn't cheap, though - expect to pay in the 30s to low 40s.

2007 MAZDASPEED3: This offers one of the best values in recent years, at around $25,000 and featuring a 250-horsepower engine. This hatchback offers an amazing blend of utility and performance. And despite the 250 horses, there wasn't any of understeer (a tendency to plow straight ahead in corners) as is common in some front-wheel-drive performance cars. The Mazda's ability to tug itself powerfully off the apex of corners was remarkable for a car at this price.

Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.