At Santa Rosa Vintners Resort, to the north of San Francisco, the “Best of the Bay” test drive taking place. Western Automotive Journalists are selecting the best car among the 14 models presented. My criteria are as follows:

• Performance and design: This includes handling qualities, road grip, turning capability, braking distance, and braking style.
• Interior and exterior design: This encompasses the interior and exterior aesthetics, as well as the quality of the driver’s seat and the potential for comfortable sleeping in red rock formations of Arches National Park, right in the car, when all stars are mine.

Pricer and Battery efficiency are not a part of my criteria since I anticipate improvements in these characteristics with each passing season. About the colors: I would stay a hue like rotten raspberry only if accompanied by exceptional driving performance.

We are going to test 14 models.

Hyundai i23 Lone Lone XX Limited

– absolutely fantastic. This car is simply amazing! The way it takes corners feels like writing on paper with a pen—smooth and precise. It accelerates from a standstill like crazy and brakes instantly without all that annoying engine braking nonsense. The brakes are well-preserved even with sporty driving; only had to really stomp on them a couple of times. The design is mind-blowing. I’m even willing to put up with that damn headrest, as much as I hate it. Must check though how the back seats fold down. However, this car is just, well… awesome.

Once favorite, Mazda lost its spark

Mazda’s fan blows cold air right into my hands, and it’s so chilly that I can’t even get the warmth back. The interior with its bulky leather and unattractive design is a letdown. After experiencing Hyundai’s handling, Mazda’s performance feels lackluster.

On the plus side, the rear seats fold flat, which is practical, but that’s it. The headrests are awful, though the lumbar support is decent.

The cabin is cluttered with unnecessary features — so much to clean after a road trip. The interior looks drab anyway. What a beauty Mazda used to be with its distinctive style, but now it like just another dull gray.

Genesis SUV is the best

In my opinion, it’s the best. It handles turns excellently. If I were to change anything, it would be swapping the sedan’s body style with Toyota’s. Hyundai is top-notch, though, just needs a bit of refinement on the interior. Haha, they’ve even tuned the music to jazz which suits this car. Overall, it’s a fantastic car.

Race Toyota Acura

Well, that’s a different story. The suspension is totally different, handling turns well. I’ve already forgotten how amazingly a race car with a stick can accelerate and brake. Seats are also regular race, Recaro I guess, with six-point harnesses and good lateral support. Why they don’t put Recaro in regular cars? They are so comfortable, unlike the ugly fat cushions we had to drive.

I’m not quite sure about this car’s use since there’s a passenger seat in the back, which seems a bit out of place for a race car. The passengers in the back? They’ll be driven nuts by the wild ride on low-profile tires through jarring bumps.

to be continued