2009 Audi A4

Too often, top sport-sedan honors go to BMW's 3 Series — admittedly an excellent car — or whoever manages to emulate its performance for a discount price. The A4 is not at all like the 3 Series and, for once, we dig that. Audi's contender is more comfortable and easier to drive than the BMW — and others — but it's still engaging enough to entertain the average driver. Skip the optional V-6; the turbo four-cylinder muscles you up to highway speeds with no problem, and it can deliver up to an EPA-estimated 30 mpg while you're there. The cabin and trunk boast unbelievably roomy dimensions, and the dashboard materials are of Audi's typical high quality. The optional Bang & Olufsen stereo cranks out nothing short of aural nirvana, while conveniences like a height-adjustable center armrest and one of the best folding-backseat executions in any sedan will have owners smiling for

2009 Honda Fit

The redesigned Fit improves incrementally over its predecessor, a hatchback that has consistently outpaced the competition in its two years in the U.S. market. The Fit's audio and climate controls have excellent ergonomics and quality — always a strength for Honda — and the comfortable seats and high-rent gauges are a far cry from the interiors offered in other $15,000 cars. Take the car for a drive, and the attraction continues: Direct steering and a well-mannered suspension make the car a hoot to drive, even if it's just on a grocery run. The smallish four-cylinder has more character than its peers, delivering perky acceleration at high revs and managing as much as 35 mpg on the highway. Drivers-in-training can pitch the car to parents using its safety as a selling point; it has six airbags and antilock brakes standard. An electronic stability system, rare among entry-level cars, is optional, as are electronic conveniences like full iPod integration and a navigation system

2009 Hyundai Genesis

Many cars bring improvements to a given segment of the market, but few are considered redefining. Hyundai's new Genesis is one of the few; it has turned the full-size luxury sedan segment completely on its head. The Genesis has done so by offering the performance, drivability and luxury features of more expensive Japanese and German luxury sedans at a lower price: A loaded Genesis with a 375-horsepower V-8 engine costs $42,000. This model includes eight airbags, leather upholstery — including a leather dashboard — Lexicon surround-sound audio, a navigation system and adaptive headlights. What's perhaps most impressive is that even though the Genesis costs thousands less than mainstream luxury cars, it doesn't give up anything of significance to them in terms of the overall experience. It may not have a luxury badge on its hood, but the Genesis is a luxury car through and through.

2009 Mazda Mazda6

Standing out in the incredibly competitive family sedan segment requires a car that's noteworthy on numerous fronts, and the redesigned Mazda6 is just that. Its sporty exterior styling is a refreshing break from the ho-hum designs that rule this segment. Inside, Mazda has crafted a high-quality cabin that features spacious accommodations in the front and rear seats, along with one of the largest trunks in this class. The Mazda6's two available engines — a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 3.7-liter V-6 — have something to offer buyers looking for gas mileage and performance, respectively. Of course, the Mazda6 comes standard with important safety features like antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system, and it can also have an optional blind-spot warning system. The new Honda Accord has set the bar high in the family sedan segment, but the new Mazda6 matches its competitor on many fronts, and in some cases exceeds it. Maybe it's time to look at that bar again.

2009 Nissan Murano

Nissan's redesigned Murano is both fun to drive and completely utilitarian. While it may sound like a no-brainer for an SUV — even a car-based crossover like the Murano — to offer a lot of the "U" in SUV, there are fewer and fewer this size that we'd recommend so heartily. Nissan's 3.5 liter V-6 engine is one of the best in the business, and the 265-horsepower Murano simply flies down the highway. It's almost passçª but yes, it drives more like a car than an SUV, and it comes with front- or optional all-wheel drive. Remarkably, both get identical mileage — 18/23 mpg city/highway — giving away just a few highway mpg to a V-6 Altima sedan. The interior is very nice, encroaching on Infiniti's well-received cabins with spacious second-row seating. The cargo area is big enough, and the second row folds flat with the flip of a lever near the hatch. If we had to buy one vehicle in this segment, this would be it. Most importantly, the Murano still holds the promise that the once-popular SUV segment offered as a true sedan alternative

2009 Subaru Forester

The Forester has long succeeded by straddling the divide between wagon and SUV, and by providing good reliability and crash-test ratings. Devotees might bemoan the changes, but there's no denying the overall quality of the larger, redesigned 2009 model. It grew larger and increased interior volume without sacrificing its ultra-tight turning circle. Its large windows make for excellent visibility and one of the airiest greenhouses you'll find on wheels, complete with a huge moonroof on most trim levels. As before, it offers four-cylinder engines in regular and turbocharged forms, manual and automatic transmissions, and Subaru's signature all-wheel drive. Most notable, though, is that noise levels, refinement and quality are on par with the class leaders.

For Cars.com’s New Car of the Year, our expert reviewers evaluated all the newly introduced and redesigned cars for the 2009 model year and made their pick. For the Lifestyle Awards, we know not all car buyers choose their car simply by category. We also know many of you cross-shop, comparing that hybrid with this sedan with that wagon. Our team of reviewers drove dozens of cars, and from those experiences come these awards. Winners were announced Feb. 3, 2009.

family car of the year 2009

The best cars for Small Families, Big Families and First-Time Drivers.