Cars of 2014

51. Mazda – Mazda6

• Mazda6 midsize sedan went on sale early in 2013 but has already gotten an update.
• Mazda is now offering its iELOOP technology on the Mazda6’s top trim level. The system captures energy during braking and uses it to power all the vehicle’s electrical components, including headlights, climate control and audio systems.
• Mazda says the system makes the Mazda6 the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid on the market, at 40 mpg on the highway and 32 in combined city/highway driving. The iELOOP system is part of a $2,000 option package on the Grand Touring edition of the Mazda6.
• Mazda also plans to offer a 2.2 liter, four-cylinder diesel engine in the Mazda6 this fall, which will make it the first Japanese automaker to sell a non-commercial diesel in the U.S. Fuel economy.

52. Mercedes Benz – CLA Class

• Mercedes offers a relatively low-priced entry-level small four-door car with the CLA. It looks like a coupe and has a new inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with gasoline injected directly into cylinders.
• It also has a seven-speed automatic transmission.
• Standard 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth technology and 5.8-inch color display. CLA250 front-drive car goes on sale in September with a 208 horsepower engine. An all-wheel drive version comes early next year. There’s also the CLA45 AMG all-wheel-drive with 355 horses.
• Goes on sale in November.

53. Mercedes Benz – E Class

• All models get freshening with new standard LED headlights and tail lamps and redesigned rear bumpers. Inside, there’s new grain on the dash, an analog clock, and the gear shift lever is moved to the steering column.
• Models already are on sale.

54. Mercedes Benz – S Class

• The brand’s flagship big sedan is redesigned for 2014 and will be the first car with no light bulbs because all of its lights are LEDs. The base S550 has a 4.6 liter biturbo V-8 with 455 horsepower.
• Rear-drive versions get Mercedes “Magic Body Control” in which cameras scan the road and adjust the suspension for the best driving comfort.
• Car also gets a more luxurious interior and safety upgrades.
• The S550 goes on sale in November, as does the high-performance S63 AMG 4Matic.

55. Mitsubishi – Mirage

• The hatchback subcompact comes to America powered by a tiny 1.2 liter three-cylinder engine that puts out 74 horsepower. Has a continuously variable transmission and gets up to 44 mpg on the highway. Company says it’s the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car in the U.S. that isn’t a hybrid.
• Due out in the fall.

56. Mitsubishi – Outlander

• Redesigned SUV with a standard third-row seat that folds flat. Lightweight, more aerodynamic body.
• 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission.

57. Nissan – Pathfinder (Hybrid Version)

• For the first time, Pathfinder midsize SUV gets a hybrid version.
• 2.4 liter four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor (250hp) – equivalent to the 3.5 liter V6 engine in the non-hybrid.
• Engine and electric motor paired to a lithium-ion battery that sits under the third row seat.
• Available this fall.

58. Nissan – Rogue

• New version of the Rogue small crossover recently debuted.
• Details released in mid-September.

59. Nissan – Versa Note

• Adds a five-door hatchback to the subcompact Versa lineup.
• Sharper, more sculpted look than the Versa sedan but the same 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine (109hp).
• 40mpg on the highway and 31mpg in the city.
• High-end options are a 5.8 inch touch-screen display with navigation and hands-free text messaging.
• Rear-view mirror and around-view monitor, which combines images from several cameras to show the driver a bird’s eye view around the car as its backing out.
• Available in July.

60. Porsche – Cayman

• Porsche’s redesigned two-seater is about 60 pounds lighter and stiffer for a better ride. The reworked engines provide more power but better fuel economy, clocking in at 32 mpg on the highway (up from 27 mpg in the previous model).
• There’s a 2.7 liter flat-six cylinder engine with 275 horsepower in the base model or an optional 3.4 liter flat-six cylinder with 325 horsepower. The Cayman also gets fuel economy gains from an electrical steering system, which replaces the old hydraulic one; a stop-start function that automatically stops the car and restarts it at traffic lights; and a separate system that recaptures energy during braking and coasting and uses it to charge the battery.
• There’s a six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed automatic.
• Other updates: Keyless entry and adaptive cruise control.