Three picks for New England driving

November 12, 11:02 PMBoston Autos ExaminerDan Roth

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Here in New England, our vehicular needs are different than the rest of the country. Potholes mar our roads, winter wraps its icy fingers around our throats, and Boston traffic has us doing more sitting than rolling. Our vehicles need to cope with the conditions without breaking or becoming widowmakers. There's a bevy of new and updated models for 2009 that look to have what it takes to hack it in these revolutionary hinterlands; here's three promising contenders that would look great under the Christmas tree.

Subaru Forester

The entire Subaru product line has long been a New England favorite. The Forester's combination of all wheel drive mobility, practical size, and a useful capacity already makes it a top pick. It doesn't hurt that it's reasonably priced and pleasant to drive, either. Subaru's crossover has recently been through a re-do. It's still a Forester, so while it's bigger, it's still recognizeable, and more handsome, even. There's something for everyone, from a basic model with cloth upholstery and manual transmission, all the way up to a luxed-up Limited with leather upholstery and turbocharged power. This is it if you want an Impreza wagon, now, and with Subaru's vaunted messy weather prowess, it'll definitely take you over the river and through the woods without flinching.

Chevrolet Traverse

Speaking of load capacity, the Chevrolet Traverse is a biggie. In the past, seven passengers meant you were taking either a van or a big SUV. The Traverse is about the same size as its truck-based cousin, the Tahoe, but it's more carlike and returns better fuel economy. The Traverse is the latest flavor of General Motors' Lambda platform, which also underpins the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. All versions are routinely congratulated for being great drivers, and the Traverse is the most affordable of the bunch. It doesn't hurt that the styling is handsome and the powertrain is dandy. These are some of the best vehicles on the road, a signature product of the new (and terrified) General Motors. When not pulling a brood around, there's a cavernous amount of room, and the unibody construction lends the Traverse an easy demeanor that makes it manageable for anyone. Available with front- or all-wheel-drive, there's finally a vehicle that's more sensible than something with a ladder frame and old-style four wheel drive rig while still just as much space as those big trucks.

Honda Fit

The first two vehicles might be described as vaguely truckesque station wagons in denial, but for our third pick, we're going small. Honda's Fit has been around for a while, but 2009 brings us a new version. The name is apt – not only can you get a lot of stuff inside the car, despite its small footprint, but the Fit is just the thing for tight downtown parking in the Hub. Small cars have seen a lot of interest bubbling up as the price of fuel reaches astonishing new heights, and the Fit is pretty much the best in its category. There's a nicely done interior, a fun attitude, and a miserly appetite. Honda's usually have a bit of verve in the chassis, and it's hard to make something compact and light like the Fit feel ponderous. Not only is it light on its feet, it'll be light on your wallet due to its small appetite and high quality. You'll be smitten the first time you parallel park on Commonwealth Ave.

But Wait, There's More!

Of course, these three aren't the only cars that thrill us, watch this space for more New England specific automotive coverage as your Boston Auto Examiner ramps it up.