8. The 2012 MINI Countryman Is Fun To Drive
Much has been made about the increased size and girth of the 2012 MINI Countryman, but the automaker has done its best to ensure that the vehicle still embraces the same sporting values that have drawn thousands of fans to the brand since it first returned to the automotive scene in North America just over a decade ago. Although the base Countryman takes a tick under 10 seconds to hit 60-mph, the Countryman S is capable of making the same spring in a more impressive 7.6 seconds, as the available all-wheel drive helps to plant the vehicle's torque with that much more authority. Throw in the available sport suspension options and the general precision engineered into each and every MINI chassis, and the vehicle is still capable of generating smiles despite its weight and size penalty.