The "Best & Worst Cars of 2008" has come out in Consumer Reports. Most cars are no surprise, especially if you "follow" car design and results, and are familiar with C.R.'s priorities. I've subscribed to them for decades. Every magazine/organization has its priorities. It has to. Buy Consumer Reports. I don't pretend to be relaying all they've learned. The following is only the tip of the iceberg.

Best small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE

Best green car: Toyota Prius

Best Fun to Drive: Mazda Miata MX5

Best Pickup: Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Best Upscale Sedan: Infiniti G35

Best Small SUV: Toyota RAV4

Best Minivan: Toyota Sienna

Best Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS 460L

Best Midsized SUV: Hyundai Sante Fe

The only "issue" I have with these decisions is in choosing Hyundai for anything related to reliability, because of their infamous lack of reliability. Are they improving? Yes. Are they good? No.

Onward with the information:

Least expensive car to own for the first 5 years: Toyota Yaris - $23,250.
Most " : Mercedes SL550 - $110,500.

Least depreciation: Yaris - $8,000.
Most : SL550 - $66,550.

Least expensive to maintain: BMW Z4 - $900.00 (although I have lots of anecdotal information that says otherwise.)
Most : Range Rover - $5,250.00

Least expensive to insure: Buick Lucerne & Honda Odyssey - $3,000.00
Most : Dodge Viper - $19,700.00

Fastest to 60 mph: Viper - 4.2 sec.
Slowest : Kia Rio LX - 12.8

Best (shortest) breaking distance from 60 mph: Porsche Boxster - 112 feet
Worst (longest) breaking distance from 60 mph: Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Ram Laramie, and Ford Lariat - at a frightening 176 feet.

Fuel mileage:

Small car: Best: Prius - 44 mpg (the original claims by Toyota were 60 mpg, but the methods of measuring fuel mileage have been adjusted and established to modern technologies. 44-45 mpg is now correct for Prius. Toyota would've been aware of this difference in measurements, I am sure.)
Worst: Chrysler PT Cruiser - 20 mpg

Midsized: Best: Toyota Camry Hybrid - 34
Worst: Mercury Grand Marquis - 16

SUV: Best: Toyota Highlander Hybrid - 24
Worst: (TOO MANY to list!) - all at 13

Best used cars: Toyota Prius, Mazda Miata MX5 (+ more) (Because this a 5-year study, one factor not yet considered into the cost of the Prius is the replacement of its battery system, which was estimated to last 7 years, and will cost about $7K to replace.)
Worst used cars: Volkswagen Touareg, Saturn Relay (+ more)

Most reliable model: Toyota Yaris
Least : Pontiac Solstice

Most reliable brand: Honda
Least : Land Rover

Best owner satisfaction: Toyota Prius (Prius, like Corvette, seems to have garnered a rabid group of devotees that will defend the car no matter what problems or quirks exist. Call it a "cult". VW Beetle used to be that way. It's one thing you have to watch out for when it comes to "satisfaction".)
Worst : Chevy Uplander

Only one company has top ratings in reliability across their model board: Honda
The worst : Mercedes

The best overall score across the board: Honda
The worst : Chrysler and Suzuki

The best company for least repairs after 10 years: Toyota
The worst : Volkswagen

The best company for the least repairs overall: Toyota, then Subaru, Scion,
Acura, and at the top: Honda.

The worst: Pontiac, then Mercedes, Cadillac, Hummer, and at the bottom of
the barrel: Land Rover.

So much for "status" symbols. They're symbols of an uneducated OR unconcerned consumer. Heck of choice, that. Design, build quality, performance, "useability", and reliability add up to a car that can kill you or save your life. I think that's worth study before you buy. Are you ready for CHINESE cars?!