Smart Fortwo

Volvo's new slick-looking compact coupe could have won a place on this list based on exterior styling alone. It could have won on interior design alone. It could have won based on its fun-to-drive factor, especially with its standard turbocharged 5-cylinder engine. It could have won on practicality -- the C30 has plenty of room for four, and with the seats folded it makes a great mini-moving van. Or it could have won just on value -- at $23.5k it's a bargain for a European luxury marque, undercutting the Audi A3 by over 3 grand. Put it all together, and you have an outstanding car that's also an outstanding value -- and a shoo-in for the About.com Cars Best New Cars of 2008.