Starting MSRP: $26,435 Engine: 1.3-liter 2-rotor with 232 hp Base MPG: 16 city/22 hwy/18 cmb Incentive: $5,000 cash back Expires: 11/30/09
The RX-8 stands alone as the world's only currently produced rotary-powered vehicle and a true 4-seat sports car. Small rear suicide doors allow surprisingly easy access to the back seat, which can accommodate 2 actual-size adults. The rotary engine revs smoothly and quietly all the way to a sky-high 9,000 rpm redline on manual transmission models. There's scads of grip in the corners, yet the RX-8 maintains a comfortably resilient ride over rough roads. Its practicality and fun-to-drive nature make it an excellent daily driver for enthusiasts. While it does return lamentably low mpg numbers, an impressively generous $5,000 cash rebate will buy an awful lot of gas.