Top 10 automotive surprises of 2010

[azi malik]

1. High-mpg cars

With hybrids and electric cars getting the buzz, it's easy to overlook those non-hybrids that now get amazing mileage. Drivers won't be stuck shelling out extra bucks for a hybrid when there's a Ford Fiesta that hits 40 mpg on the highway. There have been gains in unexpected places: The 2011 Ford Mustang has cracked the 30-mpg ceiling with its 305-horsepower V-6 engine.

2. Kia got cool
Photos: Cars that save on gas
Electrics: Fiat 500 | Nissan Leaf EV | MINI Cooper EV | Chevrolet Volt
Photos: Long Island's classic cars
Classifieds: Find your dream car, boat, or motorcycle

Kia has been reworking its lineup, ditching the decidedly uncool Borrego and Rondo in favor of more youth-oriented offerings like the Forte and Soul. With notice-me commercials filled with the likes of rappin' hamsters and golfer Michelle Wie and optional features like glowing, pulsating speakers, Kia's doing a good job of appealing to first-time buyers with more than just a low MSRP.

3. Buick is the fastest-growing manufacturer

Plagued by rumors that the brand might be phased out and notorious for attracting older car buyers, Buick wasn't expected to do well, much less thrive. But that's exactly what one of America's oldest automobile brands did in 2010. With a revamped LaCrosse and an all-new Regal, Buick has raised worldwide excitement. Through October, Buick's sales were up 55 percent, more than double the growth shown by hot brands like Subaru and Hyundai.

4. Toyota recall

Huge worldwide vehicle recalls for unintended acceleration (federal investigators found many instances to be driver error) shined an intense spotlight on Toyota and its quality control procedures this year, putting the company in an unusually defensive position. Sales of Toyota cars halted while everything from the gas pedals to floormats to electronic systems got a once-over. While the furor has died down, Toyota sales remain more sluggish than the industry as a whole.

5. 2011 Hyundai Sonata becomes a top seller

For years, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord dominated sedan sales figures. The redesigned Hyundai Sonata, however, has given both companies a new player to keep an eye on. The Sonata has been a top 10 seller almost every month since April, wowing car buyers and reviewers alike. Its attractive design and starting price under $20,000 helped it win our $25,000 Family Sedan Shootout this spring.

6. SUVs popular again

When gas hit $4 a gallon in 2008, many declared the SUV dead. Interest surged in small cars, but were U.S. consumers really ready to let go of their four-wheel-drive SUVs? In 2010, sales figures say the SUV is back in the public's favor. Massive SUV land-tanks may not have the popularity they once had, but sales of smaller SUVs and crossovers are thriving.

7. NHTSA revamps safety ratings

We have long criticized the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for relying on outdated crash-test procedures that gave far too many cars a five-star rating. Beginning with 2011-model-year cars, NHTSA is rolling out updated tests that record more data and better account for real-world crashes. It's also going to use a wider range of test dummy sizes, including a female test dummy for the first time. The number of cars garnering five-star ratings will decrease, but that's likely not a bad thing.

8. Google's driverless car

We just got one step closer to living like the Jetsons. In October, Google announced it had been secretly testing a tricked-out Toyota Prius that could safely navigate highways and city streets using high-tech cameras, radar and more. Don't worry; a trained safety driver was onboard just in case there were any problems. Google logged more than 140,000 miles safely in the driverless car.

9. Gas remains under $3 a gallon

In an ideal world, all cars would be powered by yard clippings and shoot rainbows out of their exhaust pipes. The reality is most cars run primarily on gas, and fuel prices affect more than what you pay at the pump. Fortunately for us, regular unleaded gas prices returned to a more manageable level and have hovered between roughly $2.60 and $2.90 throughout most of 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

10. Ford drops to two brands

When Mercury was shuttered, Ford became home to just two brands: Ford and Lincoln. Over the past few years Ford has sold off Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin to focus on its core brands. Mercury's elimination signals the birth of a more streamlined Ford Motor Co. -- an unfamiliar concept for many industry watchers. Then again, Ford hasn't taken any government bailout money, so maybe they're onto something.