L.A. Auto Show winners, losers: Production cars

This year's L.A. Auto Show will make attendees' heads spin in terms of all the new production cars on display. Automakers are rolling out important cars from full-size luxury sedans to the smallest of compact cars. Actually, one company did both. How did the automakers execute these ideas in their final form, which will hit car dealerships within the next year? Cars.com editors Joe Wiesenfelder, David Thomas, Kelsey Mays and Mike Hanley weigh in.

2013 Cadillac XTS

Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner

There's much to like here: lots of space, a high-quality interior and what appears to be a smart new interface -- though I insist that physical buttons and knobs needn't be banished for touch-sensitive panels. True, the front-drive platform deviates from Cadillac's rear-wheel-drive push, but frankly, few of the full-size rear-wheel-drive competitors are engaging to drive either.

Mike Hanley: Loser

Despite the XTS' compelling technology, I'm underwhelmed by the design. Cadillac's rear-wheel-drive CTS sedan has great proportions, but the brand's creased styling looks wrong on the XTS, especially around its tall rear end. It makes me wonder what kind of design a rear-wheel-drive platform would have yielded.

Kelsey Mays: Loser

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Like Mike said, the XTS' proportions didn't wow me. The face is too tall and the tail too stubby. The CTS remains the winner of Cadillac's edgy styling; the XTS feels too bloated. The interior has Cadillac's usual allure, though I agree with Joe's touch-panel sentiments.

David Thomas: Winner

Strange, but I find this to be the most successful car Cadillac has put out in terms of its edgy styling, with the CTS coupe being close behind it. The CTS coupe isn't practical, but the XTS is. The interior is also worlds better than what Cadillac -- or Lincoln, or Acura, or Infiniti or Lexus -- has been producing lately. That should make it a winner with buyers in this class.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

JW: Winner

MH: Winner

I haven't been a fan of the Camaro's driving dynamics, but I've liked its looks from the beginning, especially the ZL1's. The convertible version does nothing to diminish the car's sinister styling, which enhances the Camaro's aggressiveness without going overboard.

KM: Winner

DT: Loser

I didn't think the visual cues of this high-power Camaro were as good as those on the Shelby Mustang in coupe form last April in New York City, and I feel the same way about the droptop now. The power difference between the two doesn't really matter to me either -- not many people will be able to harness 580 horses, let alone 650. So to me, they're both overkill. Just give me a nice black SS for my garage and the extra $20,000 for a Chevy Cruze to commute in.

2013 Chevrolet Spark

JW: Loser

The interior quality isn't good enough, even for a microcar. But beyond that, I think the demand for such small-fries is overestimated. You can get comparable mileage in larger, higher-quality cars from Chevy and others. I don't see Chevy pricing this thing cheap enough to make it sell.

MH: Loser

KM: Loser

DT: Winner

I swear I'm not trying to be difficult here, but I do see the value in the Spark and that value is cheapness. Without its price or mileage numbers I think it's hard to give any kind of verdict, but this is what economy cars were like 10 years ago and no one seemed to mind much. This car has 10 airbags to make it seem safer, though. When I sat in it, I actually had room in the backseat, and it didn't feel much more cramped for the driver than the Sonic.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

JW: Loser

The 500 isn't selling particularly well, and I don't think the performance upgrades on the Abarth version will be enough to attract significantly more buyers (read: males). Driving it might change my mind, but at a glance, it's forgettable.

MH: Winner

KM: Winner

The Abarth takes the 500's decent balance and adds power; it should also quell the 500's lean-happy antics. The cabin gets some nice upgrades, though the sport seats feel no more comfortable than the 500's lumpy chairs. I hope Fiat gives the Abarth a better value proposition than the $4,000-more 500c, though.

DT: Loser

2013 Ford Escape

JW: Winner

MH: Winner

I'm not thrilled with the new Escape's design -- Ford's small-car styling cues don't translate that well to a small crossover -- but the rest of it is a significant leap over the prior generation. The gas mileage is a welcome improvement, and Ford was wise to give the Escape a conventional six-speed automatic as opposed to its finicky dual-clutch transmission.

KM: Winner

DT: Loser

Of the three new compact crossovers introduced at this auto show, the Escape falls in the middle, but it loses for two significant reasons. The first is it's as cramped for the driver as the Focus compact sedan. Secondly, the rear seats are ridiculously heavy when trying to put them back into place and there is no quick-fold feature from the cargo area like in the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. It could be fun to drive, but these vehicles are about practicality and I think it loses there.

2013 Ford Mustang / Shelby GT500

JW: Winner

MH: Loser

Formidable. Prodigious. Insane. All of those words describe the Shelby GT500's 650-hp output, but I'm more focused on the relatively modest updates to the regular Mustang, and they didn't make much of an impact.

KM: Winner

Yeah, the Shelby GT500 is over the top, and I hope it handles better than last year's unpredictable Shelby. But Ford's doing the right thing updating its popular Mustang every year or two. It keeps the kids coming back.

DT: Winner

2012 Honda CR-V

JW: Winner

Honda has deservedly taken lumps recently for questionable direction, strange exterior styling and stunted interior quality. None of that's really a problem here. Managing Editor David Thomas already reviewed it, and he was duly impressed.

MH: Loser

I have to disagree. Honda considerably improved the seat-folding design of the CR-V's backseat, but the rest of the design updates -- both inside and out -- are incremental at best. If the CR-V expects to continue to be a leader in this segment, it needs to do more.

KM: Winner

DT: Winner

2013 Honda Fit EV

JW: Winner

I called this one a loser a year ago because it wasn't far enough along. Now it's essentially done, the specs look good and it's another pure EV that's a "real" car. I like the remote control; our Chevy Volt proved it's handy to be able to pre-condition the cabin remotely without relying on the smartphone application or website the Nissan Leaf requires.

MH: Winner

KM: Winner

DT: Winner

We're finally all in agreement and it's about the Fit EV? Wow. If it drives and works anything like our long-term Leaf, then the Fit EV will be a success. The Fit already has a well-thought out interior and voluminous cargo area that can afford to be limited here by a huge, honking battery. Plus, I wouldn't mind adding a little more weight for a lower center of gravity on the Fit.

2012 Hyundai Azera

JW: Winner

MH: Winner

There's definitely some Sonata influence in the Azera's design, but I like the look of this big sedan more, especially in back where it pulls off the short trunk lid look much better than the Cadillac XTS. Add a spacious backseat and a nicely styled cabin and the hits keep coming at Hyundai.

KM: Loser

The Azera is a fine car, but I think too many people will mistake it for a Sonata. The last Azera was a blip on the radar screen. I question whether its follow-up was worth the commitment, but I'd like to see Hyundai prove me wrong.

DT: Winner

2013 Infiniti JX

JW: Winner

Infiniti designs can go either way, and fortunately this one didn't go the way of the bizarro QX56. It looks good, and the interior is nicely executed. The critical sliding second row is present, as is a neat provision whereby an attached child-safety seat changes the way the seat moves forward for third-row access. This way, the child-safety seat needn't be removed before you can get past.

MH: Loser

KM: Loser

The JX is a sharp crossover, and it's about time Infiniti put out a Lexus RX/Acura MDX fighter. But child-seat slider notwithstanding, the second row needs a lot of work for adult-sized comfort.

DT: Winner

2013 Mazda CX-5

JW: Winner

MH: Winner

The CX-5 represents a welcome evolution of Mazda's design language, and it impresses with both its interior quality and roominess. It's also efficient. The CX-5 does a lot of things right, and it could get Mazda back in the small crossover game.

KM: Winner

DT: Winner

The CX-5 has quick-fold rear seats, but like the Escape, good luck putting them back into place. It also bests the Escape in terms of feeling more spacious for the driver, but I'd argue that its interior is a step behind the Escape's. I'd still take the CR-V, but the CX-5 is certainly the sharpest looking of the bunch.

2012 Porsche 911

JW: Winner

I was prepared to declare this one a loser and incur the wrath of auto enthusiasts the world over, because I'm tired of the same old design, generation after generation. Then I saw the 2012. The rear-end treatment is actually enough of a departure, with strong haunches. It's safe for me to go out during daylight.

MH: Winner

KM: Winner

The new 911 should draw even more love. Cabin materials improve, though Porsche's severe dash contour has become no gentler. The 911 remains a serious sports car, and the seven-speed manual shows further investment in a transmission most automakers are dropping altogether.

DT: Winner

2013 Volkswagen CC

JW: Winner

MH: Winner

The CC's revised front and rear styling enhances the car's already sporty lines, and I applaud the decision to give it five seats by adding a rear bench. Sometimes it doesn't take much to dramatically alter a car's appearance for the better; the CC is a case in point.

KM: Winner

DT: Loser

I must have missed the upscale interior you guys are talking about. The CC still has the same vinyl seats I loathe. I've spent lots of seat time in the new Passat and don't see why anyone would pick the CC over it. Surprisingly, the styling retrofit does work, but the car just doesn't make sense to me.