By RICHARD WILLIAMSON, Scripps Howard News Service

When BMW rolled out the fifth generation of its flagship 7-Series sedan last year, there was a bit of defensiveness about one of its most sophisticated features, the iDrive controller on the center console.

2009 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE
TYPE: Rear-drive, four-passenger, two-door sport convertible.
PRICE: $66,500 base, $80,320 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Regensburg, Germany.
KEY RIVALS: Mercedes-Benz CLK350; Audi RS4; Nissan GT-R; Lexus ISF.

If you don't like making decisions, forget about the BMW M3 Convertible.
This high-performance sports car gives its driver so many choices that only true aficionados will take full advantage of the menu.
For most of us, simply turning the ignition, latching the belt, shifting into "D," and powering up the AC and sound system will suffice.

Saab, the Swedish automaker "born from jets" will be flying solo as soon as bankrupt General Motors can shed the brand it bought in 2000.

Under the new Chrysler/Fiat survival plan for the Great Recession, Jeep retains a place of prominence as an "iconic" brand.
That's an apt description of the world's first off-road vehicle, introduced to the world by G.I. Joe and developed over the years by a succession of owners culminating in Chrysler's remarkable expansion of the fleet.

2009 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT8
TYPE: 4-wheel-drive, four-door, mid-size sport utility vehicle.
PRICE: $42,500 base, $50,670 as tested.
WHERE BUILT: Detroit.
KEY RIVALS: Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner, Chevrolet Traverse.
POWER: 6.1-liter, 420-horsepower, SRT Hemi V8; five-speed auto transmission.

2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE PLATINUM HYBRID
TYPE: Rear-drive, full-size, four-door, eight-passenger, hybrid-powered sport utility vehicle.
PRICE: $84,935.
WHERE BUILT: Arlington, Texas.
KEY RIVALS: Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX, Infiniti QX 56.

The bad news is that General Motors is bankrupt.
The good news is that it's still producing some really fine cars and trucks.
Witness the arrival of two new models from Cadillac, the 2010 SRX Crossover and the CTS Sport Wagon. For good measure, consider the new Escalade Platinum Hybrid, a fuel efficient behemoth that maneuvers like nobody's business.

2010 FORD FLEX SE
TYPE: Front-wheel-drive, four-door, seven-passenger, full-size crossover utility vehicle.
PRICE: $29,325 base ($27,617 invoice).
WHERE BUILT: Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
KEY RIVALS: Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Caravan, Toyota Sienna.
POWER: 3.5-liter 262 horsepower Duratec V6; six-speed auto transmission.

If you're looking for evidence that Ford has a future, consider the funky Flex.
The crossover utility vehicle with its eccentrically rectangular profile represents a design breakthrough for the Blue Oval on two fronts:
1. It bypasses the image problems of a minivan while providing similar degrees of utility;