Driven

TURNING LEAVES & TURNING CORNERS

Embrace nature from behind the wheel of one of these posh luxury cruisers.

Every year, brilliant shades of color creep onto the leaves of trees scattered throughout the country. This can be a great excuse to pack up the car—or catch an AirTran Airways flight—and take the family out for an old-fashioned tour of the fall foliage. If you opt to stay closer to home, here’s a quick look at four new-for-2008 models that will transport you in complete comfort to where the trees are literally exploding in vibrant hues. The road beckons and nature calls, so be sure to pay a visit before the show is over. —Jim Gorzelany

Volvo XC70

Station wagons are the quintessential rides for family excursions, and the latest all-wheel drive XC70 carries on the tradition with aplomb. Highlighted by burly SUV-like styling cues, the XC70 comes powered by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and offers just about every safety feature in the industry. These include a collision warning system, adaptive headlamps that pivot to light the way through curves and the first-ever height-adjustable, built-in child booster seat. MSRP: $37,000 (est.)

Infiniti G37 Coupe

Enjoy those twisty highways in the sleek G37. A 3.7-liter V6 brings 330 hp to the street, and buyers can opt for a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with a quick-shifting manual mode. The rear-drive G37’s handling benefits from a sport suspension and an available “active steering” system that turns the rear wheels slightly during hard cornering for added agility and stability. MSRP: $35,715 (est.)

Porsche Cayenne

Should your pursuit of flora and fauna take you off the paved roads, the just-recast Cayenne redefines “roughing it” with a sporty demeanor and luxury-car comfort. It’s offered in 290-hp and 385-hp versions, as well as the 500-hp Turbo S. This top model boasts the best overall performance, but is priced just a few options short of $100,000. A sophisticated 4WD system helps maximize traction on or off the asphalt. MSRP: $43,400

Cadillac CTS

Refined for 2008 with added style and substance, the midsize CTS luxury sedan offers bolder exterior styling, with a richer interior that’s trimmed in hand-cut and sewn leather surfaces. A new 3.6-liter V-6 powerplant generates 304 hp and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is newly available, as is an array of high-tech amenities like a USB port. MSRP: $34,000 (est.)