It may take a leap of faith in the economy to plunk down $30,000 on a new car or commit to the monthly payments these days. But folks in the market are in a good position to strike a hard bargain. Car sales soared in August with the government s cash-for-clunkers program. But showroom visits are down again in September, according to CNW Market Research, and the industry may soon have to ramp up incentives just to entice shoppers to take a test-drive.

So what models are worth a visit to your local dealership, even if it s just to kick the tires? We tested cars in four categories for our buying guide this year: green machines, family haulers, luxury coupes and value sedans. Our goal was to find the best combinations of comfort, performance and price. Plus a little pizzaz on the side.

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MSRP: $22,750
Avg. City/Hwy MPG: 50
5-yr. Ownership Cost: $24,467

The hybrid market is crowded with new models from Honda and Ford, but the Toyota [NYSE: TM] Prius is still the gas king, getting 50 MPG in city/highway driving. The third-generation Prius, starting around $23,000, is slightly larger and more powerful than its precedessor and can now be driven in three modes: Eco, Power or Electric. The acceleration is still a bit wimpy, though, and we weren t keen on the tough fabric seats. (Toyota says lumbar support is optional).

MSRP: $21,070
Avg. City/Hwy MPG: 24
5-yr. Ownership Cost: $33,737

Priced around $21,000, this generation of Mazda s flagship sedan is a more mature creature than its predecessors. Mazda lengthened and widened the body, made the car quieter and spruced up the interior with brushed metallic finishes. The four-cylinder, 170-horsepower model had pep and poise in our tests. Highway mileage tops out at 29 MPG, though, trailing some rivals. Mazda says mileage is less a priority than driving dynamics and style.

MSRP: $29,999
Avg. City/Hwy MPG: 19
5-yr. Ownership Cost: $43,468

Crossovers are popular with folks who have kids and cargo to haul. And the all-new six-cylinder Traverse, priced around $30,000, edges the competition for interior space and engine power. It s also loaded with safety gear and a stylish interior, featuring a sweeping, ergonomic instrument panel. Gas mileage isn t great, though, rated at 19 MPG, and it didn t handle as sharply as other crossovers we tested. GM [OTC: MTLQQ.PK] says the suspension was tuned to strike a balance between comfort and performance.

MSRP: $36,765
Avg. City/Hwy MPG: 21
5-yr. Ownership Cost: $49,024

Sporty coupes are the whimsical luxuries of the car market, but the G37 makes a strong case as the bargain in the field. Starting around $37,000, it s priced well below rivals from Audi and BMW [NasdaqGS: BMW]. The 330-horsepower engine, one of the most powerful in the class, had hustle and grit in our tests. Backseat headroom is minimal, however, and critics complain that the interior doesn t feel as refined as cabins of the Audi A5 or BMW 335i.