Even smaller cars are becoming a living space on wheels these days, so designers are trying to keep up with technology and roominess at the same time. I asked Jody Victor  to tell us about more small cars with big spaces from msn.com.

Jody Victor: Let's say you don't want an SUV or minivan, but you still need room for your tuba. Read on for great small cars with enough room for you and whatever.

Nissan cube - Headroom abounds in the aptly named cube, which uses large glass areas and an upright windshield to make this car feel big inside. Fun shapes and contours dot the interior, which in addition to the usual cup and bottle holders has detachable bag hooks and door-mounted bungees as novel storage options. The rear seats recline and slide forward to enhance rear cargo space. The rear seatbacks fold down, but without the optional Rear Cargo Organizer ($180) you don't get a flat cargo space. The rear cargo area is deep but not long. so its good for groceries and tall suitcases. The rear door opens to the left, which is handier than a hatch in some situations. Base price - $13,990.

Nissan Versa Hatchback - The 5-door hatchback Versa offers wide, comfortable front seats that are perfect for a driver broad in the hips. The rear seat is equally impressive, with a large door opening and outstanding legroom and headroom for two adults, and three will fit without undue squeezing. There's a storage tray high on the dash and one in the center armrest, but nothing especially clever in this bare-bones subcompact. The 60/40 back seats fold down, but they do not create a floor flush with the aft cargo area, and leave a big bump to negotiate in the center of the space. The hatch opening narrows at the bottom, which could make it hard to load larger items. Base price - $13,150.

Scion xB - This second-generation xB offers cargo space to rival a large SUV. Lift the wide hatch and there's great access to the behind-the-seat area, which has a multicompartment organizer tray under the floor. The 60/40 rear seat folds nearly flat (without pulling the headrests) to create a space that will swallow a huge flat-screen television. The rear seat looks flat but is surprisingly comfortable, and is wide enough to carry three adults when it's really necessary. Legroom front and rear is equal to that of a full-size car. The high beltline limits glass size and makes the xB feel a little less airy than some competitors. Base price - $16,520

Scion xD - The stylish xD is a blank canvas for young owners eager to personalize their ride with items from a long list of dealer-installed accessories. Its interior is attractive and functional, but in no way exceptional. The rear cargo area is puny, and while there's usable space with the back seats folded almost flat, other cars in this class offer much more room. Headroom front and rear is good, but taller drivers will wish for more legroom. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats recline and slide fore and aft independently, a feature that seems to only diminish legroom that is already tight. Base price - $15,570.

Volkswagen Golf - The car formerly known as the Rabbit offers a black-with-brushed-metal interior that is efficient and orderly in a German manner, with materials and fit that are several notches above most of the competition. The 6-way-adjustable front seats offer supportive bolstering, and rear-seat room is excellent for two. Offered with two or four doors, the Golf has a convenient hatch over a wide rear cargo compartment. The Back seats fold down, but do not lie flat. The Golf has a nice glove box, door pockets and a bin in the center console, but none of the trendy cubbies or gizmos found on some other small cars. Maybe that's a good thing. Base price - $17,620.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be sure to check these out!

Joe Victor

Sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn't. If you are ready to turn in your gas-guzzling, pavement-crushing SUV in favor of a smaller, greener vehicle, take a look at the models Jody Victor  found from msn.com.

Jody Victor: It takes a little over three years to develop a new vehicle for the public. There are many future smaller, greener vehicles in the works at most automobile makers' R&D departments. But what about right now? There are vehicles available now,  that could fit your green needs, your legroom needs and your pocket book needs. Here's the first group.

Honda Fit - Though long of roof, the second-generation Fit doesn't fall into the "box-on-wheels" category of some other cars in this group. Inside, the Honda's rear Magic Seat can be folded down, without removing the headrests, to create an expansive, flat rear cargo area. Or fold the rear seat bottom cushions up together or by the 70/30 split, and you have a floor-to-ceiling cargo area that can be accessed through the back doors, while the cargo space behind the seats remains intact. Rear-seat room is outstanding, while only the tallest drivers may wish for more legroom. Ten cupholders, eight storage slots, two concealed cubbies and a large glove box hold the small stuff. Base price: $14,900.

Hyundai Elantra Touring - Originally designed for the European market, this compact wagon offers the seating comfort of a mid-size sedan and the cargo space of an SUV. Materials are not upscale, but the interior is well-made and easy to live with. Headroom and legroom are outstanding front and rear, and the seats are supportive. The glove box has an air conditioning vent that can be opened to cool a few drink cans, and there's covered storage on top of the dash. The Elantra Touring leads the group in cargo space behind the seat, and features in-floor compartments. Fold down the seats, open the wide rear hatch and this little wagon could swallow a bedroom set. Base price: $15,995.

Kia Soul - The Soul puts a little more emphasis on passenger comfort and style (check the optional glow-in-the-dark seat upholstery and red dash cover) than on cargo capacity. There's plenty of legroom and headroom for even long-legged teens in both the front and back seats, which are well-designed and comfortable. Drink holders and storage cubbies abound, and include a compartment in the upper dash and a glove box with a shelf to help keep it organized. The rear cargo space is vertical, although there's a nice organizer under the floor. The 60/40 rear seats fold down - but not quite flat - and the small size of the rear hatch will make it difficult to load larger objects. Base price: $13,300.

Mazda3 5-Door - This Mazda's interior will appeal to buyers who want to feel as if they spent more money. Softer plastics and brushed-metal trim, nice fabrics, leather on the wheel, and especially the soft blue "greeting" illumination when you open the door at night all contribute to an environment that's almost - but not quite - German. But style gets you only so far. The Mazda3 is short on creative storage compartments. Legroom and headroom in the back seat are lacking. Even the glove box is small. The rear cargo area is a good-size and covered with a rigid shelf, but there's no stowage under the floor. The 60/40 back seats fold almost flat to create a space that's useful but not extraordinary. Base price: $20,290.

MINI Cooper Clubman - Ten inches longer and an inch taller than the standard MINI Cooper, the Clubman aims to bring a little practicality to a vehicle that exists mostly to be cute and fun to drive. The added space all lies behind the colorful front bucket seats. The rear seat has 2.4 more inches of legroom, which makes it a "possible" proposition for adults, but that's all. Entry is eased by a "club door" on the right side. The rear seats fold flat to create creditable space for a car this small, and there's hidden storage under the floor. You can open one or both of the split rear barn doors, but then they are in the way and, unlike a hatchback, don't offer any rain protection. Base price: $21,150.

Thanks, Jody! More on small cars with big room next time.

Joe Victor

There is something about a brand new car that lures us in. But if you can resist and opt for a used car instead you could be thousands of dollars ahead. I asked Jody Victor    to tell us about the last five vehicles on the msn.com list of best used cars to own.

Jody Victor: Here they are, the last five on the list. You might be pleasantly surprised by the choices. Can't hurt to take a look at any one of them on a used lot.

Infiniti G35 - The sheen of the Infiniti G35 is somewhat dulled now that the company has updated it to the current 330-horsepower G37., but when compared with its used-car competition, the G35 still shines brightly. A 206, 6-speed manual G35 Coupe has a 298-horsepower V6 powerhouse under the hood and the driving manners of a BMW 3-series. But calculate the estimated cost of ownership over five years on a BMW 330Ci versus an Infiniti G35, and you get almost $54,000 for the former and only $47,000 for the latter.

Cadillac DTS - The Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series may have the edge over Cadillac these days when it comes to prestige, but when it comes to long-term reliability, those cars can't touch the humble Cadillac DTS. In fact, for the past three years, Cadillac's sedans have ranked at or near the top in J.D. Power dependability surveys. Plus, a fully loaded 2006 Cadillac DTS can be had for the bargain price of $22,000, with a cost of ownership that is dwarfed by its Teutonic counterparts over the life span of the vehicle. Besides, what kind of prestige is there in driving a used luxury car anyway? Get one that's comfortable and that works.

Toyota Tacoma - The Tacoma is tops for both reliability and resale value. Like many pickups, the Tacoma boasts a variety of body styles, with regular and xtracab (extended cab) versions dating back to the 1990s and Double Cab  (crew cab) from 2001. The current Tacoma starts at $15,345, but anything from 2006 or earlier can probably be bought for less.

Ford F-150 - Among truck lovers, nothing has the reputation of the Ford F-150. this tough work truck has been going strong in one form or another since the 1940s. Ford F-Series trucks score high for dependability and have unbeatable resale value for their segment. The latest-generation F-150 was just launched in 2009, so anyone looking for one of these haulers used is probably looking to shop one of the past two generations. The best pickings, quality-wise, are the years 2004 to 2008, where the rounded styling and cheap plastics of the previous generation were recast into a brawnier, yet more refined package. Since this has been America's best-selling vehicle for the past 33 years, there's plenty of selection, so shop around and you're bound to find exactly what you want.

Porsche 911 - For the merely affluent, buying a new Porsche 911 can be a humbling experience. The price for the base-model rear-wheel-drive Carrera starts at $77,800. That's a lot of money, you think. Now add some options and suddenly you're up to a $90,000-plus vehicle. But just because you can't gather that kind of scratch doesn't mean you don't deserve this amazing driving machine.Dial back your expectations to a 2005 model Carrera and you're talking about a vehicle with a starting price  of less than $40,000. And Porsche vehicles always get high marks for long-term reliability.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be looking for these great used cars next time we buy!

Joe Victor

Conventional wisdom says that, on average, a new car loses 20 percent of its value the moment you drive it off the dealer's lot. So when times are tough and money is tight, it makes sense to shop the used-car market and be on the winning side of that depreciation curve. I asked Jody Victor  to tell us about the best used vehicles the past has to offer you.

Jody Victor: While new cars never lose their luster and appeal, a used vehicle might fit your budget better. Here's a list of the ten-best in two parts from msn.com.

Hyundai Elantra - A new Hyundai Elantra is a bargain starting at $14,145, but a used Hyundai Elantra is an absolute steal. A 2007 model, for instance, can be bought on the friendly side of eight grand, gets 27 mpg and is a roomy, well-finished car. Second owners are covered under the 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty unless they buy through Hyundai's certified pre-owned program, but that can tack a few thousand dollars on to the price.

Honda Accord - No surprise here. Honda's Accord has long been respected by the auto press and for good reason. It consistently scores high on the J.D. Power and Associates long-term-dependability studies, and it maintains a high resale value year after year. Plus, a 2007 Accord's cost-of-ownership estimate comes in about $100 less than that of a Corolla, despite the sticker price being over $1,000 more.

Mercury Montego - This was the Ford sub-brand's version of the Five Hundred, which was Ford's temporary replacement for the Taurus. Both the Five Hundred and Montego were produced from 2004 to 2007. The Montego had available all-wheel drive and the highest safety ratings of any car in its segment at the time. A fully loaded 2006 AWD Premier with continuously variable transmission, for example, can be had for less than $13,000. A 2006 Limited Ford Five Hundred with CVT and AWD, by comparison, lists for $13,403 - and, remember, it's the exact same car.

Honda CR-V - The CR-V is affordable yet spacious for a small SUV, and has a gleaming reputation for quality. Since the 1990s this 4-cylinder ute has offered a winning combination of a car-like ride and truck utility, while still posting respectable fuel-economy numbers. This vehicle depreciates slowly, which is part of its appeal, but the sweet spot on price seems to be the 2005-2006 model years, where the CR-V (which retails starting at $21,545 new) can be had for between $11,200 and $16,100. Before 2005, however, I'd recommend sticking with EX trims, since base LX CR-Vs didn't come with anti-lock brakes.

Toyota Highlander - This on-road-optimized crossover SUV also tops dependability and resale ratings. In fact this may be one of the few vehicles that are better purchased used than new, since the 2008 through 2010 models are affected by the current recalls (although the 2008 and 2009 models are affected only by the floor-mat recall). The Highlander had been available since 2001, but if you're looking to pack in people, start your search with the 2004 model, when Toyota introduced third-row seating and stability control.

Thanks, Jody! The last five next time!

Joe Victor