There you are -- in the middle of the auto show floor. What should you do? Which cars and trucks should you see first?

PG On Wheels to the rescue! Here's our handy-dandy list of products we've been pretty impressed with during this model year.

All these cars and trucks have been "taste tested" -- that is, we've actually driven these cars and trucks for weeks at a time. Though others that aren't on the list might be wonderful, too, we won't recommend them until we've actually gotten behind the wheel. Would you recommend something you haven't tried? We didn't think so.

Our "Don't Miss" recommendations include all manner of foreign and domestic products , so you're sure to see something you like.

Our criteria is they must represent outstanding value, high quality, attractive styling inside and out, and strong safety records.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Chevrolet Malibu, $19,345 to $26,345, 17/26 to 24/32 depending on engine selected):

Ah, yes, the car they said Detroit could never create -- a family sedan that could effectively compete with Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Malibu has gotten accolades and compliments from Consumer Reports and just about every magazine on the market, and plenty of "Best Buy" rankings, too. What makes this car so terrific? Just about everything. Like Honda's Accord, it can be whatever you like: family car, sports sedan, luxury sedan, whatever. Its equipment, styling and personality are such that it becomes a moving canvas upon which owners can paint their own vision of what they want their car to be.

Quality is impeccable, styling looks far costlier than it is, and it has a longer warranty than many cars in its class. Do not miss this one.

Honda Accord, $20,360 to $30,510, 18/27 to 22/32, depending on engine selected:

You won't recognize Accord when you see the new one. Completely revamped from top to bottom, the four-door sedan is, in many ways with its European flavored styling, a dead ringer for BMW's Five Series.

Handling and ride are well-balanced, stable and very much in the sports car genre. European flavored styling. The interior is huge, so much so that the Accord is now classified as a large car, not an intermediate. The coupe Accord is its own sexy self, with muscular profile, semi- fastback roofline and a slew of features that make it a must see car, too.

A tip: Before you plunk down money on a top-of-the-line Accord, be sure you check into the base model. I drove it and it handles like a sports sedan, and the quality feel and look of the interior is so nice you won't believe it's an entry model.

Pontiac Vibe, 2.4 liter, 158 horsepower four, 20/26:

Here's another high content, well-done car from GM. The Vibe is all new this year, and shares its platform, equipment and body with the Toyota Matrix. But it looks a lot better than the Matrix, has a sportier ambiance, and includes GM's "gotta have" OnStar Security and Safety System. Consumers can get full power equipment, automatic, all-wheel drive, traction control and stability control, and lots of other goodies for precious little money. The Vibe is fun to drive, comfortable, well-mannered on the road, and a car you'll love to own.

Ford Fusion $17,770 to $24,000, 18/26 to 20/29 depending on engine, and Mercury Milan, $18,725 to $25,530; fuel economy same as Fusion):

Though the Fusion has been overshadowed this year by the Chevrolet Malibu, it nevertheless is an outstanding product with European styling and brisk road performance if you get the V-6. The Fusion is quite roomy inside, and comfortable, too.

The Fusion has a distinctly cool, sporty, contemporary feel about it -- and the overall interior look suggests it's all about performance. Both the Mercury Milan and the Fusion offer one of the niftiest options I've seen in a while -- and it's an exclusive. Microsoft and Ford have teamed up to offer Sync, a state of the art voice-recognition system.

You hit the activation button on the steering wheel, the system says "USB" -- and you simply use commands to get what you want. The system can help you choose artist, music genre, album or just about anything else you desire. And for the Bluetooth phone, just download your phone's number log, and away you go.

On a more mundane plane, you should also know that the Fusion and Milan have always won the highest rankings in terms of safety ratings, so you're in good shape on that score.

If you want your accommodations to be more lux, check out the Mercury Milan. Thanks to a richer looking, more contemporary grille, a nicer interior, and prettier alloy wheels and tasteful trim on the exterior, the Milan is clearly upscale.

Chrysler Town & Country, $22,460 to $35,670 and Dodge Grand Caravan, $21,740 to $26,805, 16/23 to 17/24 depending on engine:

Consider these two to be babysitters and living rooms on wheels. Clearly miles ahead of the competition in terms of features, the Dodge and Chrysler minivans are quiet, spacious, well-mannered on the road and full of practical thinking.

One feature is an optional Swivel 'n Go second row of seats that will turn to face the third row, with a table that comes with the package installed in between them. All this creates a cozy dining area or surface to play games.

Other nifty features of these two minivans include things like washable cup holders, removable center consoles, second- and third-row sunshades, and lots of other options that you likely will find indispensable once you use them. There's also an entertainment system that features television cartoon shows!

Many families who have had these vans are particularly fond of the Stow 'n Go seating that allows the second- and third-row seats to fold flush into the floor. BMW 1 Series, ($28,600 to $34,900),18/28 for the 128i, 17/25 for the 135i):

As they say, this car is "da bomb." If you love driving, you simply cannot miss this baby. I don't know when I've had so much fun behind the wheel except for my own much loved Mini Cooper, which, not surprisingly, is a BMW product.

The reason why this car works is because it's the unadulterated real thing. There's nothing between you and the road -- not a lot of silly gizmos, excess weight, needless froufrou, nor are there needless gadgets and accessories that add nothing to the driving experience.

This car's steering action and balance is superb, and it's cornering and handling is dead on, too. Acceleration is explosive, even in the 128i, so I suggest you try both models before you buy.

Best of all, this is a true BMW. Yes, it's small and yes, it's less expensive than other BMWs. But the fun factor, equipment and everything else about this car say that this is the real McCoy, through and through.

Hyundai Santa Fe, ($20,995 to $29,600, 17/24):

This is another value-packed product from Hyundai that looks and drives like more expensive SUVs. It's quiet, well built, stylish, and comes with Hyundai's much-lauded 10-year, 100,000-mile limited power train warranty. Reliability records are strong, and the interior is both attractive and functional. And, you can get a third-row seat at a price far below that offered by other manufacturers. It also has an unusually strong list of safety features that are standard, down to side-curtain air bags and traction control and stability control.

Infiniti G37 coupe and Infiniti G-35 Sedan, $31,600 to $35,500, 17/24 ti 18/24, depending on model and engine):

Infiniti's G37 Coupe and G 35 Sedan are now considered to be at least equal to the Three Series in performance, refinement and sheer driving fun.

The G37 Coupe, powered by a 330- horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6, is a luxurious two- door coupe that is an absolute joy to drive, with the fun heightened by that special, sonorous exhaust system that will send you into rhapsody when you hear it. It corners tightly, features decent gas mileage, and a long, extensive list of standard equipment too numerous to mention here. Lots of value for the money with this one.

Ditto for the G35 four-door sedan, powered by a 3.5-liter, 306-horsepower V-6 which comes in rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive versions. Where the Three Series has explosive power that seems to come on at the mere twitch of the foot, the G35 has smooth, seamless power all along its acceleration curve. There's plenty of luggage room and comfortable supportive seats. Neither will you see many of these on the road.

Jaguar XF, $49,200 to $62,200, 15/22 for the supercharged model or 16/25 for the base model):

Jaguar's all-new XF is a real head-turning coupe/sedan with rear-wheel drive. The car handles beautifully, and is so quiet you can't hear the engine. The interior has a contemporary custom aluminum/wood look about it that successfully weds the past with Jaguar's future. There's a strong sense of a cockpit.

Then there's the "show" that everybody's talking about: firing up this cat. One presses a red pulsating button which acts as the heart of the car. Then a large glittery knob rises silently into the palm of your hand, just as the vents on the dash slowly glide open, as though the car's eyes are opening up. It is just . . . too . . . cool.

Mazda5, $17,995 to $22,365, 21/27 with automatic transmission:

It's finally happened.

Word is that the Mazda5 will soon get some competition from Honda and other companies that now want a piece of the "tall wagon"/small minivan market. But Mazda5 has little to worry about, given its value, looks and practicality.

Here you have a seven-seater that's sporty, fun to drive, good looking and easy to park. How many manufacturers can say all that about their minivan? It has a full complement of safety equipment, and nifty ideas like storage space under the seat pad for the second-row seats. This year, it's gotten a new front fascia, grille, headlamps and taillamps.

Given its modest size, roomy interior and sporty character, and most of all, a price thousands below most other minivans, it's the only minivan I want parked in my driveway. Don't miss this one. It's a keeper.

Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, $17,070 to $38,095, 13/18 to 15/20:

These are among the quietest, strongest and best built trucks on the market, and despite the arrival of the new Toyota Tundra and coming upgrades on Dodge Ram and the Ford F150, GM still sits atop the truck heap.

These pickups are above reproach in terms of comfort, quiet, utility and performance. When these were introduced about a year ago, the difference between them and the previous generation was eye-opening. Much better quality and fit and finish, easier to drive and park than the competition, and loaded with safety equipment, too. You can't do much better than this pair if you want a pickup.

Saturn (the whole lineup)

Astra, $15,375 to $17,875, fuel mileage figures unavailable; aura, $19,745 to $24,845, 20/29 to 28/35; Outlook, $27,605 to $31,905, 16/22; Sky, $24,975 to $29,175, 19/25 to 19/28; VUE, $20,770 to $28,770; 15/22 to 25/32:

Some people who don't know about the "New Saturn" thought I'd lost my mind when I nominated the entire lineup to my "Best" lists.

My sanity is still intact, and if you haven't seen Saturn now, you're making a mistake. These are value-laden, stylish automobiles and SUVs that are now upscale in content without the upscale prices. They also happen to be a good reason why we all need to rethink the notion that domestic car companies can't compete. They can -- and then some. As I said before, there's not a ringer in the bunch.

Looking for an SUV? If you want a bigger one, the Outlook is one of the best around, with a roomy interior and third-row seat that is one of the few truly usable ones in the industry. The Vue has style, European flair, strong performance in V-6 form, and lots of standard equipment. Looking for a sedan? The Aura is top notch. Classy style, a sporty, well-designed interior and lots of built-in value are hallmarks of the Aura.

And the Sky? One of the sexiest roadsters around, and a strong performer in Red Line form.