A new car purchase can mean years of car payments. Because a new car decreases in value when you drive it off the car lot, you will owe more than the car is worth for a couple of years unless you have a large down payment.
Each year, the editors of Car and Driver magazine test drive many of the newest model cars and compare these cars to provide a list of the top ten auto choices for the year. Once you know which cars are on the list, you can decide whether you want to purchase one of these cars. Reading their reviews can help you determine which car is right for you.
Criteria For Cars On The List
This year, Car and Driver raised the top price from $71,000 to $80,000. All the cars on their list are under $80,000. This may mean that some of the vehicles on their list cost more than you are willing or even able to pay. This price increase meant they only considered 2 cars that wouldn’t have made the price limit. Since there are less expensive cars on the list, you can find something in your price range, no matter what you’re able to afford.
Additionally, these cars had to be in the dealer showrooms no later than January 2010 and available throughout the year. This means that there aren’t any concept cars on the list. Car models that were slated to be retired sometime this year didn’t make the list either.
Budget Cars On The Top Ten List
With easy handling and a responsive 4-cylinder engine, the Volkswagen GTI seems more expensive than the low $24k base sticker price. According to the editors at Car and Driver, the GTI handles well at high speeds. Yet, this vehicle handles stopping and starting like a sports car. Both the manual and automatic transmissions shift smoothly. Additionally, the improvements in the design make the car more attractive than last year’s model.
Less expensive than the GTI, the Honda Fit is another vehicle that handles corners at a higher speed without making you feel like you’re going to lose control of the vehicle. Though this vehicle is small on the outside, the amount of passenger room makes it feel like a much larger car. With a decent estimated EPA gas mileage of 27 to 28 in the city, this car is affordable all around.
Though the Honda Accord is more expensive than the Fit, the Accord sedan has made the Car and Driver top 10 auto lists 24 of the 28 times it has been published, showing that Honda’s designers know what they are doing. The four-cylinder engine feels more like a 6 cylinder in power and handling. Yet, the noise of the engine doesn’t reach the cockpit, making for a quiet ride.
One of the first sports cars on the Car and Driver top 10 list is the Mazda M-5 Miata. Though the Miata isn’t as powerful as some sports cars with its 158 horsepower, the Miata is known on the club racing circuit for its crisp steering and smooth shifting. These traits make the Miata fun to drive on back roads or a racetrack, yet it’s very affordable to drive.
With a price comparable to the Honda Fit, the Mazda 3 feels more like a real car according to the editors at Car and Driver. The ride quality is comparable to a more expensive car, and the material quality and chassis control are a step above. Like the Fit, the Mazda 3 seats 5 passengers comfortably even though it belongs on the list of compact cars.
Luxury Cars In The Top 10 List
At a base price that’s still under $50k, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman offer the driving pleasure that may feel more rewarding than the more expensive Porsche 911. With the addition of the S models, the fuel economy has gone up to an EPA estimated 19 to 20 mpg, while increasing the available horsepower for both the Boxster and the Cayman. With available seating for two, this is not a family vehicle.
Though BMW is synonymous with a luxury car, the BMW 3 series has a base price under $35k. The car handles like a dream on all types of roads, and the six-speed manual transmission shifts effortlessly. With a diesel option, you can get better fuel economy. Each version of the BMW 3 offers at least 230 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful vehicles on the Car and Driver top 10 list.
Though the Audi S4 only offers manual transmissions, the available horsepower more than makes up for any shortcomings. With a base price of just a bit over $46k, the S4 is only offered with a 3.0 liter 24 valve V-6 engine. You need to add the optional rear differential to get the performance that the Car and Driver test drivers saw, but the Audi S4 beat the BMW 335i in a head-to-head competition last November.
The lone gasoline powered domestic vehicle in the Car and Driver top 10 auto list is the Cadillac CTS. With a sticker price starting at $37k, the CTS gets an estimated 12 to 17 mpg in the city. However, the test drivers at Car and Driver magazine feel the CTS-V is one of the best domestic vehicles ever made. The car handles crisply, yet feels expensive enough for anyone who wants a luxury car.
Hybrid Cars In The Top 10 List
Surprisingly, the last car in the top 10 auto list is the Ford Fusion hybrid. The fun internal display helps you make the most of the hybrid engine to get the best fuel economy possible. The seating for 5 makes the Fusion feel more mainstream and less like an economy hybrid vehicle.
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