Car and Driver announces 2010 10Best Cars
Our pals over at Car and Driver, now helmed by our esteemable buddy Eddie Alterman, just released their 2010 10Best Cars. Quite an undertaking. As they put it, "58 contenders. $2.5 million total. 12,000 test miles logged." For those keeping track, this is the 28th time C/D has published their 10Best. Surprises this year? No not really. The BMW 3 Series continues its unabated drive of dominance to 10Best history with an impressive, will-probably-never-be-duplicated 19th straight win. Not to be too outdone, the Honda Accord also makes the cut for a 24th time, though not consecutive. Also note that while the Audi S4 makes the grade, the run-of-the-mill (so to speak) A4 does not. We're also pleased to see the Ford Fusion Hybrid getting its just dues (again, it's interesting that the gas-only version doesn't). And of course, you've got your yearly appearance by the Mazda Miata MX-5, Porsche Boxster / Cayman and Volkswagen GTI. Falling off the list this year? The Chevrolet Corvette, Infiniti G37, and the Jaguar XF.
Would we have done things much differently? Probably not much, though we must admit we were pulling for the highly impressive Suzuki Kizashi to make its debut and we're a bit surprised to not see one of the new crop of pony cars on the list. Maybe next year. Alphabetical list of winners after the jump.
[Source: Car and Driver | Image Source: R.S. Owens]
2010 Car and Driver 10Best Cars:
2010 Audi S4
2010 BMW 3 Series / M3
2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2010 Honda Accord
2010 Honda Fit
2010 Mazda Miata MX-5
2010 Mazda3 / MazdaSpeed3
2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman
2010 Volkswagen GTI
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
notYou 10:13AM (11/24/2009)
Not to harp on it, but in summarizing I can't believe you missed the CTS/CTS-V:
2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V - 10Best Cars: Maybe the best American car ever made.
Exactly.
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John H. 12:55PM (11/24/2009)
Certainly, CTS-V is more interesting than a Fusion hybrid.
Especially as it's the US standard bearer vs the M3 and S4 in the list.
gr8bsn 2:55AM (11/28/2009)
What do you get when you shove a 550+ HP engine into a Caddy? The CTS-V. Road & Track took one to Germany and spanked the M5 with it at the Nurnburgring. You are right, it is probably the best American car of all time.
gr8bsn 2:56AM (11/28/2009)
Oh, and did I mention that the CTS-V has the same engine as the Corvette?
jjoekiker7 6:22AM (11/29/2009)
Pay-offs....magazine IS on the take..... and why not would'nt YOU ..... those cars the the caddy cts and the hybrid and the majority exception of the porsch are trash.... compared to the IS350 LEX....I have driven almost all the cars....and the lex OUT_PERFORMS them ALL.... the tires on the lex are very expensive but alot of the functionality in high speeds depend on the tire.....ever heard of keep it simple....well thats a lex...any-way.....I dont read that mag anymore.....they are on the take..... and full of BS
Lar7789789 9:38AM (11/24/2009)
"Falling off the list this year? The Chevrolet Corvette"
why in the world would the Corvette even make the 10 best cars list ever anyways?
Thats a joke
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NS 9:42AM (11/24/2009)
Since you asked ... here's your sign!!!
sparrk 12:14PM (11/24/2009)
the Corvette does it's job very well as a cheap performance car. if there were a bang/buck category maybe the Vette would win. but i doubt the Corvette would win any "best car ever" awards , except maybe in the US.
Nuieve 1:03PM (11/24/2009)
Corvette is not cheap, not a bargain anymore. At ~50k base (~60k well equipped), it can now be judged against other 50k cars, and imo it loses to most of them as a bang/buck value. The only virtue it has is its engine, everything else in it is pure mediocrity (at best). Cars like Porsche Cayman, Audi TTS/S5, BMW Z4/M3, E550/SLK AMG, even 370Z etc pretty much get very close to or match its performance yet offer a generous amount of style, interior quality, comfort and features. Chevrolet lost the touch with reality as of now. They need to bring Corvette price back to low 40s to become competitive again.
Mark 3:11PM (11/24/2009)
Nuieve,
Basically nothing you mentioned matches the Vette's performance...
The M3 is closest in a straight line, but don't let that base price fool you, you'd be lucky to get seats in an M3 for the price of a Corvette with all the desirable options(about $55k). Everything else just isn't comparable as far as outright performance goes.
However it is true it could use a serious chassis refresh and some upgrades, the design is aging
RAndroid 10:19PM (11/24/2009)
I'm sorry but I never thought someone that bought a Vette would think "Oh the chics are gonna love my interior"...
Kaze9 9:40AM (11/24/2009)
Agree the corvett is essentially one of those red and yellow toy cars with a massive engine bolted up front.
Kinda sad we only have two domestic cars on the list tho.
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Smegley 9:56AM (11/24/2009)
Though the boxster is a good car, why is it on the list exactly, and how is it not a "toy car" whereas the corvette is?
Kaze9 11:10AM (11/24/2009)
I was referring to the corvettes extensive use of plastic which looks and feels flimsy and cheap which most likely puts it in lower holdings than the cars listed
spin cycle 11:41AM (11/24/2009)
Kyle:
Everyone uses plastic for their dashes. Including Porsche. Porsche uses black plastic.
The Corvette is available with leather sitching covering most of the plastic if you would like.
You guys really need to get out more and stop harping on this stuff.
PontiacLover7 1:32PM (11/24/2009)
lets face it, neither of you could afford either a prosche or a vette... so i wouldnt worry about the interior in one of these... rather how about the interior your midsize sedan, that is probably covered in mcdonalds wrappers...
Luis 9:47AM (11/24/2009)
The Fusion hybrid is on there to show that Americans can play the hybrid game as well as anyone else. Other than that I don't think the Fusion in and of itself is that much better (or worse) than other run-of-the-mill midsize sedans.
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Yaroukh 10:00AM (11/24/2009)
~another version of "i wonder how much has Ford paid them"
chrono111 10:02AM (11/24/2009)
The Accord isn't a class leader anymore. Too big and bloaty. So so gas mileage and unacceptable cabin noise. I anticipate it falling off the top ten in the next year or so ..
Luis 11:12AM (11/24/2009)
If that was the case with the Accord it wouldn't be on there this year. It's not like it's a new model anymore. They like the Accord because it's generally uncompromising. I had an 03, and while not all that great looking, it was roomy, was built well and relatively fun to drive (with 5-speed, 4-cyl). The bigger they make it, the less fun it is, arguably. I too think it's too big now.