Best cars since 2000

Fire It Up · Moderator

Best cars since 2000

ifcar · Moderator

2000: Ford Focus

When introduced five years ago, it revolutionized the small sedan, offering excellent interior room and driving dynamics far better than any compact car before it, and is still a class leader.

2001: Toyota Highlander

Based on the Lexus RX300, the Highlander was the first car-based midsize low-cost SUV. Essentially a tall Camry wagon, the car sold very well as a comfortable, fuel-efficient minivan or wagon alternative, and sparked many more "soft-roader" competitors.

2002: Nissan Altima

Like the LX-cars for Chrysler, the 2002 Altima turned around the Nissan brand, turning an unexceptional mainstreamer into a sporty family car that provided direction for the entire Nissan line, which, except for the Sentra, has been redone to become the sporty alternative to mainstream, and has been largely successful.

2003: Cadillac CTS

This upscale sedan can be credited for turning the Cadillac brand around, if only because it came first. In two years, starting with this car, the GM luxury division re-invented itself, and is now extremely successful.

2004: Toyota Prius

The first-gen Prius was quirky, too small inside, and far more expensive than other compacts. 2004 brought the first midsize hybrid, whith enough interior room to be a solid competitor at its price, as well as an increase in fuel economy.

2005: Chrysler 300/300C/Dodge Magnum

Whether you like them or not, you have to admit that these vehicles are extremely successful and have the potential to stay that way. The V8 versions are winning awards and all are selling better than their predecessors. They may end up being credited for turning Chrysler around.

-- Edited by ifcar at 09:59, 2005-01-15

thewizard16 · V-12

Infiniti G35- It started a whole new wave of luxury sports enthusiasm in that price range

Toyota Prius- It basically started the Hybrid craze. The only competitor at its inception was the useless Insight, and the redesign of the Prius has not only made it a very popular car, but has promoted the hybrid idea, which other automakers are now scrambling to catch up with.

Cadillac XLR- The first Cadillac to break the $70,000 price range, and actually be a competitor while doing so. Before this car, very few people would have considered Cadillac a higher end Mercedes or Lexus competitor.

Lexus RX300/330- It sells like crazy. Everyone loves them, even the people who end up buying M-Classes. I don't know how they do it, but for a midsize SUV over the $30,000 price range to be that high selling is impressive.

Ford Five Hundred- I personally don't like this car, but it's the first car worth owning that Ford has made in a long time. The Focus made a big splash in the compact market for a while, but the Corolla overtook it. The Five Hundred probably wont have the same splash effect, but it should at least put Ford back on the minds of regular car buyers.

Scion tC- Who would've thought an oddball, upstart brand (albeit one with extremely good backing) could make a car that nearly every teenager would like to own, and everyone considers to be a fantastic car for the price? The tC is the first Scion to actually catch everyone's attention, and it's proof that you can have a great car for a good price from a brand other than the Koreans.

Dodge Magnum, Chrysler 300- I hate them, the interiors make me angry, and the styling is ugly. However, they are a huge improvement, quality wise, from previous Diamler vehicles. The unique styling is also a big plus in some people's minds. Whether it turns them around or not, it seems to have helped bring them back into profitable territory.

That's all for now.

Kevin · GMPenguin

I don't think I can choose separate vehicles, having never been in any that I think I'd put up there, so I'm going to do the most improved companies since 2000.

Cadillac

Dodge/Chrysler

Ford-now Ford hasn't really improved much yet, but they have started to improve

Saturn-not for current lineup of course, but as of now with the suggested future models, I think that Saturn will be a big improvement

What the heck I'll choose a few models too.

Scion tC

Focus

and others, but I have to go

MX793 · V-6

2000 Ford Focus - Finally, a compact car with Euro flavor a driving dynamics with a better value than an actual Euro compact (VW). Good packaging and good road manners, unfortunately hampered by some first and second year gremlins.

2004 Mazda3 - An upscale compact at a reasonable price with great road manners and decent performance. I think this car raised the bar for economy cars.

2003 Nissan 350Z - The revival of Japanese performance cars. After several years of no high performance Japanese cars sports cars on the market, Nissan answers the call with a true, blue, Z car that offers a much better performance value than their last one.

2004 F-150 - Another benchmark vehicle, Ford took the half ton truck to a whole new level of refinement with an interior that would make some family cars jealous.

2002 Subaru WRX - Rally performance for the street in America, finally! Thanks to Subaru breaking the ice with their rally inspired performance car, Mitsubishi returned fire with their own fire breathing Lancer Evolution, which was answered by Subaru's even more potent WRX STi.

2005 Ford Mustang - Perhaps the best pony to ever come from Ford. Cool retro styling, the first decent looking interior since who knows when, and a modern chassis (first one since the 70s) with the same value as Mustangs of the past.

2003 Infiniti G35 - Infiniti came at the BMW 3 series hot and heavy and while it can be debated whether or not their entry has really beaten the BMW, no one can say the G is lackluster (unlike the IS300). This one really got the spotlight on Infiniti and made them a contender again.

There are others, these are just a few that jumped in my head.

-- Edited by MX793 at 00:24, 2005-02-06

thewizard16 · V-12

Welcome to the forums, MX793!