Car and Driver have released its annual 10BEST list with some predictable and not-so-predictable results. Among the predictable, the 2010 Honda Accord, BMW M3 and Mazda Miata, with those cars making the list at least 11 times.
The upset? The Ford Fusion Hybrid beat out the Toyota Prius as the car magazines go-to green car. What do they like about the Fusion Hybrid compared to the Prius? Namely, that it isn’t a Prius. “We admire it as much for what it isn’t (polarizing, showy, cramped) as for what it is.”
Beyond the objectivity though, C&D points out the Fusion Hybrids class-leading fuel economy and excellent driving dynamics, a sentiment that we concur with after driving the Fusion Hybrid in October.
CAR AND DRIVER ANNOUNCES “10BEST” CARS FOR 2010
Imports Continue to Reign Supreme
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 2, 2009 – As the most tumultuous year in the history of the automotive industry draws to a close, Car and Driver magazine, the world’s No. 1 automotive enthusiast publication, this week announced its 28th annual list of 10Best cars sold in America. With only two of the ten cars included on this year’s list manufactured by US car companies, evidence continues to mount that American manufacturers still have a ways to go to catch up with many of the imports.
A positive sign of the times for an US car manufacturer is the fact the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid made the coveted list as only the second hybrid ever to be included. The Toyota Prius made the list in 2004.
Following are the 2010 Car and Driver 10Best winners (in alphabetical order), followed by the number of times each model has made the list:
- 2010 Audi S4 (2)
- 2010 BMW 3-series / M3 (19)
- 2010 Cadillac CTS / CTS-V (2)
- 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (1)
- 2010 Honda Accord (24)
- 2010 Honda Fit (3)
- 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata (11)
- 2010 Mazda 3 / Mazdaspeed 3 (3)
- 2010 Porsche Boxster / Cayman (3)
- 2010 Volkswagen GTI (7)
The list is not in a ranked order. A panel of 18 Car and Driver editors determined the winners by rating them on a scale of 1-100 with a focus on functional performance, driving satisfaction and value. Vehicles considered for the award must be available in the United States by January 2009 and priced below the cap of $80,000, or 2.5 times the average transaction price as of summer 2009. Winners from the previous year are re-nominated if they are still available under the price cap.
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December 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Namely, that it isn’t a Prius. “We admire it as much for what it isn’t (polarizing, showy, cramped) as for what it is.”
Sounds like Car and Driver underrated the Prius based on it being too “showyness” and polarizing to people who hate Priuses and not that it’s an outstanding green vehicle and one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the planet.
I would say the Car and Driver’s judgement of green cars was not based on fuel efficiency, performance, etc, but rather “showyness”.