There are certain vehicles that just sell well. Take the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry for instance. No matter what happens or how good the competition is, these two will sell well for their companies. We’re not saying that there is anything wrong with these two models, except for the Camry, which is dull as a dishwasher, but a buyer needs to look at what else is on the table. The first choice might not be the best choice.
In many cases, the cars that are often ignored are the better buys. These are the dark horses of the automotive world. These are cars that fly under the radar of the American public.
Below are our ten best cars that aren’t quite known to the general public. Sure, us car people know about them, but your average consumer might be unaware. This list is not a top ten; so don’t think that one is better than ten, because it might not be.
There are a few models on the list that won’t be under the radar for long, but as of now, we still consider them dark horse models.
The Honda Accord has been the Iron Man of the midsize sedan market for generations. Now, with the great Accord name on the back, Honda has created an all-new version of the family sedan. Meet the Accord Crosstour, which adds a touch of modern versatility and a premium ride to the Accord lineup.
The Crosstour is Honda’s take on the swoopy five-door coupe-like crossover that seems to be making its rounds in the automotive world. So, is the new Crosstour good enough to be called an Accord?
If you think this design is new then you would be quite mistaken. The 2010 Accord Crosstour is just another five-door utility in the market. BMW has the X6, Toyota has the Venza, and Acura has the ZDX.
Amazingly, despite being nearly the same company, the Acura ZDX is not at all similar to the Crosstour. The ZDX is based on a truck chassis, while the Crosstour is pure Accord.
The Honda Accord is a wonderful car, but every once in a while you get tired of seeing it all over the road. Everybody knows somebody who owns a Honda Accord. We know that was a line used by Toyota, but it works in this situation as well.
In order to avoid being just another Accord driver, we have been having some fun in the 2010 ChevroletMalibu LTZ and, too be honest, there aren’t many on the road.
In our opinion, the name is a big reason why this car won’t sell. When one thinks of the Malibu they think of the bland and stylistically uninteresting previous generation Malibu and no matter how many commercials Howie Long stars in, that opinion isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
On looks alone, the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ isn’t that bad looking and shows a giant step in the right direction.
The exterior is sleek, handsome, and much fitter and hipper than the old Malibu. Even the Cobalt looks like an unattractive mongrel next to the Malibu. While not as good looking as the Accord, Civic, or Mazda3, the Malibu isn’t an ugly duckling.
The automotive industry has seen a massive shift this year. Two legendary supercar manufacturers have created two new amazing products that could change the way we think about the ultra-performance, super-expensive sports car and we will take them head to head in the ultimate competition.
In the left corner is the old workhorse, the Lamborghini Gallardo, but this isn’t the normal run of the mill version. This new model is the LP 570-4 Superleggera, a sort of midlife refresh for the venerable old performance car. Meanwhile, in the right corner, we have the new supercar from the legends of fast car manufacturing, the Ferrari 458 Italia. Unlike the Lamborghini, the Ferrari is all new, taking the place of the old 430.
One is an old veteran with a new outfit and some more power under the hood, while the other is an all-new machine from the Italian legends. This should be one great fight between two companies that have been competing for years and years.
A few weeks ago we took a trip to a local bar to watch our hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Indians. Normally we would just go to the game because the tickets are pretty cheap, but even $5 is a bit much to watch a team that really stinks.
Going into the game it was hard to get excited because we have won very few games and are in last place in the division, so needless to say, we weren’t expecting a whole lot. Amazingly though, the team did pretty well and even won the game.
It wasn’t easy for them, but it was determination that brought them a well deserved win. The same can be said for Suzuki. It’s been quite some time since they have been anything to write home about, but after years of hard work and staying under the radar, they finally have a winner on their hands.
The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi was one of those cars where you never quite knew what to expect. Sure, people have written that it was good and a step in the right direction for the company, but, like buying a generic brand cereal, you never want to believe the hype no matter what they tell you or how good it might be.
The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG can be easily summed up in just two words. The first is massively powerful, with a 457-horsepower V8. The second word is flashy. The C63 has looks that can turn heads and a noise that can shatter windows. Welcome to one of the most insane German sedans on the road.
When you first see the C63, you want it. That massive power and those stunning looks are shocking at first, but that initial impression does wear off.
So, does the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG deserve those looks or is it another look fast and go-slow family car. There’s only one way to find out, take the car to the track.
We usually start with looks first, but in this German monster, it’s the engine that matters most. The 90-degree DOHC V8 engine displaces 6.2-liter and has an 11.3:1 compression ratio. This monster puts out 457 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 442 pound-feet of torque. Not bad for a start.
A few years ago Audi started a big clean diesel push in the United States market when they brought the Q7 TDI over. The Q7 TDI was one of the most fuel efficient seven-seat SUVs on the market, but man was it ugly. Thankfully, the diesel Q7 was just the first step for the German company in its diesel push. Welcome to the Audi A3 Sportback TDI.
The A3 is the entry-level model for Audi here in the U.S. Previous models have been sold with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder or a 3.2-liter V6 engine that were petrol powered. Now, Audi has added a new motor to the lineup, a diesel motor. We had a chance to take the diesel hatch out on the streets of Wisconsin for a few hours.
The A3 is in the same market as its brother, the Volkswagen Golf and the BMW 1-Series. It comes in front and all-wheel drive modes with a transverse-mounted engine. Unlike our European brethren, we only get the five-door model.
When BMW dropped a larger engine into the Z4 it could only mean one thing. That instead of an M Z4, we would have to make do with the 35is. If you want a fast BMW roadster, this is as close as it’s going to get.
Still, considering that this 35is has just as much power as the old Z4 M, it’s not that terrible. The only things that you’re going to have to do without are those M badges.
From the outside, the Z4 sDrive 35is looks very good. In fact, we think that this is the best-looking Z roadster yet. In a way, this new car takes a bit of the old Z8’s styling. The look is butch and very aggressive and that’s good for a car like this. We love the straps look on the hood, trunk lid, and the ducktail spoiler.
Inside, the Z4 isn’t bad. BMW has raised the quality of the materials that should have been there in the first place. It feels low down, almost as if you’re sitting on the road. There are plenty of toys to play with, especially if you get the navigation system that comes with iDrive. We didn’t really have time to fiddle with the system, but we hear that it’s a bit easier to use than the old versions.
Who in the world said family sedans needed to be boring? Whoever they were, they must not have driven the 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR. The new performance Altima is still a perfect family sedan and one of the best cars to drive in its segment.
The new Altima gets some minimal surgery and it would take a person with incredible eyes to find most of the changes. Yet, what Nissan did is make the car more aggressive and, we have to say, the 3.5 SR looks quite good.
Some of the new toys for 2010 include a newly shaped hood and “T-grille” that give the car a wings sort of look. A new front bumper, and what Nissan refers to as the “license plant finisher”, is at the rear. The taillights are some of best in class, with sharp angles and different colored lights. From the side, the new 17-inch alloy wheels help give the sedan a planted look.
Nissan gives buyers a few engine options to choose from. First, there is a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder that produces 175 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. This motor is capable of 23 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway. This version of the Altima isn’t our favorite, as the engine doesn’t quite have the power to compete with the new Hyundai Sonata or the great noise of the Subaru Legacy.
Fuel-sipping sedans are the in things in today’s economy. No longer are we buying massive military vehicles or run-around-the-town-and-get-5-miles-per-gallon SUVs. With high gas prices, come small vehicles.
While they can be fashionable, they can also be downright nasty. Take for instance the Toyota Corolla. Now, this isn’t a bad sedan, it’s just not great. Nothing stands out or makes you get excited when you drive it. So with that in mind, we took out our three favorite fuel-efficient sedans, starting with the king, the Honda Civic.
The once little Civic has grown up. From a tiny hatchback of the 1970’s to a nearly midsize sedan that simply put, dominates the sales charts. With a gas motor and the option of a hybrid, the Civic is a midsize sedan for everyone.
Don’t want a Honda? Well, the second car in this test is the Mazda 3. The 3 is a fantastic little car that smiles at you when it’s going past. It handles well and has always been a good seller in the midsize segment.
While the Civic and Mazda have been around the block a few times, the 2010 Kia Forte is just a newborn. With brilliant looks, a fantastic interior, and more power than the Civic, the Kia is a great alternative to the mass market Civic and 3.
