This the list of the best new cars in year 2010 until end of March. My picks for the best new and redesigned cars for the 2010 model year. A dozen cars made the cut for 2010, here they are, in alphabetical order.
1. AUDI A5 CABRIOLET
Making a good convertible isn’t easy, which is why its so pleasing to see a drop-top like the Audi A5, one that gets it almost 100% right. From its fast-opening soft top to its sprightly, fuel-efficient engine to its well-sorted chassis, the A5 is everything a modern day convertible should be practical, fun to drive, and reasonably affordable, at least by luxury-convertible standards. A brilliant car through and through.
2. AUDI S4
The new S4 represents Audi’s attempt to tone down the car to better compete with less-expensive rivals like the Lexus IS350 and Mercedes C350. How well it does that is up for debate, but a sizeable price cut has transformed the S4 into one of the best performance buys on the market. The new supercharged V6 makes it quicker than the old V8-powered S4, while an outstanding suspension and Quattro all-wheel-drive makes it quicker in the corners than many of its 400+ hp rivals. There’s even an optional trick rear differential will make it as tail-happy as a rear-wheel-drive car.
3. BUICK LaCROSSE
The LaCrosse gets it right where many of its Japanese competitors get it wrong: Bold, beautiful styling, an interior that combines luxury and style, a suspension that delivers a smooth, quiet ride with responsive handling, and an infotainment package that’s among the best in the business. There’s nothing remotely old-fashioned about the 2010 Buick LaCrosse except the price, the LaCrosse delivers good ol’ fashioned American value.
4. CHEVROLET CAMARO
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is easily the most-anticipated new car of the 2010 model year, with head-turning styling, gobs of power, and an amazingly reasonable price.
5. FORD FUSION HYBRID
The Fusion Hybrid gets the best fuel economy of any mid-size hybrid sedan, topping the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid by a sizable margin. It’s hybrid drivetrain is superior in driveability as well as efficiency, and its customizable dash display is innovative and entertaining.
6. FORD MUSTANG
For years now, the thorn in the Mustang’s side has been its solid rear axle, the same technology, Henry used on his Model T back in long years ago. It took just over a hundred years, but Ford has finally tamed the solid axle. The point is that the 2010 Mustang can be hustled through the curves better than its independent rear suspension equipped rivals from Dodge and Chevy. Factor in the beautiful retro dash, the old-school V8 exhaust bellow, and those cool sequential taillights, and this is the best Mustang since the ’64 original.
7. HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE
Hyundai has always been about good value. the affordable rear-wheel-drive sports car. $22,750 or RM72,196 gets you a nicely equipped car with a potent two-liter turbo engine, the form-factor of choice for cars like the Volkswagen GTI and Audi A4. For $26k or RM83k, you get a 300 hp V6 that will keep up with an Infiniti G37. And the suspension is just as good as the engines. It is a properly-sorted sports car that can give the Mazda RX-8 and Nissan 370Z a run for their money.
8. KIA FORTE
Improvement is generally an incremental process, but every once in a while an unlikely automaker will make an unexpected leap and the Kia Forte is a perfect example. Many people think Kia is the Korean word for “cheap”, but the Forte is a solid car that can stand up to scrutiny against the competition. It doesn’t quite surpass the leaders which, in my opinion, are the Honda Civic and the Mazda3 but it stands door-to-door with established players like the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra, and it does so with a lower price and more standard safety equipment than any of its rivals. If Kia stays on this path, Toyota could be in a lot of trouble.
9. MAZDA 3
Since its introduction in 2004, the Mazda3 has earned a reputation for being economical, fun to drive, and well outside of the mainstream. Mazda’s goal for the redesigned 2010 Mazda3 was to make a car that would bring new buyers into the fold without abandoning the factors and features that current Mazda3 owners hold so dear.
10. MERCEDES BENZ E-CLASS
The all-new 2010 Mercedes E is a big leap over the old car in terms of styling and available features, but the tranquil interior and smooth, quiet ride are unchanged, giving the new E the same combination of elegance and serenity that made the old E-Class my favorite luxury car.
11. PORSCHE PANAMERA
People are still arguing about whether Porsche should have produced a four-door car, but if they were going to do it, at least they did it right. Porsche’s engineers started with a clean sheet and designed a car that reads like a Who’s Who of good ideas. The Panamera features powerful direct-injection engines that deliver gobs of power with surprisingly good fuel economy; an air suspension that provides both a luxurious ride and true sports-car handling; and an elegant leather-lined interior with an exceptionally well-thought-out control layout. Add in four comfortable seats and a big cargo bay with convenient hatchback access, and you have proof that small sports cars aren’t the only thing Porsche does well.
12. VOLKSWAGEN GTI
Volkswagen introduce the concept of the hot hatchback, and with the all-new 2010 GTI, they’re still setting the standards. The new GTI doesn’t lead the pack in terms of power, but it sets the pace for the fun-to-drive factor thanks to its excellent handling, tolerable ride, and remarkable lack of front-wheel-drive bugaboos like torque steer and corner-exit wheelspin.
Jom komen!