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Car and Driver magazine nominates an annual list of Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.
All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:
- The vehicle must be on sale by January
- It must be priced below 2.5 times the average car price for that year
- The manufacturer must provide an example for testing
- Only substantially changed vehicles and the past year's 10 best winners are nominated
The magazine sometimes selects a specific trim and other times a whole family of vehicles.
See also: Car of the Year
Top Ten Marques
From 1983 through 2006, the following marques were represented on the list the most times, including both the car and truck lists.
| Rank | Marque | Number of wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda | 54 |
| 2 | Ford | 27 |
| 3 | BMW | 22 |
| 4 | Mazda | 19 |
| 5 | Chevrolet | 17 |
| 6 | Acura | 16 |
| 7 | Audi | 15 |
| 7 | Nissan | 15 |
| 9 | Chrysler | 12 |
| 9 | Dodge | 12 |
Top Manufacturers
Further breaking down the marques into their controlling manufacturers amplifies Honda's dominance of the contest over the last 24 years.
Note that this number is skewed by the multiple products picked over the years. For example, the Chrysler minivans were picked three times, totalling 8 "points" for DaimlerChrysler from three wins. The Diamond-Star cars were a similar problem, double-dipping "points" for both Mitsubishi, Plymouth, and Eagle. These situations were not "fixed"; rather, they are left as-is, skewing the totals.
| Rank | Manufacturer | Number of wins | Included marques |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda | 70 | Honda and Acura |
| 2 | Ford | 56 | Ford, Mazda, Mercury, Lincoln and Merkur |
| 3 | DaimlerChrysler | 46 | Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Mitsubishi, Eagle, Mercedes-Benz, AMC, and Jeep |
| 4 | General Motors | 30 | Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saab, and Cadillac |
| 5 | Toyota | 24 | Toyota, Subaru and Lexus |
| 6 | BMW | 22 | |
| 7 | Volkswagen | 19 | Audi and Volkswagen |
| 7 | Renault | 18 | Nissan, Infiniti, and Renault |
| 9 | Porsche | 11 |
Top Ten Models
From 1983 through 2006, the following individual models were represented on the list the most times:
| Rank | Model | Number of wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Accord | 20 |
| 2 | BMW 3-Series | 15 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| 4 | Honda Prelude | 10 |
| 5 | Ford Taurus | 7 |
| 5 | Mazda Miata | 7 |
| 5 | Nissan 300ZX | 7 |
| 5 | Porsche Boxster | 7 |
| 9 | Acura Integra | 6 |
| 9 | BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 6 |
Note: The Acura RSX and Acura Integra are similar models. The RSX's 2002 and 2003 wins would bring the Integra into 5th place if their numbers were combined.
1983
For the 1980s, Car and Driver picked five domestic and five import cars.
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| AMC Alliance | 1 |
| Chevrolet Caprice Classic | 1 |
| Ford Mustang GT 5.0 | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz 380SEL | 1 |
| Pontiac 6000 STE | 3 |
| Porsche 944 | 4 |
| Renault Alliance | 1 |
| Toyota Celica Supra | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI Rabbit | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Jaguar XJ-S HE, 142 mph
Top-selling cars:
1984
Instituted the price cap at $30,000.
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi 5000 S/Turbo | 5 |
| Dodge Daytona Turbo | 1 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Prelude | 10 |
| Mazda 626 | 1 |
| Pontiac 6000 STE | 3 |
| Pontiac Fiero 2M4 | 1 |
| Porsche 944 | 4 |
| Toyota Celica Supra | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI Rabbit | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole, 144 mph
Top-selling cars:
1985
Price cap: $30,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi 5000 S/Turbo | 5 |
| Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z | 1 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Dodge Caravan | 3 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Honda CRX | 2 |
| Honda Prelude | 10 |
| Merkur XR4Ti | 1 |
| Plymouth Voyager | 3 |
| Pontiac 6000 STE | 3 |
| Porsche 944 | 4 |
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette, 150 mph
Top-selling cars:
1986
Price cap: $30,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro | 5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Prelude | 10 |
| Lincoln Mark VII LSC | 1 |
| Mercury Sable | 3 |
| Porsche 944 Turbo | 4 |
| Saab 9000 Turbo | 4 |
| Toyota MR2 | 2 |
| Volkswagen GTI | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Porsche 944 Turbo, 157 mph
Top-selling cars:
1987
Price cap: $30,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra | 6 |
| Audi 5000 CS Turbo | 5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Mustang GT | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Mazda RX-7 Turbo | 5 |
| Pontiac Bonneville SE | 1 |
| Saab 9000 Turbo | 4 |
| Toyota MR2 | 2 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 176 mph
Top-selling cars:
1988
Price cap: $35,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra | 6 |
| Acura Legend Coupe | 3 |
| Audi 5000 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Mustang 5 | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Honda CRX | 2 |
| Saab 9000 Turbo | 4 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 173 mph
Top-selling cars:
1989
Imports and domestics chosen by marque, not by place of manufacture.
Price cap: $35,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Legend Coupe | 3 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Dodge Colt Turbo | 1 |
| Ford Probe GT | 3 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo | 4 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo | 1 |
| Plymouth Laser Turbo | 4 |
| Saab 9000 Turbo | 4 |
Fastest car tested: 750iL V12, 158 mph
Top-selling cars:
1990
Eliminated half domestic/half import rule as impractical.
Price cap: $35,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Legend Coupe | 3 |
| Eagle Talon Turbo | 3 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Lexus LS | 1 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Mazda MPV | 2 |
| Mercury Sable | 3 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo | 4 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Maxima SE | 3 |
| Plymouth Laser Turbo | 4 |
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 175 mph
Top-selling cars:
1991
New rule: No more than two places per marque.
Price cap: $35,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Eagle Talon Turbo | 3 |
| Ford Taurus | 7 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Mazda MPV V6 | 2 |
| Mercury Sable | 3 |
| Mercury Tracer LTS | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo | 4 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Sentra SE-R | 4 |
| Plymouth Laser Turbo | 4 |
| Toyota Previa | 1 |
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 176 mph
Top-selling cars:
1992
Price cap: $40,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| BMW 3-Series 325i | 15 |
| Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan | 1 |
| Eagle Talon AWD Turbo | 3 |
| Ford Taurus SHO | 7 |
| Honda Prelude Si | 10 |
| Lexus SC SC400 | 4 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse AWD Turbo | 4 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Sentra SE-R | 4 |
| Plymouth Laser AWD Turbo | 4 |
| Toyota Camry V6 | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F40, 197 mph
Top-selling cars:
1993
Price cap: $40,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| BMW 3-Series 325i | 15 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 2 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 4 |
| Ford Probe GT | 3 |
| Honda Prelude Si VTEC | 10 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 | 1 |
| Lexus SC | 4 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 5 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Sentra SE-R | 4 |
| Toyota Camry Sedans | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo, 204 mph
Top-selling cars:
1994
Institution of the 2.5x price cap, now at $43,000.
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra GS-R | 6 |
| BMW 3-Series 325i/325is | 15 |
| Chrysler Concorde | 2 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 4 |
| Eagle Vision | 1 |
| Ford Probe GT | 3 |
| Honda Accord EX | 20 |
| Honda Prelude VTEC | 10 |
| Lexus SC | 4 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 5 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Sentra SE-R | 4 |
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 179 mph
Top-selling cars:
1995
Price cap: $46,000.
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra GS-R | 6 |
| BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 | 15 |
| Chrysler Cirrus LXi | 3 |
| Ford Contour | 3 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Prelude VTEC | 10 |
| Lexus SC | 4 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 5 |
| Mercury Mystique | 3 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Maxima SE | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo VT, 185 mph
Top-selling cars:
1996
Price cap: $48,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra | 6 |
| Audi A4 | 4 |
| BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 | 15 |
| Chrysler Cirrus | 3 |
| Chrysler Town and Country | 2 |
| Dodge Caravan | 3 |
| Dodge Stratus | 2 |
| Ford Contour | 3 |
| Honda Civic | 6 |
| Honda Prelude VTEC | 10 |
| Mercury Mystique | 3 |
| Nissan 300ZX Turbo | 7 |
| Nissan Maxima SE | 3 |
| Plymouth Voyager | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F355, 179 mph
Top-selling cars:
1997
Price cap: $54,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura Integra | 6 |
| Audi A4 | 4 |
| BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| Chrysler Cirrus | 3 |
| Chrysler Town and Country | 2 |
| Dodge Caravan | 3 |
| Dodge Stratus | 2 |
| Ford Contour | 3 |
| Honda Prelude SH | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class | 2 |
| Mercury Mystique | 3 |
| Plymouth Breeze | 1 |
| Plymouth Voyager | 3 |
| Toyota Camry V6 | 3 |
Fastest car tested: Dodge Viper GTS, 177 mph
Top-selling cars:
1998
Price cap: $55,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi A4 | 4 |
| BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 4 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda Prelude | 10 |
| Lexus GS | 3 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F50, 194 mph
Top-selling cars:
1999
Price cap: $59,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| BMW 3-Series 328i/M3 | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| BMW Z3 M Coupe/M Roadster | 1 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Chrysler 300M | 2 |
| Dodge Intrepid | 4 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Lexus GS | 3 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
Top-selling cars:
2000
Price cap: $61,000
| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi A6 | 2 |
| Audi TT | 2 |
| BMW 3-Series | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| Chrysler 300M | 2 |
| Ford Focus | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda S2000 | 4 |
| Lexus GS | 3 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
Top speed recorded: Ferrari 360 Modena, 173 mph
Top-selling cars:
2001
For 2001, Car and Driver created a separate "Five Best Trucks" award with a single winner in each of five categories.
Top-selling vehicles:
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $62,000| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Audi A6 | 2 |
| Audi TT | 2 |
| BMW 3-Series | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 1 |
| Ford Focus | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda S2000 | 4 |
| Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Toyota Highlander | 1 |
| Luxury SUV | Acura MDX | 1 |
| Pickup Truck | Chevrolet Silverado | 3 |
| Small SUV | Ford Escape | 1 |
| Van | Honda Odyssey | 5 |
2002
Top-selling cars:
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $66,000| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura RSX | 2 |
| Audi A4 | 4 |
| BMW 3-Series/M3 | 15 |
| BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Focus | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda S2000 | 4 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
| Subaru Impreza WRX | 2 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Honda Pilot | 5 |
| Luxury SUV | Land Rover Range Rover | 1 |
| Pickup Truck | Chevrolet Silverado | 3 |
| Small SUV | Honda CR-V | 2 |
| Van | Honda Odyssey | 5 |
2003
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $66,000| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura RSX | 2 |
| BMW 3-Series/M3 | 15 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Focus | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Infiniti G35 | 2 |
| Mazda Mazda6 s | 1 |
| Nissan 350Z | 1 |
| Porsche Boxster | 7 |
| Subaru Impreza WRX | 2 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Honda Pilot | 5 |
| Luxury SUV | Volkswagen Touareg | 1 |
| Pickup Truck | Chevrolet Silverado | 3 |
| Small SUV | Honda CR-V | 2 |
| Van | Honda Odyssey | 5 |
2004
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $69,000| Model | Times on List |
|---|---|
| Acura TSX | 3 |
| Audi S4 Quattro | 1 |
| BMW 3-Series/M3 | 15 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Ford Focus | 5 |
| Honda Accord | 20 |
| Honda S2000 | 4 |
| Infiniti G35 | 2 |
| Mazda RX-8 | 3 |
| Toyota Prius | 1 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Honda Pilot | 5 |
| Luxury SUV | Cadillac SRX | 3 |
| Pickup Truck | Ford F-Series | 3 |
| Small SUV | Subaru Forester | 3 |
| Van | Toyota Sienna | 1 |
2005
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury Sedan | Acura RL | 1 |
| Sports Sedan | Acura TSX | 3 |
| Luxury Sports Sedan | BMW 3-Series M3 | 15 |
| Performance Car | Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Full Size Sedan | Chrysler 300C | 2 |
| Wagon | Dodge Magnum | 1 |
| Muscle Car | Ford Mustang GT | 5 |
| Family Sedan | Honda Accord | 20 |
| Sports Coupe | Mazda RX-8 | 3 |
| Luxury Sports Car | Mercedes-Benz SLK | 2 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Honda Pilot | 5 |
| Luxury SUV | Cadillac SRX | 3 |
| Pickup Truck | Ford F-Series | 3 |
| Small SUV | Subaru Forester | 3 |
| Van | Honda Odyssey | 5 |
2006
Ten Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Sedan | Acura TSX | 3 |
| Sport Compact | Audi A3 | 1 |
| Luxury Sport Sedan | BMW 3-Series | 15 |
| Performance Car | Chevrolet Corvette | 12 |
| Full Size Sedan | Chrysler 300C | 2 |
| Muscle Car | Ford Mustang GT | 5 |
| Family Sedan | Honda Accord | 20 |
| Roadster | Mazda Miata | 7 |
| Sports Coupe | Mazda RX-8 | 3 |
| Luxury Sports Car | Porsche Boxster | 7 |
Five Best Trucks
| Title | Model | Times on List |
|---|---|---|
| Large SUV | Honda Pilot | 5 |
| Luxury SUV | Cadillac SRX | 3 |
| Pickup Truck | Ford F-Series | 3 |
| Small SUV | Subaru Forester | 3 |
| Van | Honda Odyssey | 5 |
"Car and Driver Ten Best"