What Are The Best Cars To Buy In 2017
Even as self-driving, or autonomous, cars inch (on their own) closer to reality, every automaker has put their best and brightest together to create some highly compelling reasons to shop for a new car. And perhaps what's most impressive this year is that our selections for The Car Connection's Best Car to Buy 2017 award range the gamut.
what are the best cars to buy in 2017
Over the last year, we've test driven hundreds of new cars. If it's on sale today, our staff has driven it. We've evaluated it. We've ridden in it. We've sat in the front seats, the back seats, and even the third row. We've taken them on long highway jaunts. We've hit our favorite canyon roads. We've visited shopping malls and we've visited strip malls.
2017 Audi A4: Although the A4 may not look that different than before, it rides on an all new platform and boasts a tech-heavy interior that simply blows its rivals out of the water. And the late announcement that the A4 will be available with a 37 mpg powertrain (at a lower price point) and (although not together) a 6-speed manual transmission simply add to its appeal.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica: Once upon a time, Chrysler produced the industry's best minivan... and then the competition caught up and surpassed the originator of the breed. Well, Chrysler's back, with a new van and a new name. It's good, really good. Even those of us on the staff who have no justifiable need for a minivan find ourselves smitten with this ultimate people-hauler.
2017 Buick LaCrosse: Subtly sexier than its chunky predecessor, the LaCrosse is remarkably polished and it boasts a great interior. Not only that, but this four-door is an especially good value at the low end. Buick's back, and the LaCrosse is its best model yet.
2017 Jaguar F-Pace: Its name may be a little awkward, but the Jaguar F-Pace is a terrific crossover from a brand that has never had an offering in this segment. As enjoyable to drive on a twisty road as the brand's sedans, the F-Pace adds extra utility that buyers have long demanded.
2017 Jaguar XE: Forget about the last time Jaguar tried to play in the compact sedan segment. The XE is so composed that it reminds us of what BMWs used to be. That's heady praise, and it's all wrapped up in an attractive wrapper. And it appeals to our frugal minds like no Jaguar before by offering a commendable value against segment stalwarts from Germany and Japan.
2017 Kia Cadenza: Kia inches closer and closer to genuine luxury territory every day. Although the Cadenza may not be the brand's actual flagship, this model is its de facto style and refinement leader. For just over $40,000, you can net a Cadenza that's as stylish and well appointed inside as brands costing well into six figures.
2017 Mazda CX-9: Who said that three-row crossovers had to be dull and uninspiring? Certainly not Mazda. Though we liked its predecessor, it was definitely getting long in the tooth. The CX-9 retains, and improves upon, the old CX-9's fun spirit but adds in a much-needed dose of real-world usability and fuel economy.
2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Though there are pricier models in the Benz stable, the E-Class is the brand's real bread-and-butter, and it shows. Not only is it great to drive, it's amazing to not drive. You read that right: The E-Class is as close to autonomous driving as we've come so far.
2017 Volvo S90: Taking everything we love about the brand's XC90 crossover but condensing it to a palatable, and rather svelte, sedan, the S90 is exceptionally good in every way. It's elegant in a simple way that helps it stand out from the German "default" luxury sedans, but this capable sedan gets by on way more than just its good looks.
A big part of our job around here is to drive today's new cars and report back to you. That puts us in the seats of hundreds of vehicles each year, many of which represent the latest achievements in luxury and performance.
To make our list, a vehicle must be new or significantly updated within the past year, and that narrows the field considerably, even if the cars are fantastic. For instance, this year we felt that the following weren't new enough to make the cut: Porsche 718 Boxster/Cayman, Porsche 911, Porsche 911 Turbo, and Nissan GT-R.
Then we eliminate vehicles unavailable for road tests by our editors prior to November 1, 2016, and unavailable for purchase by April 1, 2017. If two of our editors can't get their butts in those seats, we can't consider them. That left off a few more cars we would really like to consider, including the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Bentley Bentayga, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Lincoln Continental, Maserati Levante, Mercedes-AMG GLC43, and Porsche Panamera.
Why it's here: Once again, the Chevy Impala takes home the prize as the best large sedan. The publication was impressed by the Impala's supportive seats, roomy cabin, refined ride, and responsive handling.
Why it's here: All new for the 2017 model year, the Honda Ridgeline launched to rave reviews. And it continues here with Consumer Reports who came away impressive by its refinement and versatility.
In order to figure out how to put together a top 10 list featuring the year's best vehicles, several factors had to be taken into account.For Consumer Reports, this meant looking at overall score per category, performance during road test, reliability, owner satisfaction data, and of course safety.
Also, the winners were chosen by segment, and while quite a few categories are missing, we still get to see some interesting results for segments such as sub-compact, compact, compact hybrids, sports cars, mid-size and large sedans (non-premium), small and mid-size non premium SUVs, compact pickups and luxury SUVs.
With such a competitive segment, you might wonder why the Highlander above all else. It seems that it scored very well with buyers looking for functionality, three-row seating, generous cargo space and light towing capability. The Highlander has also proven to be reliable, and with the 2017 update, it has more performance as well as two extra gears to boast about.
High-mile cars can work! There are many documented cases of a Toyota Prius, for instance, going half a million miles on the original engine, hybrid battery and transmission, so maybe a budget vehicle can work for you.
In fact, while researching the update for this story, I talked to numerous drivers and passengers about what kind of cars they preferred. The drivers uniformly told me that the best car was the one they were driving, whether it was the 15-year-old Honda CRV inherited from parents or an 80,000-mile Tesla Model 3.
During 2013 and 2014, the previous plug-in Prius was one of the five best-selling plug-in cars sold in the U.S., some of that on the strength of Toyota's reputation for rock-solid reliability and the chart-topping fuel efficiency ratings of the Prius line.
Sports cars like the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Subaru BRZ, and Chevrolet Camaro, saw increased demand during the pandemic as a means for fun and escapism during lockdowns. We saw prices jump for sports cars after the lockdowns began, and they maintained their strong original value even as restrictions were lifted, said Brauer.
iSeeCars.com is a car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars VIN check report and Best Cars rankings. iSeeCars.com has saved users over $358 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.
On this page you will find top performer in each category, as measured by the weighted sum of scores. Some categories may not be represented as Euro NCAP has tested too few cars of that class in that year.
U.S. News & World Report is one of the most trusted resources for all types of individuals, from high school students looking for the best colleges for them to drivers looking for vehicles that are going to give them the most bang for their buck year in and year out.
There are twenty vehicle categories that U.S. News recognizes in order to give consumers a better idea of which specific brands and models are providing the ultimate vehicles. The 2017 Kia Soul took the title for the Best Compact Car for the Money, and the 2017 Kia Sorento is the Best 3-Row SUV for the Money.
Those interested in learning more about either the 2017 Kia Soul or the 2017 Kia Sorento are encouraged to contact us here at Kia of Irvine for further details. Drivers can get behind the wheel of either vehicle by scheduling a test drive online today.
Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.
Welcome to Critic's Notebook, a quick and off-the-cuff collection of impressions, jottings, and marginalia on whatever The Drive writers happen to be driving. Today's edition: the 2017 Chevrolet Volt.
This mid-size car has the best of both worlds: a unique, sporty interior and superior performance for handling and safety. The full-feature center stack provides you and your passengers with everything you need for an entertaining and comfortable ride. Your passengers will love the roomy seating and extra head room.
Six of the ten best-selling cars in America last year were midsize, but the segment overall reportedly saw sales plunge by 11 percent on the year. Still, if you're looking to buck that trend and buy a midsize car, the ratings that follow, based on recommendations from Consumer Reports, are a good starting point.
Next, it's time for the tougher cuts. A vehicle might be among the best in its class, but if there are better offerings that came out this year, out it goes. Also, if a vehicle can't challenge an established benchmark, it can't win. 041b061a72