Driving Smart: My Top 10 Cars of All Time
When people discover I’m an auto journalist, I usually get this question: What is your favorite car?
That’s a tough question to answer because, like everything, variety certainly adds zest to life. I’m also a restaurant critic in Orange County, Calif., so I get this question as well about my favorite restaurants. I love all kinds of cuisines, so I love all kinds of different restaurants.
The same goes with cars. How can I choose just one?
And like life, many of my favorite road test cars are connected to my beloved my family of five and to my infinite love for road trips and the beauty I find along (mostly) California’s scenic highways and byways.
So, finally, I’m going to pick my favorites. My Top 10 Cars of All Time features vehicles I’d love to drive everyday as well as a few I’d love to keep in the garage and bring out just for special occasions (or when you need room for lots of passengers). Enjoy the ride!
No. 1: Acura TL - We took the 2009 Acura TL SH AWD on one of my family’s biggest lows (a funeral), but amazingly had the biggest thrill driving this nimble, fast and comfortable sedan with TONS of advanced technology. On the way home over California’s “grapevine” mountain pass, it started to snow and I remember knowing the 2009 Acura TL SH AWD would keep us safe all the way home.
No. 2: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - I will never forget that drive with my hip mother down California’s Highway 46 to Paso Robles and then in the glow of twilight south on Highway 101 in the totally amazing 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The handling in this sport-tuned mid-sized sedan is unbelievably tight and smooth when paired with the Evo’s extremely technical suspension system. Wow!
No. 3: Audi A5 - I’m not usually a fan of manual transmissions, but the gleaming white 2009 Audi A5 was even more fun to drive in shift mode. The engine roared in just the right way, the shifting was top notch, the acceleration fast, the interior was super stylish and basically this sport sedan rocked my road test world. When can I get another one to test, Audi?!
No. 4: Nissan Maxima - For big families, sport sedans are a great combination of comfort, performance, technology and pretty good cargo space. And the 2009 Nissan Maxima is one of the prettiest sedans on the road with its combination of graceful and sporty exterior, excellent performance (amazing handling, suspension and acceleration), well-designed interior and totally comfortable seating.
No. 5: Ford Flex - The whole family loved the 2009 Ford Flex so much because of its retro cool exterior and huge, comfy interior. The second-row refrigerator drew praise from my eating-healthy husband and my always-hungry kids. We are a rather tall bunch, so we were impressed with the legroom of the second and even third row seating. The driver and passenger cockpits are also super stylish and have lots of cool technology like SYNC connectivity and Sirius real-time traffic.
No. 6: Jaguar XKR (XK shown)- My first road test car ever was a Jaguar. I don’t quite remember the model, but I’ve driven lots of Jaguar models through the years and I am a HUGE fan of these distinguished, yet totally hot British-made cars. The 2009 Jaguar XKR is just one of the best sports cars around for its super smooth, yet super fast drive. Everything about Jaguar’s XK series just oozes style, confidence, grace and performance.
No. 7: Buick Enclave - There’s a reason why I named the 2009 Buick Enclave “perhaps the most perfect CUV on the market today.” The Enclave just has that irresistible combination of family-minded luxury, style, comfort, performance and tech. I remember fondly driving to San Diego’s romantic Rancho Bernardo Inn for a somewhat romantic getaway. Thank goodness Buick included a kick ass rear entertainment system in the back to keep my five-year-old daughter busy!
No. 8: MINI Cooper - I haven’t road tested a MINI Cooper for years, but I do remember well how much I fell in love with driving these tiny roadsters. In fact, I blew out my shoulder on my road test because I had WAY too much fun shifting on this hot red manual version with soft black top. MINIs are just the bomb and it doesn’t matter if they are almost as small as a Smart car.
No. 9: Hyundai Genesis - On an unforgettable trip to scenic Sonoma County, my mother and I drove the president of the prestigious Sonoma-Cutrer winery around his own vines in a 2009 Hyundai Genesis. We felt like royalty cruising through Sonoma’s breathtaking wine country in this luxurious sedan with smooth suspension and handling as well as speedy acceleration. The technology on this rather inexpensive sport sedan is also superior to its higher-priced competition.
No. 10: Chrysler Town & Country - Chrysler Town & Country (and its cousin the Dodge Caravan) is the only minivan with a table in the back and swiveling seats. Now, I enjoyed the performance and all-out comfort of both the 2009 Honda Odyssey and the 2009 Toyota Sienna. However, nothing can compare to sitting the family in the back seat for playing games or eating drive-through meals at a real table. The two-screen entertainment system also rocks when you’ve got both teenagers and small children. Fabulous!
Yeah, I finally narrowed it down. Are you happy? Knowing me, I’ll change my mind about my favorite cars next week when a brand new road test model shows up in my driveway.
Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif. Follow me! @sheryllalexande
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