While it seems like just yesterday when the ball dropped ushering in the dreaded Y2K, suddenly 2010 is right around the corner. According to old movies and cartoons, the new millennium would be filled with flying cars, futuristic technologies and crazy automotive designs, and, oddly enough, the latter two actually came true. Although there are still four more months left to go in 2009, the majority of the 2010 model vehicles are already on the streets. So to commemorate the first decade of automotive history for the 21st Century, here is our top 10 significant vehicles of the new millennium ranked by the model year each was introduced or updated:
2000 – Plymouth Neon – Ok, this car may seem like awkward place to start for this list, but the 2000 Plymouth Neon was chosen because not only was it (and its Dodge twin) technically the first car produced for the 2000 model year, but also it was the last new car produced under the Plymouth brand. Around since 1928, Plymouth was a company that was once among the most prestigious in North America, but due in large part to slow sales in the 1980s and 1990s the company met its maker after the “merger of equals” between Daimler and Chrysler. The second-generation Neon twins debuted in January 1999 and improved on everything the previous generation lacked - including a reliable engine and head gasket! The Dodge Caliber hatchback eventually replaced the Neon. Since the death of Plymouth, storied American automakers such as Oldsmobile and Pontiac have also met an unfortunate demise.
2001 – Chrysler PT Cruiser – The 1998 VW New Beetle did it. The 2002 Ford Thunderbird tried it. The 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser perfected it. What is it? A successful retro-styled car. The PT Cruiser’s success came from the fact that, in addition to its attractive retro styling, it offered a functional, roomy interior and a price that kept it affordable. The unique styling was highlighted by a front-end design that mimicked the Chrysler Prowler (albeit in a very watered-down manner) and the sloped tailgate that created an overall look very reminiscent of cars from the 1940s and 1950s. A varying number of special edition models kept consumer interest high enough for Chrysler to have sold 1,000,000 PT Cruisers in just five years. The problem with retro styling, however, comes in trying to keep the look fresh or creating a successor. The New Beetle is still working with the same basic design. The T-Bird is gone. Meanwhile, Chrysler’s retro wagon is soldiering on with basically the same design, engine and chassis architecture that it debuted with.
2002 – Cadillac Escalade EXT – When Cadillac launched its first SUV line in 1999, the reception was anything but warm. With the first generation Escalade being little more than a rebadged GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac knew the following model had to be more successful. Such was the case with the second generation Escalade when it launched in 2002. This time it offered more models including the Escalade EXT, a four-door pickup, which garnered the most attention. Initially, many scoffed at the dressed up Chevrolet Avalanche, but the truth is that the truck sold amazingly well. Although priced similarly against its main rival, the Lincoln Blackwood, the Escalade EXT dominated sales thanks in large part to a useable bed and a more family-friendly interior. The successor to the Blackwood, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT, gave the Escalade EXT a major run for its money when Lincoln launched the rebadged four-door F-150, but Cadillac quickly followed up with the redesigned 2007 Escalade line. Recent rumors indicate that the future Escalade would switch to GM’s Lambda platform (shared with the Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave) which might indicate that the Escalade EXT may not survive too much further into the future.
2003 – Nissan Murano – After a decade of Jeep Cherokees and Ford Explorers dominating the SUV market, designers ventured into a new territory by creating smaller, more fuel efficient SUVs; better known as crossovers. Starting in 1994 with the Corolla-based Toyota RAV4, crossover SUVs became a staple in the automotive market. In 2003, Nissan launched its first crossover, 2003 Murano. A stylistic departure from “traditional” crossover designs, the Murano showed that a curvaceous, aerodynamic design could survive among the tall, boxy competition. Contrary to popular belief, the Murano does not share a platform with the 350Z, but rather the sporty Maxima sedan. The Murano was redesigned for 2008 and given a more powerful 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6.
2004 – Toyota Prius – The Toyota Prius has quickly become the poster child for the eco-friendly hybrid craze that has seemingly swept the nation. Politicians, movie stars and tree huggers alike have swarmed to the roomy little gas-electric hybrid to show how badly they want to save the earth. The second generation Prius blended a useful car design with an economical and fuel-efficient powertrain. The 2004 Prius was sized very similarly to the Toyota Matrix but had the advantage of Toyota’s fuel-efficient Hybrid Synergy Drive and an aerodynamic shape to offer stunning fuel economy results. Recently, Toyota introduced the third-generation Prius hatchback which gives the car a slightly more attractive, yet still wedge-shaped, design in addition to even better fuel economy estimates - 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.
2005 – Ford Escape & Mercury Mariner Hybrid – Aside from the popular Chrysler 300, the biggest news in 2005 came from Ford Motor Company and its hybrid technology. The 2005 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrid models marked the first applications of the fuel-efficient technology in a crossover or SUV for any automaker in North America. Available in either two- or four-wheel drive, the compact hybrid SUVs originally paired a 2.3-liter engine with a 94-horsepower AC motor and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT) good for EPA fuel economy estimates up to 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Redesigned in 2008, new hybrid models use a newer 2.5-liter Duratec inline-4 with the same hybrid and transmission components, but drops city fuel economy estimates to 34 mpg. As for the Mazda Tribute (a sister car to the Escape and Mariner), a hybrid version was introduced in 2009 in very limited numbers (just 300 units) in select markets of California.
2006 – Pontiac Solstice & Saturn Sky – Once known for building exciting sports cars, Pontiac had hit a low point in the late 1990s due to excessive badge engineering at GM, while Saturn and its plastic-bodied sedans never made the dent in the auto industry that many had hoped for. Both companies needed something new and exciting, so Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters hit the scene in 2006. Even the late addition of the Solstice Coupe (a car destined for collector car status) could save Pontiac, as GM announced that it would be killing of the 84-year-old automaker – along with Saturn, HUMMER and Saab – following a short 2010 model year that will be limited to just the Matrix.
2007 – Toyota Camry – Now that the Camry has all but swept the top sales spot for cars so far this millennium, it was time for a design to reflect the car’s dominance. With midsize sedans such as the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu nipping at its heels, the 2007 Camry replaced the soft, conservative lines of previous models with a more unique and aggressive styling for the seventh generation. The 2007 model year also saw the addition of the Camry Hybrid using Toyota’s advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system. The 2007 Toyota Camry also marked a first for Toyota as the new sedan became the first import automaker to join NASCAR.
2008 – Dodge Challenger – A modern interpretation of the 1970’s classic hot rod, the Challenger will become more than just another halo vehicle in Dodge’s lineup. For the 2008 model year, Dodge limited the all-new Challenger to just 6,400 top-of-the-line, Hemi-powered SRT8 models, but the 2009 model year was expanded to offer base SE Challengers and mid-level R/T models alongside the SRT8. Mimicking most of the design of its 1970 namesake, the new Challenger is being built alongside the popular Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger to go up against the redesigned retro Mustang and the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.
2009 – Hyundai Genesis sedan – Looking to improve its public image, Hyundai decided to introduce a new luxury sedan in 2009 courtesy of the jaw-dropping, tire-smoking Genesis. With a design that would look good in Lexus’ lineup and a V-8 engine good enough for a Cadillac, the Hyundai Genesis sedan turned the full-size luxury sedan segment upside down by undercutting most of the competition with its $32,250 starting price. Toss in luxurious interior crammed with high-tech goodies, and it’s easy to see why the Hyundai Genesis sedan was named our 2009 Car of the Year. The sporty Genesis coupe joined Hyundai’s lineup a year later as a 2010 model.
2010 – Ford Fusion & Mercury Milan Hybrid – While there are literally a bevy of cars that could top the list heading into the 2010 model year, our pick for the most significant model is the redesigned Ford Fusion with its all-new hybrid powertrain. In addition to a redesigned look, the midsize sedan duo also received a high-tech hybrid system that instantly made it the most fuel-efficient car in its class. Both the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid use the same system available in the 2008+ Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids, but greatly improves fuel economy estimates up to 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.
Current model year vehicles pictured, where applicable.
The First 10 Years: Top Cars of the New Millennium 
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