An ode to the underdog, AutoGuide.com has compiled a list of 10 cars that just don’t get the respect they deserve.
They fly under the radar for a variety of reasons. Some are meant to be that way, while others are haunted by a reputation too daunting to drop.
Whatever the reason, every car on this list is available today and worth a second look.
It’s the year 2013 and much like a weaponized airborne virus, the crossover craze is blown completely out of proportion. Despite the available information, people still flock to dealers to buy thirsty and often over-capable utility vehicles in an attempt to avoid driving a loathsome minivan.
Where did this reputation come from and why has this tirelessly laboring family hauler been cast aside by so many? The Dodge Grand Caravan offers seating and space to rival full-size SUVs. While so many of its rivals are practically luxury cars the Grand Caravan can be had at a price that a normal family can afford (and appreciate). If a starting price of $21,000 isn’t enough to give it a second look, Dodge’s family hauler has one more trick up its sleeve: sliding second row doors. If you have young children, those doors are the best invention since the soother.
It looks like a family sedan, but the Taurus SHO hauls butt. With a turbocharged EcoBoost V6 under the hood, the car makes 350 lb-ft or torque and 365 hp, all of which is distributed through the car’s all-wheel drive system.
A six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is standard equipment, and specific sport tuned suspension make the Taurus SHO a family-friendly sleeper.
If reliability were sexy, the Corolla would be right up there with Olivia Munn. Neither of those is really the case, but the fact remains that the Corolla is a perennial strong seller.
Year after year, people pick it for predictability because they prefer to find thrills outside of their driving experience. You might not agree with them, but there are plenty of people who do.
It comes with a manual or automatic for the same price. The turbocharged engine puts 250 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque at your feet, and it’s hiding under a pile of Polydent receipts and discarded walkers at your nearest retirement home.
The catch? Grandpa didn’t drive it there… The 30-year-old orderly did, and the fact that it’s hiding under a Buick badge means you probably never knew the brand offered a fun driving experience in a small package.
Do you still listen to Buggles and Aha!? Do you still LOVE neon? Do you hate parking like Nixon hated communists? Chevrolet has the car for you.
At a starting price around $13k, it isn’t hard to afford financing a Spark. Others in its segment are a little smaller, which makes them even easier in the city, but those inches aren’t a big deal. What does matter, on the other hand, is that there are doors for the back seats.
What’s more, the “cargo area” is actually big enough to fit things. Real things. Not just an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka-dot bikini.
It’s not much good for long-distance travel, but urbanites who need more than a Smart Fortwo should look at Chevrolet.
Mazda’s new and sporty small crossover is a gem. While the 2.0-liter version of its SkyActiv four-cylinder engine will feel underpowered to some, the 2.5-liter big brother gives all the go you need.
It’s also surprisingly fun to drive, which is probably why Mazda invited the automotive press to carry out initial testing at its own track: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Not only that, but the EPA slaps a combined 27 mpg rating on the two-wheel drive version.
It might not have the familiarity of segment competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but you’d be making a sad mistake to skip testing one if you’re in the market for a small crossover.
Torque. Horsepower. Payload. Those figures dominate pickup truck ads like a bully on the playground. But if chest beating over maximum capacities isn’t your thing and you still find having a truck useful, consider the Tacoma.
It’s one of the few remaining small pickups on the market, and in many ways it really isn’t all that small.
The long bed is just over 190 inches, which is close to the Tundra’s standard size. More importantly, you probably have a full-size truck if you actually need one. If not, the Tacoma offers a 4.0-liter V6 if you want more power, or a four-cylinder that offers up to 25 highway mpg. With an $18,470 starting price including delivery, it’s affordable too.
You’ve probably either forgotten about or made fun of the Scion xB by now. Aimed at young buyers, the car turned out to be a hit with the sunset crowd.
Geriatrics love the xB, and it has nothing to do with the cyborg-sounding music that played during the early ad campaigns.
The appeal is simple. They’re boxy, easy to drive, with a commanding view of the road and even easier to get in and out of.
It’s fun, your friends won’t have one, and it doesn’t use very much gas because it’s a hybrid.
While the CR-Z won’t win any drag races, it’s miniature size and low center of gravity make it a hoot to drive.
Joke all you want. It’s a girl’s car, it’s too feminine, it’s not a real sports car. It’s all been said, and it’s all wrong.
The MX-5 Miata doesn’t boast tire-shredding output. What it does offer will be much more intriguing to most drivers: handling.
Feeling the MX-5’s limits doesn’t require racing credentials, which is a very good thing. It’s better to have a car you can appreciate in reality than one you have to imagine driving at the edge.