Many outstanding cars came out in the past decade, with some profoundly changing the automotive industry as we know it. From award winners to consumer and car-enthusiast favourites, here are 30 of the best cars of the 2010s.
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Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Since 2016, the GT350 has proven to be “the ultimate driver’s car,” according to Car and Driver. The 2019 model of this rear-drive coupe has impressive handling and a 526-horsepower (hp) V-8 engine with a monstrous roar, making for an overall exhilarating drive.
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Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
This “truly American muscle car” is “extreme fun” and a total attention-grabber, according to New Atlas. Beneath the 2017 model’s nostalgic, muscular exterior is a 707-hp V-8 engine that blares a loud and satisfying grumble. And the comfortable, roomy interior of this automatic beast makes it pass as a (possible) family-friendly car.
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Mazda MX-5 Miata
As the winner of the 2016 World Car of the Year award, this car is purely enjoyable to drive. According to Car and Driver, the Miata “is a fun car, plain and simple.” This convertible is light, responsive, and satisfying to drive with its 155-181-hp engine (depending on the year) and smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission. All in all, it is “the best affordable sports car ever.”
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Volkswagen Golf
Winner of the 2013 World Car of the Year and the 2015 Motor Trend Car of the Year awards, the Volkswagen Golf is a favourite among car enthusiasts and consumers alike. These practical hatchbacks are also available in an electric model and have excellent fuel economy and ride quality, according to Motor Trend. The Golf also has special features that make driving safer, such as Forward Collision Warning and Park Distance Control.
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BMW M2 Competition
The M2 was worthy of making the cut for one of the best cars of the decade until the M2 Competition came around. Due to the new twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, “there’s no finer propulsion in a car anywhere in this price,” according to Top Gear. The M2 Competition is “a proper M driver’s car… [And it] is simply outstanding.”
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Nissan Leaf
This winner of the 2011 World Car of the Year award is one of the first mainstream electric cars to hit the markets. According to Top Gear, the Leaf is smooth, eco-friendly, and affordable to buy and own. “But the real joy of the Leaf isn’t the money, it’s the motor, and its charming grace… It hits a broad sweet spot of usability, likability and affordability.”
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Lexus LFA
The LFA is an exotic and luxurious icon of the decade, casting “a halo over the Lexus F line of performance machines,” according to Car and Driver. With a front 553-bhp V-10 engine and rear-wheel drive, this coupe screams all the way to 9,000 rpm. The roomy interior has many advanced features, such as seatbelt airbags and an innovative instrument display. And while its “technology, performance, and exclusivity” mirrors that of the Ferrari Enzo, it costs about half the price.
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205)
Winner of the 2015 World Car of the Year award, the C-Class has a high-quality interior and excellent handling since it “was the first car to use the automaker’s all-new Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture (MRA),” according to Drive Mag. The C-Class is “supremely comfortable” with a variety of powertrain options and high-tech safety systems.
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Alfa Romeo Giulia
This luxury sport sedan won the 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year award because it reminded drivers of the joy of driving. The Giulia led the sport sedan market in terms of steering and chassis. And while the 505-hp V-6 engine of the Quadrifoglio model reaches extreme speeds, especially in Race mode, it can also easily be tamed for daily commutes.
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Toyota GT86
According to Top Gear, the GT86 is a “real driver’s car,” and “its primary aim is fun.” With its rear-wheel drive and 197-bhp four-cylinder engine, it feels “usefully brisk. And its modest power matches modest grip,” which comes in handy during slippery winter conditions. While simple in design, the GT86 is exciting and “a real pleasure to drive.”
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Volvo XC60
The XC60 is the winner of the 2018 World Car of the Year award. This midsize SUV has a roomy interior with comfortable seats and a digital instrument cluster featured on a 20- or 30-centimetre (eight- or 12-inch) screen. It is a top safety pick with “impressive acceleration and handling” thanks to its powerful and responsive engine, according to Motor Trend. And it is “visually stunning inside and out.”
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Chevrolet Bolt EV
The Bolt EV hatchback is the winner of the 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year award and is also “Chevrolet’s only all-electric vehicle,” according to Motor Trend. Using a 200-hp electric motor, the Bolt can drive 383 kilometres (238 miles) on a full battery. And with roomy back seats and easy handling, it is a reliable everyday replacement for gas-powered compact cars.
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Ford Fiesta ST
Car and Driver describes the Fiesta ST as fun, fuel-efficient, and high-performance for its low price. A 197-hp turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder, with front-wheel drive and six-speed transmission, powers it. As a result, this is a “pint-sized performance hatchback…that rewards drivers of all skill levels” and “provides more smiles per minute than most.”
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Alpine A110
According to Top Gear, the Alpine A110 is a compact two-seat coupe that is genuinely different, pleasing to drive, and lightweight. Behind its all-aluminum build and seats lies a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 249-bhp engine with rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed Getrag double-clutch gearbox, allowing the A110 to “tackle difficult roads with unflappable poise and agility.”
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Hyundai Genesis G70
The G70 was named the 2019 Motor Trend Car of the Year, perhaps because car enthusiasts, such as those at Car and Driver, think the G70 is “drop-dead gorgeous,” “engaging to drive,” and has a “harmonious ride and handling.” The G70 is also available with a turbocharged four-cylinder or twin-turbo V-6 powering the rear wheels or all four wheels. “Every version handles with aplomb while the driver is cosseted by a spectacular cabin.”
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Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery is a spacious family SUV with a luxurious interior, according to Top Gear. It has a V-6 258-bhp engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. And while it is “so relaxed and refined on the road,” driving off the beaten path will still make for a smooth, comfortable ride since it has excellent off-road capabilities.
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Audi A3
This entry-level luxury compact sedan won the 2014 World Car of the Year award. The base model has a turbocharged 1.8-litre I-4 170-hp engine. And the A3 is also available with a variety of powertrain options, so it appeals to those who are performance seekers and budget-conscious, according to Motor Trend.
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Honda Civic Type R
The Civic Type R is a star on the race track and on the road for daily use. According to Car and Driver, this high-performance hatchback’s powertrain has a six-speed manual gearbox and a 306-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. While it doesn’t have a loud exhaust note, it is a comfortable ride without torque steer and with “razor-sharp handling.”
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Jaguar I-Pace
This all-electric SUV was the 2019 World Car of the Year award winner. The I-Pace “uses two concentric electric motors, one on each axle for permanent four-wheel drive, producing 394bhp and 513lb ft of torque, delivered through a single-speed gearbox,” according to Top Gear. Along with rapid acceleration, the I-Pace has a 321-kilometre (200-mile) range, plenty of interior space, and an exterior design that is both brave and attractive.
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Porsche 911 R
“Sublime” is how Car Magazine describes what it’s like to drive the Porsche 911 R, giving the car five stars for handling, performance, and the “feel-good factor.” It has a six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel steering, and a loud, grumbling 500-hp 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six. The “R is all about hardcore thrills,” while still being a very usable machine with comfortable and supportive seats.
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Kia Stinger
This sleek and affordable sports sedan is unlike most others on the market, according to Car and Driver. It has a hatchback design for a roomy interior with cargo-carrying capacity. It comes with “a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a powerhouse twin-turbo V-6 coupled to either rear- or all-wheel drive.” Along with its ability to master straight-line speed, the Stinger is “closing in on the class leaders for thousands less.”
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Chevrolet Camaro
Winner of the 2018 Car and Driver 10Best award, the Camaro captures the joy of driving with its powertrains, track-focused race-car capability, and intuitive infotainment, according to Car and Driver. The 335-hp V-6 and 455-hp V-8 engines “each have a distinct character and sound.” And there is a version for everyone with its “incredible performance value.”
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Volkswagen Up!
The winner of the 2012 World Car of the Year award is a small, smart, and comfortable city car, according to Carwow. Available in three- and five-door models, along with hatchback and electric models, the Up! has a high-quality interior expected from a Volkswagen, and the 2017 version has a range of infotainment systems and more powerful engines—60 hp, 75 hp, and turbocharged 90 hp.
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Suzuki Jimny
The next generation of the Jimny is “cheap, practical to a point, [and] extremely capable off-road,” according to Car Magazine. The Jimny’s robust design is “cheeky, chunky, and cheerful,” and is capable of seating four or two, folding down the back seats for ample cargo space. With its five-speed manual transmission, switchable four-wheel drive, and 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder 100-bhp engine, “it drives noticeably better” than the 1998 model.
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Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Phantom is the “Holy Grail of handcrafted luxury automobiles,” according to Car and Driver. It glides on air suspension with a pothole-spotting camera to adapt to surface imperfections in real time. It has “a 563-hp twin-turbo V-12 paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.” And the interior is fit for royalty, with wood, leather, and metal accents, and luxury features, such as massaging seats, a refrigerated console, remote-controlled infotainment system, night vision, and forward-collision and lane-departure warning.
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McLaren 600LT
Called the Longtail, or LT for short, the limited-edition 600LT is McLaren’s ultimate entry-level supercar, according to Car and Driver. Though this is a “racetrack rocket” with a 592-hp twin-turbo V-8, it has excellent steering and handling. It also comes as a coupe or a convertible with a retractable hardtop.
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Lamborghini Aventador SV
The SuperVeloce (Italian for ‘super fast’) is possibly one of the best Lamborghinis ever, according to Auto Express. And super-fast it is, driving at speeds around 349 km/h (217 mph). Under its “carbon fibre engine cover is a 6.5-litre V12 producing 740bhp.” It has an increased rev limit and reprogrammed seven-speed single-clutch gearbox that shifts in 50 milliseconds. And it has three modes for steering, suspension, and powertrain—Corsa (race), Strada (street), and Sport.
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Ferrari 458 Speciale
The 458 Speciale is for thrill-seekers, according to Autocar. It has an aspirated, flat-plane crank V-8, producing 597 bhp. It is imposing and extremely responsive, with exceptional grip, agility, and handling. And it has a “commitment to the pursuit of speed and thrill.” The 458 Speciale is “a pure, uncorrupted driver’s car… [and it] is simply unequalled.”
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Bugatti Chiron
Perhaps the world’s fastest production car of the decade, the Chiron has an 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine that produces a staggering 1,479-bhp with 1,180 lb.-ft. of torque, according to Top Gear. It has a seven-speed twin-clutch, drives extreme power through all four wheels, and has excellent steering. With its “incredible engineering,” the Chiron is “built to bend physics to breaking point.”
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Tesla Model S
This electric sedan won the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year award, offering two battery sizes, a 426-kilometre (265-mile) range, and a rear-mounted AC-induction electric motor producing up to 416 hp. Recently, Motor Trend named it the ultimate car of the year—the best of all cars that have won the car-of-the-year award over the past 70 years. So this is not only the best car of the decade, it is the best car of the past seven decades due to its “cultural and vehicular impact” on the automotive industry.
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