The 20 Absolutely Best Vehicles You Can Buy Right Now
This is a wholly unbiased list of the 20 best cars, trucks and vans you can get today. Period.
There are a ton of options on new car lots these days—from ultra-high-end pickup trucks to entry-level hot hatches and a mix of everything in between. To save you some time, I’ve put together a wholly unbiased list of the 20 best cars, trucks and crossovers that you can get today. Is this a list of vehicles that I would want to personally own? Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind owning any of them …
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
Base price: $65,840
It’s hard to not love the Ford F-150 Raptor. It can do the generic truck stuff like hauling lumber and sheetrock. It can also hit jumps and charge through the desert better than it has any right to. Most of all, you can get one today. Sure, the Raptor downgraded its exhaust note when Ford moved to the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost with its second generation, but that exhaust note sacrifice came with more power. The Ford F-150 Raptor does face some stiff competition from the likes of Ram with the 1500 TRX.
2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Base price: $29,690
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is consistently one of the most fun-to-drive cars available, at any price point. While we’re in the middle of a generational shift for the model, it doesn’t look like Volkswagen plans to undermine what people love about the Golf GTI with the next generation. The current gen is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four making 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Most importantly, it offers a six-speed manual transmission.
2022 Honda Civic
Base price: $22,715
Another low-priced entry into the list of the best cars available, the brand-new 11th-generation Honda Civic has a lot to live up to as the its predecessor was one of the best of the nameplate. Our first drives of the new car have not disappointed. If nothing else, the Civic is one of the most versatile commuters on the market. And a coupe has just been launched to accompany the sedan, if your tastes run in two-door form.
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
Base price: $37,315
There’s no list of best anything if there isn’t a minivan present, and Chrysler’s revived Pacifica nameplate is one of the best you can find. Available with a traditional powertrain or a hybrid variant, the Pacifica excels in both trims. The hybrid does cost more, and it drops the glory that is stow-and-go seating, but it helps you eke out better fuel economy. Both are more than adequate at fulfilling all of your minivan-related needs.
2021 Chevrolet Corvette
Base price: $60,995
That’s how much a midengine, V8-powered sports car costs, thanks to the folks at Chevrolet. The eighth-generation Corvette has flipped the script on the ’Vette and dropped the engine behind the driver. The result? What might be the best performance bargain you’ll find, if you’re chasing a midengine sports car.
2020 Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupe
Base price: $164,895
Prefer the engine in front? That’s fine, too. The folks at Mercedes-AMG offer one of the most interesting and fun high-end sports cars on the market today. With a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 letting your neighbors know you mean business, the AMG GT R is aggressive in every sense of the word. Oh yeah, let’s not forget that this is the hot-rodded version of the stunning AMG GT, a design that should age as well as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
2021 Honda Ridgeline
Base price: $37,715
Can you have a list without controversy? Some might look at the Honda Ridgeline and scream “That’s not a real truck!” That’s fine. However, it is a truck and fills the void left by the absence of the compact truck market. If you don’t need to move your whole county, the Honda Ridgeline should be good enough to handle the truck stuff without sacrificing any of the SUV comforts. It should be noted, we’re also fans of Ford’s Ranchero and Chevrolet’s El Camino.
2021 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody
Base price: $49,135
Back to the regularly scheduled programming. Dodge’s laundry list of Challenger packages is impressive, with the SRT Hellcat Redeye and SRT Super Stock at the top of its food chain. However, going down to the less powerful, and more affordable, Scat Pack trim might be the sweet spot for a lot of muscle car enthusiasts. More importantly, you can still get a six-speed manual behind the 392 Hemi.
2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Base price: $24,595
If you’re not exactly performance minded or want to let the world know that you are an EV devotee, there is no better answer than the Toyota Corolla hybrid. Essentially a Prius in a Corolla shell, this hybrid is not only great on fuel but offers an outlandish amount of driving range for those who hate to refuel.
2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Base price: $27,825
Much like the Volkswagen GTI, you can’t have a list of best anything without including Mazda’s beloved MX-5 Miata. The Miata might not be the quickest sports car, but its light weight and nimble nature make it an absolute hoot to drive. No, it won’t lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, but if you want a nice weekend driver, Miata is always the answer.
2021 Mazda CX-5
Base price: $26,545
Don’t worry, there are crossovers, too. The Mazda CX-5 fills the need for a crossover in Mazda’s lineup, while also being one of the more fun-to-drive crossovers on the market. Starting at just over $25,000, the Mazda CX-5 also punches above its weight in terms of comfort and interior quality, which only adds to its sound driving characteristics.
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Base price: $60,335
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 might be a mouthful to say, but it’s worth it. While it saw its swan-song final edition last year, there may be one or two still floating around. Tracking one down would be a find as the Shelby GT350 is one of the best Mustangs to ever leave a Ford factory. The 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 revs over 8000 rpm and sounds incredible with its unique flat-plane crankshaft.
2021 BMW M2 Competition
Base price: $59,895
The BMW M2 (and its little sibling the BMW M240i) might be the most beloved BMW in the Autoweek office. Powered by a 405-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six, the M2 keeps the spirit of high-performance and driving-focused BMWs alive. Of course, it’s also no slouch when it comes to comfort, but its track-forward approach makes it a favorite.
2021 Audi Q8
Base price: $69,890
Another incredibly interesting crossover is the Audi Q8. While the concept of a coupe-ified crossover does sound like nails on a chalkboard to some, the Audi Q8 pulls off the style-focused look better than most. Sure, there is a slight compromise when it comes to cargo space, but sometimes style is more important than function.
2021 Nissan GT-R
Base price: $115,335
The Nissan GT-R is on the older side of the new car world. But, what’s wrong with a formula that works? Colloquially called the R35 GT-R, this Nissan halo car does lack some modern tech features seen in other high-end sports cars. That said, it more than makes up for that with a race car feel and unbelievable performance.
2021 Ram 1500
Base price: $34,490
The latest generation of Ram pickup might have reset what people expect from full-size, light-duty trucks. Its combination of comfort, space and utility make it a one-stop shop for those who don’t mind driving trucks daily. Its large infotainment screen and other tech comforts have turned the truck into a consummate tech marvel instead of a workhorse.
2021 Subaru WRX STI
Base price: $38,170
Without the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution to push Subaru’s rally-bred WRX STI along, you might think that Subie would have just ridden its good name. Instead, Subaru has pushed the WRX STI further with limited-edition models like WRX STI Type RA and the WRX STI S209. While these special editions are costly, they do add tons of value to the base STI. If you can’t afford the high-end versions, worry not: The base WRX STI is a blast to drive all year.
2021 Porsche 911
Base price: $102550
Kind of like the Mazda Miata, you can’t make a list of best cars and leave Porsche off the list. With the new generation of 911 upon us, we still have a lot to learn as far as the higher-performance variants making their way down the pipeline. What we do know is that the latest 992 generation is, predictably, impressive to drive.
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