Best New and Redesigned Cars of 2016
Cars Expert
Best New Cars of 2016: Introduction
Photo Credit: Photo © Aaron Gold
Welcome to the Best New Cars of 2016 --
my picks for the best new and redesigned
cars on the US market. Of all the new cars
on the market this year, only nine made the
list—but we also have three honorable mentions.
Let's take a look at the winners!
my picks for the best new and redesigned
cars on the US market. Of all the new cars
on the market this year, only nine made the
list—but we also have three honorable mentions.
Let's take a look at the winners!
1) Best New Cars of 2016: Acura ILX
2016 Acura ILX. Photo Credit: Photo © Acura
If you had told me last year that I'd be
putting the Acura ILX on any best-of list,
I'd have thought you were nuts.
After driving the original version,
I thought the ILX was beyond hope—
but I am happy to say
the 2016 model proved me wrong.
A new engine and transmission brings
out the brilliance of this car's chassis,
and a new suite of
advanced safety equipment fulfils
the high-technology promise of the Acura brand.
putting the Acura ILX on any best-of list,
I'd have thought you were nuts.
After driving the original version,
I thought the ILX was beyond hope—
but I am happy to say
the 2016 model proved me wrong.
A new engine and transmission brings
out the brilliance of this car's chassis,
and a new suite of
advanced safety equipment fulfils
the high-technology promise of the Acura brand.
Combine this with aggressive pricing and Acura's well-earned reputation
for bulletproof build quality, and you have an entry-level luxury car that has
elbowed its way to the front of the pack. It's good to see the Acura brand
getting back on track.
for bulletproof build quality, and you have an entry-level luxury car that has
elbowed its way to the front of the pack. It's good to see the Acura brand
getting back on track.
2) Best New Cars of 2016: Cadillac CTS-V
2016 Cadillac CTS-V. Photo Credit: Photo © General Motors
Cadillac CTS-V
The CTS-V's 640 horsepower
supercharged V8 is enough to get it
to almost any top-picks list, but as
with the previous-generation CTS-V,
I'm most impressed by the way
this car gets all the power to the ground.
Once again, GM's engineers have developed a chassis that is inherently stable
and forgiving, allowing drivers to safely explore all that this car can do
without relying on electronic nannies alone to keep them safe.
supercharged V8 is enough to get it
to almost any top-picks list, but as
with the previous-generation CTS-V,
I'm most impressed by the way
this car gets all the power to the ground.
Once again, GM's engineers have developed a chassis that is inherently stable
and forgiving, allowing drivers to safely explore all that this car can do
without relying on electronic nannies alone to keep them safe.
The CTS-V has its flaws; along with being brutally fast, it's brutally expensive,
and its interior is full of mis-cues like the Cue touch-panel interface.
But even those annoyances can't mask the pure brilliance of this automobile. I love it.
and its interior is full of mis-cues like the Cue touch-panel interface.
But even those annoyances can't mask the pure brilliance of this automobile. I love it.
3) Best New Cars of 2016: Chevrolet Malibu
2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Photo Credit: Photo © Aaron Gold
Chevrolet Malibu
I love it when the home team scores, and the Malibu has definitely knocked this
one over the fence. Though there
wasn't much love lost between me and
the old version of the Malibu, I think
the new version is fantastic, from its
sharp styling to its high-quality interior
to its all-turbo engine lineup
(especially the excellent 1.5 liter turbo that comes standard in the base model).
And yet all the basics of a solid mid-size sedan are there: Roomy back seat,
big trunk, and strong value-for-money.
one over the fence. Though there
wasn't much love lost between me and
the old version of the Malibu, I think
the new version is fantastic, from its
sharp styling to its high-quality interior
to its all-turbo engine lineup
(especially the excellent 1.5 liter turbo that comes standard in the base model).
And yet all the basics of a solid mid-size sedan are there: Roomy back seat,
big trunk, and strong value-for-money.
Here, once again, is a domestic family sedan that can compete against cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. That makes me happy.
4) Best New Cars of 2016: Chevrolet Volt
2016 Chevrolet Volt. Photo Credit: Photo © Aaron Gold
Chevrolet Volt
I thought the first-generation Volt was
a brilliant but sorely underappreciated
car—an excellent way to dip one’s toe
in the water of electric vehicles. (Okay, maybe a metaphor that mixes water and electricity isn’t the best choice.) With the new version, Chevrolet has improved everything about the Volt: Longer
electric-only range, better gas-engine
fuel efficiency, more trunk space, and a vastly improved control layout.
a brilliant but sorely underappreciated
car—an excellent way to dip one’s toe
in the water of electric vehicles. (Okay, maybe a metaphor that mixes water and electricity isn’t the best choice.) With the new version, Chevrolet has improved everything about the Volt: Longer
electric-only range, better gas-engine
fuel efficiency, more trunk space, and a vastly improved control layout.
They’ve even improved the styling, and only the cramped back seat remains as a
serious vice. Chevy estimates that 80% of Volt trips are done without using any
gasoline at all the new car should raise that to 90%. If you have the desire for
an electric car but aren’t sure about range, you should definitely test-drive
the new Volt.
serious vice. Chevy estimates that 80% of Volt trips are done without using any
gasoline at all the new car should raise that to 90%. If you have the desire for
an electric car but aren’t sure about range, you should definitely test-drive
the new Volt.
5) Best New Cars of 2016: Honda Civic
2016 Honda Civic. Photo Credit: Photo © Honda
Honda Civic
When you’re at the top of the heap,
you don’t really need to change
anything, so I think Honda deserves
kudos for making such a huge leap
with the all-new Civic. The new car is beautiful to look at
(I love the hatchback-like contours of
the roof) and better equipped than ever, with advanced safety features offered
even on the base model. Honda has embraced the concept of high-lux small cars,
with a new Touring trip that offers leather seats and navigation as standard equipment.
you don’t really need to change
anything, so I think Honda deserves
kudos for making such a huge leap
with the all-new Civic. The new car is beautiful to look at
(I love the hatchback-like contours of
the roof) and better equipped than ever, with advanced safety features offered
even on the base model. Honda has embraced the concept of high-lux small cars,
with a new Touring trip that offers leather seats and navigation as standard equipment.
Honda improved the base engine and added a new small-displacment turbo engine,
a big leap for this otherwise-conservative company. And the way the Civic drives
shows a much-needed return to this car’s roots: It feels quick and agile, just like a
Civic should. Only the infotainment system lets it down (all Civics but the base
model have a stereo that is very difficult to use while driving). This is the future of
small cars, and it’s no surprise to see Honda leading the charge.
a big leap for this otherwise-conservative company. And the way the Civic drives
shows a much-needed return to this car’s roots: It feels quick and agile, just like a
Civic should. Only the infotainment system lets it down (all Civics but the base
model have a stereo that is very difficult to use while driving). This is the future of
small cars, and it’s no surprise to see Honda leading the charge.
6) Best New Cars of 2016: Kia Optima
2016 Kia Optima. Photo Credit: Photo © Kia
Kia Optima
Now that Toyota is trying to show that
they can be different just like everyone else, Kia’s all-new Optima may well be
the new benchmark in mid-size sedans. Roomy, comfortable,
easy to live with, smoothly styled and
well built, the Optima offers everything
one could ask out of a mid-size family car.
When a friend and fellow journalist few in for a visit, I picked him up in an
mid-level Optima EX, and he said, “You won’t find a thing wrong with this car.”
After a week of driving, I realized he was right—this is the idea
middle-of-the-road sedan.
they can be different just like everyone else, Kia’s all-new Optima may well be
the new benchmark in mid-size sedans. Roomy, comfortable,
easy to live with, smoothly styled and
well built, the Optima offers everything
one could ask out of a mid-size family car.
When a friend and fellow journalist few in for a visit, I picked him up in an
mid-level Optima EX, and he said, “You won’t find a thing wrong with this car.”
After a week of driving, I realized he was right—this is the idea
middle-of-the-road sedan.
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