USA Today Picks Top 25 Vehicles ‘With Impact’ Over Last 25 Years
In the Money section of this morning’s USA Today, the national newspaper has compiled a list of 25 cars and trucks it feels have had the most impact over the last quarter-century. The list is part of the periodical’s countdown to its 25th birthday on September 15.
Without delay, here are their picks for the cars and trucks that mattered:
1. 1992 Toyota Camry
2. 1991 Ford Explorer
3. 2001 Toyota Prius
4. 1984 Chrysler minivans
5. 1986 Hyundai Excel
6. 1986 Ford Taurus
7. 1990 Lexus LS400
8. 1990 Mazda Miata
9. 1986 Acura Legend
10. 1996 Toyota RAV4
11. 1994 Ford Mustang
12. 1991 Saturn SL
13. 1997 Ford F-150
14. 2003 Hummer H2
15. 2002 Mini Cooper
16. 1998 Lincoln Navigator
17. 1986 Yugo (GV)
18. 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
19. 2001 Pontiac Aztek
20. 2003 Cadillac CTS
21. 1986 Suzuki Samurai
22. (1994) GM Impact
23. 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
24. 2005 Scion xB
25. 2002 BMW 7 Series
What do you think... did the editors at USA Today do a good job of selecting the most important vehicles of the last 25 years? Would you substitute any vehicles on their list (say, Chrysler's 300 or Audi's TT for the Yugo at #17?) Have your say in 'Comments.'
Comments
Steve Maly
Three big question marks?
Yugo - Made even the worst beater you've ever owned seem like a great car.
Pontica Aztek - The answer to the question no one asked. A picture of everything that was wrong with GM in the 90's.
Lincoln Navigator - Wretched excess personified.
Patrick from Astoria
There are so many things wrong with this list that it beggars belief. (No Porsche Boxster? No Honda products except for the Legend? The RAV4? The Aztek?)
The hipster-record-review smugness of the comments on the list almost hurts to read. And they need a picture of a Samurai, not the moon-commuter X-90 that came a few years later. (The Samurai?)
Maybe eight of the top ten are right. The rest of the list is a bad joke.
The Stig
^^^ yep. And to add:
Why is the H2 on there? I can rebadge and rebody a GM SUV too. All that represented was the b@stardization of a good name.
And what made the 02 7 series notable? The fact that they beat a good car with the ugly stick and stuck that i-Drive crap in it? Well it did mark the beginning of decline for BMW - from an enthusiasts POV.
Most of the rest of the list is ok though.
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Jeb
Exactly right with the 2002 7 series...it was the first Bangle blowout and iDrive combo.
Remember, "impact" isn't always positive. That's why the Aztek and Yugo and H2 are on there.
Christopher
I guess their definition of "impact" is something closer to "noteworthy" or "recognizable" as opposed to, say, "set a new design trend" or "raised the technological bar" or even "faster and more fun".
Dave
I agree with most after reading their rationale. I was on the fence about the H2, but it has become a "lightning rod" as described. The RAV adds further justification as it recently supplanted the venerable Explorer as best-selling SUV. Fast forward 10 years, and we may not remember it, however. By all means, yank the Yugo and the Aztek. In their place, we might substitute the Audi 5000 and first-gen A4 - the cars that nearly killed and practically resuscitated Audi in the US.
Dave
oops - I inserted the RAV comment late, and screwed up my logic. I meant to state that we may not remember the H2 in 10 years...
chris
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, should be on the list, along with the Jeep Cherokee.
Richard H
The order is wrong. A camry is just a sedan. Nothing earthbreaking there. The top 3 should be:
Chrysler Minivans, now everybody makes one.
Jeep Cherokee, they started the SUV Craze, Explorer upped it a notch.
Mazda Miata. If it wasn't for it there would be no convertables!
Jeb
"Mazda Miata. If it wasn’t for it there would be no convertables!"
Err...what?
Kal
Suprising that the Audi TT isn't on there.
Russ Bellinis
I don't think the Mazda Miata makes any difference as to availability of convertables, but it did bring back the affordable 2 seater sports car. The Miata has almost single handedly enabled the SCCA to actually not be a misnomer when they call themselves the Sports Car Club of America instead of being forced to change the name to Front Wheel Drive Sedan Racing Club of America. Would we have a Solstice or Sky or possibly a Dodge Demon if it weren't for the Miata?
AC
The Miata resurrected the roadster craze that died in the 1970s. Convertibles did resurface in the 1980s as a bodystyle option, but the compact two-seat roadster was all but dead. For the roadsters still being made, they were built on aged platforms and hardly inspired enthusiasm from the masses. The Miata was a cute, light, and cheap sports car that men and women could enjoy driving. Mazda proved you could still build a roadster with all the character of those from the past.
The Ford Taurus proved Detroit could make a reliable family sedan better than the Japanese. From the mess of the Pinto, Ford poured everything it had into an R&D program that built a sedan that was the best in its class, and saved the company in the 1980s. The Lexus LS400 was the closest thing to motoring perfection in luxury, proving a Japanese automaker could compete with German, British, and American luxury brands. The Cadillac Allante and Chrysler TC were both failed attempts to craft a bigger niche in the upscale saloon market, and left lingering doubts in the ability of US
Most of those cars should not be on the list. The Ferrari F40 was the dream car of the 1980s, and the last to embrace the classic berlinetta spirit. The 288 GTO was the first modern supercar. The McLaren F1 is the greatest sports car ever to hit the street. Yes, they are exotics--but exotics with an impact. The Dodge Viper became Chrysler's halo car and a new American icon blending muscle car power with exotic car looks. The Chevy Corvette ZR-1 was the first hi-po since the final big-block Stingray in the early 1970s.
AC
The Miata resurrected the roadster craze that died in the 1970s. Convertibles did resurface in the 1980s as a bodystyle option, but the compact two-seat roadster was all but dead. For the roadsters still being made, they were built on aged platforms and hardly inspired enthusiasm from the masses. The Miata was a cute, light, and cheap sports car that men and women could enjoy driving. Mazda proved you could still build a roadster with all the character of those from the past.
The Ford Taurus proved Detroit could make a reliable family sedan better than the Japanese. From the mess of the Pinto, Ford poured everything it had into an R&D program that built a sedan that was the best in its class, and saved the company in the 1980s. The Lexus LS400 was the closest thing to motoring perfection in luxury, proving a Japanese automaker could compete with German, British, and American luxury brands. The Cadillac Allante and Chrysler TC were both failed attempts to craft a bigger niche in the upscale saloon market, and left lingering doubts in the ability of US car companies to match up with Europe.
Most of those cars USA Today listed should not be on the list. The Ferrari F40 was the dream car of the 1980s, and the last to embrace the classic berlinetta spirit. The 288 GTO was the first modern supercar. The McLaren F1 is the greatest sports car ever to hit the street, with a level engineering and craftsmanship unmatched. The Bugatti Veyron has stretched the limits of street-legal performance. Yes, they are exotics--but exotics with an impact. The Dodge Viper became Chrysler's halo car and a new American icon blending muscle car power with exotic car looks. The Chevy Corvette ZR-1 was the first hi-po 'Vette since the final big-block Stingray in the early 1970s.
AC
Sorry about the double-post; the former is incomplete.
Larry
Yep, it just proves two things:
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder and
opinions are like ***holes; everybody's got one.
LandCrusher
USA today - the official paper of people who live in hotels - is rarely correct about anything.
No surprise here, they got it all wrong again. The only thing worse than their factless stories are their senseless editorials.
Steve K.
Meh!!
Steve K.
Some were significant, some were not. I thought it was a fair list. They nailed a few, and missed on others.
jim
I agree the Camry has no place here. If the Camry, then why not the Accord? The Honda was the first creditable Japanese family sedan in the US. The Taurus belongs because it was truly a break with past Detroit cars.
In no particular order the top three should be the Chrysler mini vans, the Prius and the Explorer. No objections if the the Cherokee gets the nod over the Explorer.
I have to wonder why the Mini, Navigator, Yugo, PT Cruiser, Scion, New Beatle and 7 Series are here.
USA Today lists the 25 cars with the most ‘impact’-- Ride Ca
[...] [Source: USA Today via Winding Road] [...]
USA Today lists the 25 cars with the most 'impact'
[...] [Source: USA Today via Winding Road] [...]
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[...] [Source: USA Today via Winding Road] [...]
John Pereira
They are a bunch of HONDA HATERS, Honda civics are the best. Better than freaking poniac,or chryslers.. what are these people smoking.
Mikey
People are wondering why the camry is even on the list, does anyone have any idea what kind of japanese cars were in the usa at the time? in 1991 every single car including 1992, except for the camry, were the small honda civic boxy mid 80's cars, the 92 camry was a first for japanese to go big and mid sized. That set the trend for honda, nissan and various others to follow the next year and do the same thing, so dont diss the camry, remember back to the late 80's and early 90's and think cars again, and boom you can say "hmm, thats true"... how i know that is because i drive a camry like that, and i can see why they would.
Its certainly not the best looking, it doesnt handle as good as the honda accord counterpart, but how long till honda caught up and built a midsize car that wasnt even as big as the camry? Another 2 years....
No_Solution
What about the EV? Oh wait that got crushed... by the car companies. So... more global warming and no solution, but look hummer made the list
Review Cars Blog » Blog Archive » USA Today lists the 25 car
[...] [Source: USA Today via Winding Road] [...]
Hawk
I love the Camry, sorry guys, but I'll agree, why not the Accord, as well? And if the Prius is up there, why not the Honda Insight, too?
What were these picks based on? Surely not looks, because not all of these are good looking. Not fuel economy, I know, because the Insight would have been high up there, since it IS the USA's most fuel efficient car. And it can't be the cars we've all driven/owned, 'cause heaven knows we've all experienced a Corolla, a Civic, and other economy cars that have served as our firsts.
A. Wofford
It looks to me like this list is not based on industry impact, sales, innovation, or any of the common Top-of lists' criteria. If you ask me, this is a list of the cars with the most social impact -- a pop culture best-of. How many times has Yugo been used as the benchmark for a horrible car? Ever seen a fleet of Tauruses and H2's used as generic vehicles in movies and TV shows... no, never. Yeah, uh-huh.
Chris
The 1990 body style accord....DEFINATELY! TONS of them sold and tons are still around. A large restyling of the interior and exterior gave a style thta still lives up to the accord name today. Simple and stylish.
Achieving affect: The Car & The Man | Auto Blog News
[...] So thanks USA nowadays for giving credit where credit is due and for honoring Toyota with the choice of the 1992 Camry as the number one vehicle among 25 having the most meaningful affect since the paper’s inception. We note, fortunately, that our Prius hybrid is #3 on the list. In fact, it looks like Toyota products comprise a full 20% of the entire list of the vehicles with the most affect, which you can see in it’s entirety by clicking here, courtesy of Winding Road™. [...]
Achieving Impact: The Car & The Man
[...] So thanks USA Today for giving credit where credit is due and for honoring Toyota with the selection of the 1992 Camry as the number one vehicle among 25 having the most significant impact since the paper's inception. We note, happily, that our Prius hybrid is #3 on the list. In fact, it looks like Toyota products comprise a full 20% of the entire list of the vehicles with the most impact, which you can see in it's entirety by clicking here, courtesy of Winding Road™. [...]
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