Best New Car of 2009
2009 has been one of the most disastrous years for car manufacturers in decades. At the start of the year financial catastrophes in other industries like real estate, banking and finance inspired a new car sales nosedive from which few manufacturers have yet recovered. This year was especially hard on American auto manufacturers with both Chrysler and GM having to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. How that will really affect those automakers is a tale waiting to be told in the year 2010.
But 2009 wasn’t all sad songs and violins for car lovers. A number of game changing and innovative new vehicles came out this year. There was such a wealth of new metal unveiled in 2009 that it was hard to believe anyone was hurting financially. The reason for that, of course, was that these new car launches were planned years ago when automakers thought 2009 would be a sales cake walk.
With the world economy still in the doldrums I am left to wonder if we will ever see this many new car introductions in a single year ever again—car makers even admit that they have canceled or postponed many of their vehicles currently in development. But alas, that is a problem for another year. 2009 should be celebrated if only for the fact that these five cars show a lot of creativity, grit and determination. With these attributes in place I think the auto industry will be just fine.
- Think another product should be best? Leave a comment.
Why it's best:
(Starting at $32,250)—Already named the North American Car of the Year by a panel of geographically confused judges, the built in Korea Genesis rear-drive sedan was a four wheeled shot across the bow of its Japanese, North American and European competition. Complicated...read full review
Why it's a best pick:
(Starting at $14,900)—Although the low priced Honda Insight hybrid stole all the headlines, that was a tragedy because the Fit stands out as one of the main reasons Americans decided it was okay to downsize. Nothing about the Fit falls into the old subcompact mold by p... read full review
Why it's a best pick:
(Starting at $52,000)—The Jaguar XF was the Hail-Mary pass that this UK based automaker desperately needed in 2009—not to mention 10 or 15 years ago. Finally the dread days of Jaguar “retro-ness” were banished forever by one of the most unique luxury ... read full review
Why it's a best pick:
(Starting at $29,930)—Rarely do redesigns of already stunning sports cars ever work out well from a stylistic standpoint. Just look at the hideous monster that Nissan launched after the first Z generation—yikes, that thing could give you nightmares and I do belie... read full review
Why it's a best pick:
(Starting at $22,270)—Available either in sedan or highly practical Sportwagen body-styles, the 2009 VW Jetta TDI got a serious MPG boost this year to 31 city/40 highway. This may not be up to the standards of a Toyota Prius but one short drive behind the wheel should ... read full review
