10 Best Cars of 2014
1. Mazda6
Price: $21,675
Everybody loves Associate in Nursing loser story. contemplate the very fact that small, freelance Mazda, currently disassociated from Ford, engineered the six on Associate in Nursing all-new design exclusive to the japanese automotive maker. the sole cars that bear any structural similarity area unit Mazda's own three and CX-5. beneath the hood is that the same story: a 184-hp engine created by Mazda, for Mazda, that delivers up to forty miles per gallon on the route. This, from an organization concerning common fraction the dimensions of General Motors. and therefore the Mazda6 drives sort of a sports automotive. No different family sedan is as responsive, however the ride continues to be sufficiently supple. The cabin style is straightforward, however we tend to appreciate the simple practicality. this can be to not say the Mazda lacks comfort; there is many house for 2 adults and a toddler seat within the rear. And simply attempt to realize an enclosed surface that is not soft. If you would like the newest technology options, they are all available: reconciling controller, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, blind-spot observation, and forward-collision warning. there is even Associate in Nursing nonmandatory super capacitance system that helps the generator run less usually, boosting mileage. Of course, it conjointly helps that the Mazda6 is wrapped in sheet with curves that might create a Maserati jealous. however the six did not earn our highest award as a result of we're pull for the insufficient guy. It won as a result of Mazda engineers launched to form a really nice automotive and succeeded.
2. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Price: $51,995
Truth be told, the combat ship ray may have won our award for price. it would sound funny, however this can be primarily a half-price super automotive. Even with all the speed choices the value is a smaller amount than $61,000, and, so equipped, the ray can suspend corner for corner with the simplest sports cars within the world—and even manage to go away many behind. however performance, of course, could be a way more logical honor for the new Vette. Going quick dominates each side of the car's style. the inside, as an example, has buttons for the necessary controls and GM's brightest digital-instrument-cluster display—both area unit options that facilitate speed. and every one those scoops and vents on the surface area unit practical, material possession the automotive breathe and reducing drag at an equivalent time. however if gazing the ray created our jaws drop, driving it left North American country totally inarticulate . it isn't simply the figures the combat ship can do in acceleration, braking, or lateral grip, it is the method this automotive feels fun at each mph. Zero to sixty in three.8 seconds is definitely spectacular, however creating a automotive that is conjointly responsive, predictable , and accessible to each driver, from novice to professional, are some things special. This may well be the world's best sports automotive.
Cornering created straightforward abundant of our feeling with the ray comes from the nonmandatory electronic limited-slip rear differential. A computer-controlled clutch pack perpetually adjusts the number of protection between the rear wheels—open for higher handling in tight areas, closed for additional stability in long, quick corners. It works thus well that we're speculative if GM's engineers moonlight as magicians.
The big cat F-Type demands attention. Slinking through the streets of town, Calif., the week before the stone Beach Concours d'Elegance, we tend to watched as neck when neck snapped to admire our rakish V8 S. The F-Type's epic exhaust note was sure as shooting partly guilty, however even once we set, individuals swarmed the automotive to raise queries and sneak peeks at the roadster's equally handsome interior. And once we force up to The Quail, a stylish automotive show, the parking attendant promptly directed North American country to a distinguished grassy hillock on the most road. Our company? 3 Ferraris. So, yeah, individuals just like the F-Type. And it is easy to check why, with its aggressive stance and a face that appears engineered to devour pavement. except for big cat director of style Ian Callum, the F-Type bestowed a frightening task: produce British company's initial roadster since the venerable E-Type. No slave to history, Callum with success paid deference to Jag's past whereas advancing its current styling. The rear, Callum's favorite a part of the automotive, is very stunning, with its Brobdingnagian haunches and distinctive garment taillights. What we tend to love most concerning the F-Type, though, is however all its components close. nice style is cohesive, and there is no a contrary line on this automotive. that is why individuals gawk, that is why they crowd around, and that is why you get to park on the Hill.
The landrover whole defines skillfulness. and therefore the Cherokee has forever merging cross-country capability, on-road performance, and family utility higher than the other landrover. It's fitting, then, that the converted Cherokee is probably the foremost multifariously equipped to hold the legendary name. At one finish of the spectrum there is a front-drive four-cylinder model that delivers automotive like handling, thirty one mpg on the route because of its nine-speed automatic, and area to pack nearly fifty five cubiform feet of substances behind the front seats. better of all, the front traveller seat folds flat, so 6-foot furnishings|article of furniture} from the furniture store will work within. At the dirtier finish of the choice sheet is that the mighty path hawk model, that has the bones of a true wheel. as a result of the Cherokee relies on a front-drive crossover platform, the two-speed four wheel drive system uses Associate in Nursing innovative gear-reduction system at every shaft, rather than a standard central transfer case. And to supply actually outstanding cross-country performance, there is Associate in Nursing electronically protection rear differential that provides the path hawk the talent to master the Rubicon. Back on the pavement, if there is a trailer that has to be affected, the V-6 Cherokee with its 271 H.P. and 239 lb-ft of torsion will handle 4500 pounds of weekend toy. The new Cherokee's practicality carries over to its interior, wherever the hold options a sensible hook-and-rack system to handle Jeep-brand accessories like a soft-sided cooler or a tip-up dog cage. there is even a receptacle for your grocery baggage. The new Cherokee is clever, fuel-efficient, and improbably versatile. In different words, it is a true landrover.
9. Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford fete ST follows a classic instruction for fun-to-drive: Take Associate in Nursing existing little automotive, then add a warmer engine and a sportier suspension. Ford's own Focus ST could be a nice example, as is that the segment-defining Volkswagen GTI. however those cars et al. like them have slowly inflated in each dimension and value. The fete ST takes the compact performance back to its roots—an cheap little automotive that is simply quick enough to stay life attention-grabbing. just like the nice hot hatches before it, the fete ne'er fails to place a smile on our face. The fun starts with the fat, leather-wrapped wheel that produces the automotive respond thus quickly it's nearly twitchy. however the ST's handling is sleek, and it is easy to transition from braking, to cornering, then on to the gas to feel the surge of the one97-hp 1.6-liter Eco Boost engine. From the fete ST's bolstered driver's seat, each road feels like a raceway, though it's simply Associate in Nursing open on-ramp.
10. Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
General Motors' initial new diesel automotive in additional than twenty years, the Cruze is that the most effective non hybrid on the market (27 city/46 highway) and therefore the solely diesel sedan offered stateside by the large 3. that is an enormous deal. To meet U.S. emissions standards, gramme changed its European turbocharged a pair of.0-liter diesel I-4 mill, that produces 151 H.P. and a stout 280 lb-ft of torsion. And to mute any excessive engine noise, the overall reappropriated the Buick Verano's sound-deadening setup. The Cruze diesel will value $2390 quite Associate in Nursing equivalently equipped gas Cruze, however like Associate in Nursing energy unit or hybrid, you will eventually frame the value distinction. hassle conjointly sweetens the pot with a free biennial service arrange for diesel-fluid replacement, oil changes, and tire rotations. all at once, this makes the diesel not solely the simplest model within the Cruze lineup—but the simplest diesel deal this aspect of the Atlantic.
Cornering created straightforward abundant of our feeling with the ray comes from the nonmandatory electronic limited-slip rear differential. A computer-controlled clutch pack perpetually adjusts the number of protection between the rear wheels—open for higher handling in tight areas, closed for additional stability in long, quick corners. It works thus well that we're speculative if GM's engineers moonlight as magicians.
3. Nissan Versa Note
Price: $14,780
The last Jewish calendar month Versa hatchback was definitely additional homely than it had been hip. No more. currently called the Versa Note, this tiny five-door not solely is that the coolest of all the Versas however is additionally one amongst the slickest styles within the Jewish calendar month showroom—at any value. however not like a emotional GT-R or 370Z, the Versa's young sheet hides wise utility. the outside dimensions of the Note may counsel economy category, however within it's strictly business. Slide into the rear seat and there is the maximum amount airspace between your knees and therefore the front seat back as in a very Chevrolet Aepyceros melampus. Go ahead, cross your legs and luxuriate in the road trip. and every one this trendy, cozy living comes improbably low cost. Okay, this can be still Associate in Nursing entry-level automotive. thus you would possibly wish to splurge on many choices, like the CVT rather than the five-speed manual transmission. This brings a major 4-mpg boost to 40-mpg route, that puts the Note at the highest of the car category in fuel economy. which means even heap of} savings when you drive the Note off the business organisation lot.
4. Ram Heavy Duty
Price: $30,695–$44,240
Modern industrial pickup trucks will handle the foremost herculean tasks, however the trade off for {this kind|this type|this thusrt} of utmost capability has forever been a suspension so stiff the vehicle greenbacks and hops over a rough road sort of a mustang out of the gate. The 2014 Ram significant Duty breaks new ground in ¾-ton trim by ditching the quaint leaf springs within the rear for a classy five-link coil-sprung suspension. This new Ram rides higher than any industrial before it, absorbing massive bumps and chuckholes. however do not assume the Ram HD has gone soft. there is Associate in Nursing accessible 420-hp six.4-liter V-8 that is new this year, still because the possibility of twin alternators to handle the additional extreme auxiliary electrical desires of a true workhorse. The 3500 series trucks still use the leaf packs in back, however either side conjointly has Associate in Nursing shock to enhance the ride. And once you combine the mighty Cummins turbo diesel with its 850 lb-ft of torsion to the present truck, it will lug a thirty,000-pound trailer. Not solely is that the foremost for any current truck, it is also a figure that needs the driving force to earn a poster permit. currently that is serious.
5. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price: $93,825
Where to start with the 2014 S-Class? Mercedes-Benz has additional names for all its safety and driver-assistance systems than we've got house to print, however simply apprehend that the S-Class's strong network of radars, cameras, and inaudible sensors makes it the foremost sophisticated—and arguably the safest—car on the road. (We're talking self-steering, self-braking, self-parking, the robots-are-coming-for-us reasonably sophistication.) And new options like the S-Class's Magic Body management, that uses a stereo camera to scan bumps within the road and pre adjusts the suspension to soak up them, area unit another reminder that software system is simply as necessary as spring rate in a very fashionable automobile. The 2014 S-Class is additionally the primary automotive to forgo employing a single bulb for any lighting, instead wishing on 486 LEDs within and out. cardinal of those may be found in every of the S-Class's headlights, that mechanically modify the beams' brightness and form. the remainder may be found within the rear lamps and hidden throughout the cabin, where, via a selector knob within the center console, the driving force will management the large twelve.3-inch digital display center screen to vary the colour of the close lighting (we like Twilight Purple). Another IMAX-size digital display screen stretches behind the wheel to act because the instrument cluster and knowledge hub. this can be conjointly wherever you will see the night-vision show, that alerts the driving force once the automotive detects pedestrians or animals. If all of this technology sounds excessive, it's not. In fact, it is the future. Mercedes simply happens to be prior to the curve.
6. Lexus IS
Price: $36,860–$42,610
Every Lexus set on the panopticon floor is full of the comfort, skill, and refinement that have created the whole noted. The new IS overflows with these hallmark qualities, however what is new here is that Lexus has infused the chassis with the spirit of a hard-edged sport sedan. in a very category once dominated by Germans, Lexus not solely has matched these legends in performance—it has truly hook-nosed prior to them. The Lexus IS is hugely proficient. choose the F Sport package, accessible within the 204-hp IS 250 or the 306-hp IS 350, and therefore the thrills on a curved road multiply exponentially. And however its BMW-conquering back road competency is merely one space wherever the IS shines. Lexus has managed to pioneer on the within too. On F Sport models, the automotive maker uses a replacement methodology to inject foam into the faux-leather shell, creating the corroborative superior seats remarkably soft. maybe better of all, the IS starts below $37,000. that the most accomplished sedan within the category is additionally a good deal.
7. Jaguar F-Type
Price: $69,895—$92,895
The big cat F-Type demands attention. Slinking through the streets of town, Calif., the week before the stone Beach Concours d'Elegance, we tend to watched as neck when neck snapped to admire our rakish V8 S. The F-Type's epic exhaust note was sure as shooting partly guilty, however even once we set, individuals swarmed the automotive to raise queries and sneak peeks at the roadster's equally handsome interior. And once we force up to The Quail, a stylish automotive show, the parking attendant promptly directed North American country to a distinguished grassy hillock on the most road. Our company? 3 Ferraris. So, yeah, individuals just like the F-Type. And it is easy to check why, with its aggressive stance and a face that appears engineered to devour pavement. except for big cat director of style Ian Callum, the F-Type bestowed a frightening task: produce British company's initial roadster since the venerable E-Type. No slave to history, Callum with success paid deference to Jag's past whereas advancing its current styling. The rear, Callum's favorite a part of the automotive, is very stunning, with its Brobdingnagian haunches and distinctive garment taillights. What we tend to love most concerning the F-Type, though, is however all its components close. nice style is cohesive, and there is no a contrary line on this automotive. that is why individuals gawk, that is why they crowd around, and that is why you get to park on the Hill.
8. Jeep Cherokee
Price: $23,990– $28,990
The landrover whole defines skillfulness. and therefore the Cherokee has forever merging cross-country capability, on-road performance, and family utility higher than the other landrover. It's fitting, then, that the converted Cherokee is probably the foremost multifariously equipped to hold the legendary name. At one finish of the spectrum there is a front-drive four-cylinder model that delivers automotive like handling, thirty one mpg on the route because of its nine-speed automatic, and area to pack nearly fifty five cubiform feet of substances behind the front seats. better of all, the front traveller seat folds flat, so 6-foot furnishings|article of furniture} from the furniture store will work within. At the dirtier finish of the choice sheet is that the mighty path hawk model, that has the bones of a true wheel. as a result of the Cherokee relies on a front-drive crossover platform, the two-speed four wheel drive system uses Associate in Nursing innovative gear-reduction system at every shaft, rather than a standard central transfer case. And to supply actually outstanding cross-country performance, there is Associate in Nursing electronically protection rear differential that provides the path hawk the talent to master the Rubicon. Back on the pavement, if there is a trailer that has to be affected, the V-6 Cherokee with its 271 H.P. and 239 lb-ft of torsion will handle 4500 pounds of weekend toy. The new Cherokee's practicality carries over to its interior, wherever the hold options a sensible hook-and-rack system to handle Jeep-brand accessories like a soft-sided cooler or a tip-up dog cage. there is even a receptacle for your grocery baggage. The new Cherokee is clever, fuel-efficient, and improbably versatile. In different words, it is a true landrover.
9. Ford Fiesta ST
Price: $22,195
The Ford fete ST follows a classic instruction for fun-to-drive: Take Associate in Nursing existing little automotive, then add a warmer engine and a sportier suspension. Ford's own Focus ST could be a nice example, as is that the segment-defining Volkswagen GTI. however those cars et al. like them have slowly inflated in each dimension and value. The fete ST takes the compact performance back to its roots—an cheap little automotive that is simply quick enough to stay life attention-grabbing. just like the nice hot hatches before it, the fete ne'er fails to place a smile on our face. The fun starts with the fat, leather-wrapped wheel that produces the automotive respond thus quickly it's nearly twitchy. however the ST's handling is sleek, and it is easy to transition from braking, to cornering, then on to the gas to feel the surge of the one97-hp 1.6-liter Eco Boost engine. From the fete ST's bolstered driver's seat, each road feels like a raceway, though it's simply Associate in Nursing open on-ramp.
10. Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
Price: $25,695
General Motors' initial new diesel automotive in additional than twenty years, the Cruze is that the most effective non hybrid on the market (27 city/46 highway) and therefore the solely diesel sedan offered stateside by the large 3. that is an enormous deal. To meet U.S. emissions standards, gramme changed its European turbocharged a pair of.0-liter diesel I-4 mill, that produces 151 H.P. and a stout 280 lb-ft of torsion. And to mute any excessive engine noise, the overall reappropriated the Buick Verano's sound-deadening setup. The Cruze diesel will value $2390 quite Associate in Nursing equivalently equipped gas Cruze, however like Associate in Nursing energy unit or hybrid, you will eventually frame the value distinction. hassle conjointly sweetens the pot with a free biennial service arrange for diesel-fluid replacement, oil changes, and tire rotations. all at once, this makes the diesel not solely the simplest model within the Cruze lineup—but the simplest diesel deal this aspect of the Atlantic.