Edmunds.com posts "Most Wanted Cars 2002"

[BigSmooth]

I really like Edmunds' site and they just posted their "Most Wanted 2002". I thought I'd post a list of their choices for this year, along with the runners-up and last year's winners so we can discuss:

Economy Car under $13K
Winner: Hyundai Elantra GLS
Runner-up: Ford Focus ZX3
Last year: Nissan Sentra XE

Small Sedan under $20K
W: Volkswagen Jetta
RU: Mazda Protegé
LY: Volkswagen Jetta

Coupe/Hatchback under $20K
W: Volkswagen Golf/GTI
RU: Honda Civic
LY: Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Small Wagon under $20K
W: Mazda Protegé5
RU: Subaru Impreza
LY: Ford Focus

Econosports:
W: Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T
RU: Nissan Sentra SE-R
LY: Not contested

Midsize Sedan under $30K
W: Nissan Altima
RU: Volkswagen Passat
LY: Volkswagen Passat

Midsize Coupe under $30K
W: Chrysler Sebring
RU: Honda Accord
LY: Chrysler Sebring

Midsize Wagon under $30K
W: Volkswagen Passat
RU: Subaru Legacy/Outback
LY: Volkswagen Passat

Sport Sedan under $30K
W: Subaru Impreza WRX
RU: Nissan Altima SE
LY: Nissan Maxima SE

Sport Coupe under $30K
W: Toyota Celica
RU: Ford Mustang
LY: Acura Integra Type-R

Large Sedan under $30K
W: Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
RU: Toyota Avalon
LY: Ford Crown Victoria

Convertible under $30K
W: Mazda MX-5 Miata
RU: Ford Mustang
LY: Mazda MX-5 Miata

Entry-level Luxury Sedan under $40K
W: BMW 3-Series
RU: Audi A4
LY: Not contested

Midsize Sedan over $30K
W: BMW 5-Series
RU: Lexus GS300/430
LY: BMW 530i

Large Sedan over $30K
W: Lexus LS430
RU: Cadillac DeVille
LY: Not contested

Wagon over $30K
W: BMW 5-Series
RU: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
LY: BMW 5-Series

Sport Coupe over $30K
W: BMW 330Ci
RU: Mercedes-Benz CLK 320/430
LY: BMW 330Ci

Convertible over $30K
W: BMW 3-Series
RU: Honda S2000
LY: Porsche Boxster S

Sports Car over $30K
W: BMW M3
RU: Chevrolet Corvette
LY: Chevrolet Corvette

Small Pickup
W: Toyota Tacoma
RU: Dodge Dakota
LY: Ford Ranger

Small Crew Cab Pickup
W: Dodge Dakota
RU: Toyota Tacoma
LY: Dodge Dakota

Large Pickup
W: Ford F-Series
RU: GMC Sierra
LY: GMC Sierra

Large Crew Cab Pickup
W: Chevrolet Avalanche
RU: Ford F-150 Super Crew
LY: Not contested

Small SUV
W: Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute
RU: Honda CR-V
LY: Mazda Tribute

Midsize SUV
W: Nissan Pathfinder
RU: Dodge Durango
LY: Nissan Pathfinder

Large SUV
W: Toyota Sequoia
RU: GMC Yukon/Yukon Denali XL
LY: Chevrolet Suburban

Luxury SUV
W: Acura MDX
RU: BMW X5
LY: Lexus LX470

Minivan
W: Honda Odyssey
RU: Chrysler Voyager/Town & Country & Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravn
LY: Honda Odyssey

Large Van (everyone's favorite category!)
W: Ford Econoline
RU: Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
LY: Ford Econoline

Most Significant Vehicle
W: Mini Cooper
RU: Subaru Impreza WRX
LY: Chrysler PT Cruiser

 

[vi edit]

Mini cooper most significant?

BAH!

 

[WhiteWonder]

wait, did i miss something, where is the 1989 buick lasabre?

 

[N8Magic]

*sigh*

ANOTHER car magazine getting a woody over the new BMW's.

I am soooo sick of this trash. BMW's are in fact good cars, but the way these car magazines put them up on a pedestal sickens me. I mean, really, a 3 series convertible over a Porsche Boxster S? Puh-leeeze!

An M3 over any other sports car? COME ON. :|

 

[JACKHAMMER]

I agree w/ N8Magic. These car magazines are a bit TOO fond of BMWs.

 

[Pocatello]

I like BMW too

 

[RossMAN]

It's evident that consumers are starting to gain more confidence in Nissan and VW.

[/i]Economy Car under $13K
Winner: Hyundai Elantra GLS[/i]

:Q

 

[LAUST]

I think they should hire me to do some cleanup on the truck side

 

[BigSmooth]

Well, BMW makes some nice cars. You're right, though, they practically swept the luxury categories.

Personally, I don't think the 3-Series convertible should have beaten some of the roadsters like the Boxster, the TT, or the Lexus SC430. But that's just me.

 

[Gunbuster]

Nice to see Mazda doing well with the Protege, I just hope Ford keeps out of Mazda design

 

[fake]

BMWPOWER!