Cadillac CT6
Base price: $53,495
A real American limousine and also an Autobahn cruiser
You don’t need many words to explain why the Cadillac CT6 is one of the best cars of 2016. As well as being a powerful American style statement, it has a superb world-class fit and finish, as well as enough power to match a European one. and Japanese competitors.
The interior is an utterly luxurious experience with acres of space to make you feel comfortable, while the extra, business-class rear seat and all its amenities might just be the best feature. The CT6 also excels at the front tech level with a truly game-changing rearview camera mirror, a fantastic infotainment interface and driver assistance functionality that actually works, unlike many others.
Jaguar XE
Base Price: $34,900
The British answer to German sports sedans. Finally.
The last time the Jag-you tried to take on the hegemony of a German sports sedan, it was completely wiped out on the market. This time XE is a bona fide contender. It’s competitively priced, has all the tech and performance you need, and does the one thing most important to most of its buyers: looks absolutely amazing on the road.
With engine options running the gamut from an efficient diesel to a screaming 340bhp V6, how sporty you find your Jag is up to you.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Base price: $37,496
The first truly long-range electric car for the middle class
Despite all the hype and backstory surrounding the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet has gone to great lengths to outdo Tesla in building an all-electric vehicle that can go over 200 miles on a single charge while costing less than $40,000.
Officially, the Bolt can go up to 238 miles, but all indications are that it can actually go a little further, and it’s under $30,000 (provided, barely) after a $7,500 federal EV credit. Boost performance that matches or exceeds any other EV in its price range, not to mention the many non-EVs, and you have a bona fide mass-market, long-range EV.
Audi R8
Base Price: $162,900
Try to find another car that outperforms it. Will wait
The Audi R8 matches or outperforms its competitors in almost every dimension. It’s the kind of car you can live with all year long, thanks to all-wheel drive, performance that beats just about anything on the road, and reliability… the usual Audi.
2016 marks the start of the second generation of the R8, and it really draws attention to detail: custom trim, including luxurious leather with diamond stitching, is next level. The exemplary R8 digital instrument cluster is the way forward, reducing clutter and delivering clear optical information. The mid-mounted rear V10 is a work of art, ensuring that the R8’s work through the gears never gets tiring.
Ford F-150 Raptor
Base Price: $48,325
Daily driver who can do almost 100 miles per hour in the desert
While developing its second-generation Raptor, Ford could have simply thrown in a few nifty visual cues and raised suspension, and still watch buyers flock to the beefed-up F-150. Instead, its engineering team has put together a truly world-class off-road truck that is infinitely more capable than all but the elite, which few super-tough car buyers even realize.
It can keep you cool and comfortable when you’re hitting triple-digit speeds in the desert, while handling more of a family sedan than a pickup truck on your morning commute. It’s a serious truck and a feather in the Ford F-150 lineup, even if few will ever release it in its native habitat.
BMW M2
Base Price: $51,700
A driver’s car that has already become a classic
Such was the emphasis on keeping the M2 a bargain, so that subtle details such as the Alcantara trim on the dashboard and contrast stitching on the leather were the only interior clues that driving pleasure was in store. M2 with 365 hp stands out as a relatively naked car, built solely for the freude am fahren (joy of driving) spirit that BMW so loves to hang its hat on.
Consider its impeccable handling, in a package that’s easier to drive faster than the much more expensive M4, and it’s no surprise that Munich’s latest hit has already achieved high status among some of BMW’s most respected cars since the late 1960s. ,
Kia Optima LX 1.6T
Base Price: $24,140
Kia’s biggest secret
Among the super performers in this shot is a big surprise from Kia: the humblest and least sexy Optima, the LX 1.6T, is a sensational road trip machine. Of the three engine and transmission options for the Optima, it’s the 1.6T (T for turbo) that feels European in nature, thanks to its superior 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, smooth power delivery at low revs, and fuel economy. , which falls into the mid-40s on the highway.
The Optima’s styling is one of the most attractive in its class, and the specs are competitive and ultra-efficient. The cloth seats are a welcome respite from the excess leather and vinyl so common in cars in this class, and they’re comfortable enough to let you drive for 10 hours without getting tired.
Volvo S90
Base Price: $46,950
The holy trinity for near-luxury sedans: technology, safety and beauty
Volvo’s new flagship sedan combines the expected (you know the Volvo will be safe) with the unexpected surprise of becoming a damn good looking car from the moment you admire its “Thor’s Hammer” headlights. Climbing into the orthopedically optimized seats is a pleasure that doesn’t diminish as the mileage increases.
Volvo has spent the last few years slowly reclaiming its mojo, and between the extremely sexy V90 sister of the S90 station wagon (not to mention the V90 Cross Country for those who want to get off the beaten track) and so many advanced driver assists that it amounts to a middle finger. pointed directly at Tesla, it’s safe to say that the Swedes are back.
Honda Ridgeline
Base price: $29,475
Hard, not rough around the edges
That the second act of the Honda Ridgeline was going to be successful was hardly a foregone conclusion, but Honda absolutely kicked it out of the park. It’s a pickup truck for people who don’t have memorized gear ratios or towing capacity, but it could be a semi-trailer family sedan.
It’s a truck that rides more like an Accord than an F-150, with sleek glass and ride quality, and a Pilot body. Factor in its covered, bed-laden trunk and acoustic laminated glass, and the Ridgeline is a road tipper that can haul whatever you need. If you love pickups and still need some credibility, just drive one.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Base Price: $72,000
Italian beauty with monstrous performance
Just take a moment to immerse yourself in the great Italian style and you will understand.
A rare sedan that oozes raw sex appeal, and for the Giulia – specifically the high-performance version of the Quadrifoglio – that beauty isn’t just skin deep.
505 hp engine under the hood only fuels the thirst of the first true Italian rival to the venerable BMW M3, and the 3.8 seconds it takes to reach 60 mph doesn’t hurt either.
Jaguar F-PACE
Base price: $41,990
Opportunity is rarely also desirable and available.
Out of nowhere, Jaguar beat the F-PACE this year, the company’s very first attempt at an SUV. While it’s beautiful, the F-PACE doesn’t rely on its looks to win accolades. It’s surprisingly fun to drive, and not just for an SUV: the F-PACE is as much a sports car as a family hauler.
There is no bad choice among F-PACE’s myriad powerplants, from a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter diesel to a powerful 3.0-liter supercharged V6, and they all feel and sound like a real Jag. There’s room for five people and their luggage on board, and the 825W premium stereo system is amazing.
McLaren 570 GT
Base Price: $201,450
Supercar, Grand Tourist and Supermodel all in one
The 570GT is a high-performance two-door that can be driven every day. While the GT 570S has a very similar sister car, the GT is the better car, with its increasingly handsome lines and slightly softer layout. You can spend all day stomping through the hills of Malibu or chasing the interstate highways, and all it takes to have some fun is a little dip in the gas.
The 570GT has a major advantage over other supercars in its price range and above: lightning-fast steering, throttle and braking response. If this gorgeous machine has a downside, it’s that the roof lets in too much heat and brightness on sunny days. However, feel free to drive the 570GT with the A/C at full blast.