PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

It's 2010. The automotive world is rapidly changing. Lines are blurring; there is a lot more gray when comparing one car over another. Cars are becoming as luxurious as Lexus, as sporty as BMW, and as gas efficient as Toyota.

But benchmark cars -- now, there are some that still stand above the rest. When you say "M3" or "Camry" or "Bugatti", it exudes the idea that they're the cream of the crop. Or are they? Are new contenders doing a good job challenging the podium? Do sales numbers matter?

What do you think?


Make your list:

Best city compact:
Best family sedan:
Best sport compact:
Best convertible:
Best luxury sedan:

Best crossover:
Best SUV:
Best pick-up:

Best exotic:


Note that these benchmark cars may not be available in the U.S.

Discuss.



My list:

Best city compact: Honda Fit -- a benchmark in Japan. But because it isn't so popular in the U.S, it isn't recognized as one here.
Best family sedan: Toyota Camry -- the standard in utilitarian transportation. Vanilla sells best.
Best sport compact: BMW 3-Series -- the standard in shoving the biggest engine in the smallest car with the best driving dynamic.
Best convertible: Porsche Boxster -- frivolous. It's what it's meant for.
Best luxury sedan: LS600hL -- packs the most technology in a family limo.

Best crossover: Toyota Rav4 -- blends functionality with utility, that works well with the largest consumer population.
Best SUV: Toyota Land Cruiser or Land Rover Range Rover -- benchmarks with history and proven capability.
Best pick-up: Ford F150 -- there's a reason why it's the best selling vehicle in the U.S. for several years.

Best exotic: Bugatti Veyron -- it's the stuff that dreams are made of...

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

Prius
Camry
IS350
330CI/IS350C
LS

RX
LC Prado
F-150

LFA

highstakes

My list...not sure on crossovers.

Stormforge

when you say benchmark, i'm thinking about cars that other makes may/will attain or exceed in the coming future (ie: it's the benchmark now, but may not be as technology and innovation improves). my selection would be the GS450h, the world's first luxury performance hybrid sedan. when it first came out, there were no other cars like it. the same could be said for the LS600h as the world's premier ultra (?) luxury hybrid sedan.

bagwell

sport compact is tough

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Exactly.

The benchmark changes.

But at this point in time, certain cars sit on a pedestal. It stands above the rest.



Two people have said LFA. I have to contest this -- it's an engineering feat, but I don't see it as a benchmark. I see more exotics that far exceed it in performance.

GFerg

Best city compact: Prius
Best family sedan: Camry
Best sport compact: 3-series
Best convertible: SL-class (if we are talking about luxury) Miata or Mustang if not
Best luxury sedan: S-class

Best crossover: RX
Best SUV: Cant pinpoint a benchmarked SUV anymore. Traditional SUV's are dieing as most are now car based (crossovers).
Best pick-up: F150

Best exotic: Ferrari

joe80

Best city compact: Ford Fiesta
Best family sedan: Hyundai Sonata
Best sport compact: 3 series
Best convertible: A5
Best luxury sedan S class

Best crossover: Subaru Outback
Best SUV: Range Rover
Best pick-up: F150

Best exotic: Bugati Veyron

MrIan

When you say Benchmark, I'm thinking cars that are leading the way towards future designs by other makes. My list is primarily based around cars that have to be on designer's minds if they want to be successful.

Best city compact: Honda Fit/Civic - Offering utilitarian transport in relative style
Best family sedan: Toyota Camry/Honda Accord - Can't beat the best sellers for ~the last decade
Best sport compact: BMW M3(or 3-Series for that matter)/Mitsubishi Evo - Depends on price range and how much sport they're looking for
Best convertible: Honda S2000/Porsche Boxster - Sport compact comments apply here as well
Best luxury sedan: Mercedes S-Class - Leading in safety and technology ever since I could remember

Best crossover: Lexus RX - The genesis and best seller of the crossovers
Best SUV: Toyota 4Runner(although I believe its status as a benchmark is passed) - Hard to pick, really depends on who they are trying to attract and a lot of the front runners fall into the "crossover" category.
Best pick-up: Ford F150 - Always pushing the definition of a pickup

Best exotic: Any Ferrari - I'm sure they are every Porsche/Lamborghini/Aston/Vette designer's nightmare

mmarshall

Best city compact: Hyundai Elantra (its smooth ride, in a small package, goes well with big-city potholes)

Best family sedan: Ford Fusion Hybrid (Sorry, Camry/Accord....this time, no dice)

Best sport compact: BMW 135 (or 335 if you consider the 3-series a compact)

Best convertible: Mazda Miata (manual-top model). The simplest rag-top is the best.

Best luxury sedan: Lexus LS600H. A true benchmark.

Best crossover: Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited (but the 2010 model may have some issues). Best daily driver on the market, IMO, for bad weather.

Best SUV:
(Car-based): Lexus RX
(Truck-based): Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX570 (twins)...they aren't used all over the Third World for nothing.

Best pick-up: Ford F-150 King Ranch...the cowboy in a tux.

Best exotic: Mercedes Gull-wing...just Wow.

LexFather

Best city compact:=Toyota Prius
The small hybrid benchmark...nothing is close to it in regards to technology and MPG. The Insight even LOOKS like it
Best family sedan: Ford Fusion
Great looks, good quality, the hybrid is wonderful. Camry is close 2nd, Accord is close 3rd (would be first if they offered a hybrid)
Best sport compact: 3 series
Everyone aims for it and still falls short, awd sedans, coupes, hardtop convert, real coupes, M sedan, coupe, convert and DIESELS
Best convertible: Boxster
S or Spyder please....again everyone aims for it and it whoops ***
Best luxury sedan:Mercedes S-class
This was tough. I hate the interior but the hybrid makes sense and the AMG 63/65 make me fap. The LS is a close 2nd
Best crossover: Lexus RX
Its such a beast most brands don't even try to fight it head on. Created the segment and is the standard for it.
Best SUV: Porsche Cayenne..the new one is lighter with better MPG,can go off road, can go to the track and hybrids, diesels and Turbos are offered
Best pick-up: Ford F-150.
I was shocked at how good it was. Felt like a luxury sedan of some sort. Great engines, MPG and features.
Best exotic: Pagani Zonda Cinque
I mean seriously look at that thing

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

What? No minivan category?

eyezack87

iTrader: (4)

Minivan category should be the new Sienna for handling better as an XLE than a "sport" Venza. The kids will be bumping around pretty well and they're gonna love it

ST430

Best city compact: Honda Fit
Best family sedan: Toyota Camry
Best sport compact: Genesis Coupe 2.0T
Best convertible: Miata
Best luxury sedan: BMW 5 series

Best crossover: RX300
Best SUV: GL460
Best pick-up:

Best exotic: Ferrari 460

chrisyano

Best city compact:
Toyota Prius
Honda Fit a close second

Best family sedan:
Nissan Maxima
Mercedes E-Class
(depending on price range/target group)

Best sport compact:
Subaru Imprezza STi
BMW 3-series
(depending on price range/target group)

Best convertible:
Mercedes SL

Best luxury sedan:
Lexus LS

Best crossover:
Subaru Forrester/Outback
Lexus RXh
(depending on price range/target group)

Best SUV:
Toyota Land Cruiser

Best pick-up:
I like the Toyota Tacoma, but can't dispute the F-150.

Best exotic:
Ferrari