Car and Driver 10Best is a list produced annually by Car and Driver magazine (C/D) beginning in 1983, nominating what its writers considers the 10 best cars of the year. C/D also produced the 5Best list, highlighting what it considers the five best trucks of the year.
All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these recent restrictions: The vehicle must be on sale by January It must be priced below 2.5 times the average price of a car that year The manufacturer must provide an example for testing Only substantially changed or new vehicles and the past year's 10 best winners are nominated
The magazine sometimes selects a specific trim and other times a whole family of vehicles.
Top Models From the start of the 10Best in 1983 through 2023, the following models were represented on the 10Best lists the most years.
Rank Model Number of wins1Honda Accord402Chevrolet Corvette25 2Porsche Boxster / Cayman25 4BMW 3-Series / M323 5Volkswagen GTI / Golf19 5Mazda MX-5 Miata197Ford Mustang118Audi 5000 and Audi A6 / A710 8Honda Prelude10 8Cadillac CTS and Cadillac CT511 11Honda Civic10 12Acura Integra and Acura RSX8 12Mazda RX-7 and Mazda RX-88 12Nissan 300ZX and Nissan 350Z8 15Ford Focus7 15Ford Taurus7 15Honda Fit7 15Honda Odyssey7 15Mazda 37 15Porsche Macan7 21BMW 5-Series6 21Honda Pilot6 21Audi A4 / S46 21Ram 1500621Chrysler LH (300M, Concorde, Intrepid, Vision)6 26Toyota Celica Supra / Toyota GR Supra526Mercedes-Benz GL450 / GLS4505 26Chevrolet Silverado5
1983 For the 1980s, Car and Driver picked four domestic and six import cars.
ModelTimes on ListAMC Alliance1Chevrolet Caprice Classic1Ford Mustang GT 5.012Honda Accord36Mazda RX-78Mercedes-Benz 380SEL1Pontiac 6000 STE3Porsche 9444Renault Alliance1Toyota Supra Celica Supra5Volkswagen GTI Rabbit16
Fastest car tested: Jaguar XJ-S HE, 142 mph
Top-selling cars: Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Ford Escort Ford LTD
1984 Instituted the price cap at $30,000.
ModelTimes on ListAudi 5000 S/Turbo5Dodge Daytona Turbo1Honda Prelude10Honda Accord36Mazda 6264Pontiac Fiero 2M41Pontiac 6000 STE3Porsche 9444Toyota Supra Celica Supra5Volkswagen GTI Rabbit16
Fastest car tested: Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole, 144 mph
Top-selling cars: Chevrolet Cavalier Ford Escort Ford LTD
1985 Price cap: $30,000
ModelTimes on ListAudi 5000 S/Turbo5Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z4Chevrolet Corvette21Dodge Caravan3Honda CRX2Honda Civic8Honda Prelude10Honda Accord36Merkur XR4Ti1Plymouth Voyager3Pontiac 6000 STE3Porsche 9444
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette, 150 mph
Top-selling cars: Chevrolet Cavalier Ford Escort Chevrolet Celebrity
1986 Price cap: $30,000
ModelTimes on ListAudi 5000 CS Turbo Quattro5Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Taurus7Honda Prelude10Honda Accord36Lincoln Mark VII LSC1Mercury Sable3Porsche 944 Turbo4Saab 9000 Turbo4Toyota MR22Volkswagen GTI16
Fastest car tested: Porsche 944 Turbo, 157 mph
Top-selling cars: Chevrolet Celebrity Ford Escort Chevrolet Cavalier
1987 Price cap: $30,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Integra6Audi 5000 CS Turbo5Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Mustang GT12Ford Taurus7Honda Accord36Mazda RX-7 Turbo8Pontiac Bonneville SE1Saab 9000 Turbo4Toyota MR22 Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 176 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Escort Ford Taurus Chevrolet Cavalier
1988 Price cap: $35,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Legend Coupe3Acura Integra6Audi 50005Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Mustang 5.012Ford Taurus7Honda CRX2Honda Civic8Honda Accord36Saab 9000 Turbo4
Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 173 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Escort Chevrolet Corsica/Beretta Ford Taurus
1989 Imports and domestics chosen by marque, not by place of manufacture.
Price cap: $35,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Legend Coupe3Chevrolet Corvette21Dodge Colt Turbo1Ford Probe GT3Ford Taurus7Honda Civic8Honda Accord36Lincoln Continental1Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo1Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo4Plymouth Laser Turbo4Saab 9000 Turbo4
Fastest car tested: 750iL V12, 158 mph
Top-selling cars: Honda Accord Ford Taurus Ford Escort
1990 Eliminated half domestic/half import rule as impractical.
Price cap: $35,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Legend Coupe3Eagle Talon Turbo3Ford Taurus7Honda Civic8Honda Accord36Lexus LS1Mazda MPV2Mazda MX-5 Miata18Mercury Sable3Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo4Nissan Maxima SE3Nissan 300ZX Turbo7Plymouth Laser Turbo4
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 175 mph
Top-selling cars: Honda Accord Ford Taurus Chevrolet Cavalier
1991 New rule: No more than two places per marque.
Price cap: $35,000
ModelTimes on ListEagle Talon Turbo3Ford Taurus7Honda Civic8Honda Accord36Mazda MPV V62Mazda MX-5 Miata18Mercury Tracer LTS1Mercury Sable3Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo4Nissan Sentra SE-R4Nissan 300ZX Turbo7Plymouth Laser Turbo4Toyota Previa1
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 176 mph
Top-selling cars: Honda Accord Ford Taurus Toyota Camry
1992 Price cap: $40,000
ModelTimes on ListBMW 3 Series 325i23Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan1Eagle Talon AWD Turbo3Ford Taurus SHO7Honda Prelude Si10Lexus SC SC4004Mazda MX-5 Miata18Mitsubishi Eclipse AWD Turbo4Nissan Sentra SE-R4Nissan 300ZX Turbo7Plymouth Laser AWD Turbo4Toyota Camry V63
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F40, 197 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Taurus Honda Accord Toyota Camry
1993 Price cap: $40,000
ModelTimes on ListBMW 3 Series 325i23Chrysler Concorde2Dodge Intrepid4Eagle Vision2Ford Probe GT3Honda Prelude Si VTEC10Jeep Grand Cherokee V81Lexus SC4Mazda RX-78Nissan Sentra SE-R4Nissan 300ZX Turbo7Toyota Camry Sedans3
Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo, 204 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Taurus Honda Accord Toyota Camry
1994 Institution of the 2.5x price cap, now at $43,000.
ModelTimes on ListAcura Integra GS-R6BMW 3 Series 325i/325is23Chrysler Concorde2Dodge Intrepid4Eagle Vision2Ford Probe GT3Honda Prelude VTEC10Honda Accord EX36Lexus SC4Mazda RX-78Nissan Sentra SE-R4Nissan 300ZX Turbo7
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 179 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Taurus Honda Accord Ford Escort
1995 Price cap: $46,000.
ModelTimes on ListAcura Integra GS-R6BMW 3 Series 328i/M3 23Chrysler Cirrus LXi3Ford Contour3Honda Prelude VTEC10Honda Accord36Lexus SC4Mazda RX-78Mercury Mystique3Nissan Maxima SE3Nissan 300ZX Turbo7
Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo VT, 185 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Taurus Honda Accord Toyota Camry
1996 Price cap: $48,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Integra6Audi A46BMW 3 Series 328i/M3 23Chrysler Town and Country2Chrysler Cirrus3Dodge Stratus2Dodge Caravan3Ford Contour3Honda Civic8Honda Prelude VTEC10Mercury Mystique3Nissan Maxima SE3Nissan 300ZX Turbo7Plymouth Voyager3
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F355, 179 mph
Top-selling cars: Ford Taurus Honda Accord Toyota Camry
1997 Price cap: $54,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura Integra6Audi A46BMW 5 Series6BMW 3 Series 328i/M3 23Chrysler Town and Country2Chrysler Cirrus3Dodge Stratus2Dodge Caravan3Ford Contour3Honda Prelude SH10Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class (R170)2Mercury Mystique3Plymouth Breeze1Plymouth Voyager3Toyota Camry V63
Fastest car tested: Dodge Viper GTS, 177 mph
Top-selling cars: Toyota Camry Honda Accord Ford Taurus
1998 Price cap: $55,000
ModelTimes on ListAudi A46BMW 5 Series6BMW 3 Series 328i/M3 23Chevrolet Corvette21Dodge Intrepid4Honda Prelude10Honda Accord36Lexus GS3Mazda MX-5 Miata18Porsche Boxster20
Fastest car tested: Ferrari F50, 194 mph
Top-selling cars: Toyota Camry Honda Accord Ford Taurus
1999 Price cap: $59,000
ModelTimes on ListBMW M Coupe / M Roadster1BMW 5-Series6BMW 328i / M323Chevrolet Corvette21Chrysler 300M2Dodge Intrepid4Honda Accord36Lexus GS3Mazda MX-5 Miata18Porsche Boxster20
Top-selling cars: Toyota Camry Honda Accord Ford Taurus
2000 Price cap: $61,000
ModelTimes on ListAudi A6 2.7T / 4.25Audi TT2BMW 5 Series6BMW 3 Series23Chrysler 300M2Ford Focus7Honda Accord36Honda S20004Lexus GS300/GS4003Porsche Boxster20
Top-selling cars: Toyota Camry Honda Accord Ford Taurus
2001 For 2001, Car and Driver created a separate "5Best Trucks" award with a single winner in each of five categories.
Top-selling vehicles: Ford F-Series Chevrolet Silverado Ford Explorer
10Best Cars Price cap: $62,000
ModelTimes on ListAudi A6 2.7T / 4.25Audi TT2BMW 5-Series6BMW 3-Series23Chrysler PT Cruiser1Ford Focus7Honda Accord36Honda S20004Mazda MX-5 Miata18Porsche Boxster20
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVToyota Highlander1Luxury SUVAcura MDX1Pickup TruckChevrolet Silverado5Small SUVFord Escape1VanHonda Odyssey7
2002 Top-selling cars: Ford F-Series Chevrolet Silverado Toyota Camry
10Best Cars Price cap: $66,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura RSX2Audi A46BMW 3 Series M323BMW 5 Series6Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Focus7Honda Accord36Honda S20004Porsche Boxster20Subaru Impreza WRX2
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVLand Rover Range Rover1Pickup TruckChevrolet Silverado5Small SUVHonda CR-V2VanHonda Odyssey7
2003
10Best Cars Price cap: $66,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura RSX2BMW 3 Series M323Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Focus7Honda Accord36Infiniti G354Mazda 6 s4Nissan 350Z1Porsche Boxster20Subaru Impreza WRX2
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVVolkswagen Touareg1Pickup TruckChevrolet Silverado5Small SUVHonda CR-V2VanHonda Odyssey7
2004
10Best Cars Price cap: $69,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura TSX3Audi S46BMW 3 Series / M323Chevrolet Corvette21Ford Focus7Honda Accord36Honda S20004Infiniti G354Mazda RX-83Toyota Prius1
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVCadillac SRX3Pickup TruckFord F-Series3Small SUVSubaru Forester3VanToyota Sienna1
2005
10Best Cars Price cap: $70,000
For 2005 and 2006, the magazine named one winner in each category. TitleModelTimes on ListFamily SedanHonda Accord36Full Size SedanChrysler 300C3Luxury SedanAcura RL1Luxury Sports CarMercedes-Benz SLK2Luxury Sports SedanBMW 3 Series M323Muscle CarFord Mustang GT12Performance CarChevrolet Corvette21Sports CoupeMazda RX-83Sports SedanAcura TSX3WagonDodge Magnum1
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVCadillac SRX3Pickup TruckFord F-Series3Small SUVSubaru Forester3VanHonda Odyssey7
2006
10Best Cars Price cap: $70,000
ModelTimes on ListAcura TSX3Audi A3 2.0T1BMW 3 Series23Chevrolet Corvette21Chrysler 300 / 300C3Mustang GT12Honda Accord36Mazda MX-5 Miata18Mazda RX-83Porsche Boxster / Cayman21
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVCadillac SRX3Pickup TruckFord F-Series3Small SUVSubaru Forester3VanHonda Odyssey7
2007
10Best Cars Price cap: $71,000
ModelTimes on ListBMW 3 Series23Chevrolet Corvette21Chrysler 300C3Honda Accord36Honda Fit7Infiniti G35 Sedan4Mazdaspeed37Mazda MX-5 Miata18Porsche Boxster / Cayman21Volkswagen GTI16
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVHonda Pilot6Luxury SUVMercedes-Benz GL-Class GL4502Pickup TruckChevrolet Silverado5Small SUVToyota RAV42VanHonda Odyssey7
2008
10Best Cars Price cap: $72,000
ModelTimes on ListBMW 3 Series23Cadillac CTS8Chevrolet Corvette21Chevrolet Malibu1Honda Accord36Honda Fit7Mazda MX-5 Miata18Mazdaspeed37Porsche Boxster20Porsche Cayman2Volkswagen GTI16
5Best Trucks TitleModelTimes on ListLarge SUVMazda CX-91Luxury SUVMercedes-Benz GL-Class2Pickup TruckChevrolet Silverado5Small SUVToyota RAV42VanHonda Odyssey7
2009
10Best Cars Price cap: $71,000
Beginning with the 2009 list, Car and Driver considered the Porsche Boxster and Cayman to be the same car.
ModelTimes on List Volkswagen GTI 16 BMW 3 Series 23Cadillac CTS 8 Chevrolet Corvette 21Honda Accord36 Honda Fit 7 Infiniti G37 4 Jaguar XF 1 Mazda MX-5 Miata 18 Porsche Boxster/Cayman 21
"Dishonorable Mention"