BMW 6 Series
2017 is shaping up to be the worst year in the history of the BMW 6 Series in terms of sales in the United States. During the first 11 months of the year, only 2,986 examples of the luxury cabrio and sedan have been delivered, compared to nearly 10,000 units in previous years.
While this year’s results are not quite surprising given the vehicle’s age, I’m sad to see one of the best-looking BMWs in the last decade decline. It still looks fresh after seven years on the market thanks to its perfect proportions and memorable overall appearance. It even handles well and provides decent performance by today’s standards.
Starting at $81,400 for the four-door GranCoupe sedan and at $86,700 for the convertible, the 6 Series also remains reasonably priced. Where’s the 6 Series Coupe? It’s gone for good, as it will be replaced by the all-new 8 Series Coupe.
-Anthony Karr
Subaru Legacy
After an attractive refresh and only a tiny price increase for 2018, I was quite surprised to see that Subaru Legacy deliveries fell 23.8 percent for the year through November.
While the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord the the default choices for a midsize sedan for many buyers, the Legacy really deserves at least some consideration, especially with the latest updates. The revised front end's chiseled lines suit the sedan much better and rectify one the Legacy's biggest previous weaknesses, which was its boring nose. Inside, the material improvements show that Subaru is really making strides with interior quality. Plus, the refresh adds torque vectoring to Subie's tried-and-true all-wheel-drive setup for even more grip when conditions get slick.
Given all of these improvements, it's surprising to see the Legacy struggling. It's a really solid package in a very competitive class.
-Chris Bruce
Audi TT
With a $43,950 starting price, the Audi TT is not particularity inexpensive, and that’s probably the main reason why a measly 2,057 units have been sold through November. That being said, the premium it commands over other coupes is worth the effort as not only does it look sharp, but it also has a driver-focused minimalist interior with the fantastic Audi Virtual Cockpit.
Like any other car carrying the four-ring badge, everything feels premium and built to last. Factor in Quattro all-wheel drive as standard equipment across the range, it means you will be able drive it year-round.
There’s also the TT RS to consider, basically a baby R8 with a sweet-sounding five-cylinder engine cranking out a healthy 400 horsepower. It starts off at $64,900 and does the sprint to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, only a tenth of a second slower than the $164,900 R8.
-Adrian Padeanu
Volvo V90
It’s hard to imagine that the handsome and capable Volvo V90 and V90 Cross Country would sell just 2,119 combined examples in the U.S. through November 2017, but America’s distaste for wagons remains steadfast. A contributor to slow sales could be the fact that Volvo made the V90 available via special order only, or that the Swedish marque has an impressive updated range of SUVs. Nonetheless, the V90 and its high-riding Cross Country sibling deserve more love.
The V90 comes standard with a 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, with optional all-wheel drive, making it the ultimate luxury family hauler. It’s pretty spacious, too, with up to 69 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats folded flat. It may not be up to par with the XC90’s 85.7 cubic feet of cargo room, but one could argue that the V90 is a better looking, better driving alternative with more than enough room for everyday needs.
-Jeff Perez
Mazda6
When I stopped into a Mazda dealer a few months back, the salesman talked my ear off about how the automaker was billing the Mazda6 as a luxury sedan in its own niche, above its Japanese rivals from Toyota and Honda but not quite as opulent as the Germans. If that’s true, the strategy stinks because Mazda sold approximately 31,000 of its sedans through November, which is barely 10 percent of Camry and Accord sales. It’s even outsold by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, two cars which are vastly more expensive (and admittedly, vastly better equipped).
That’s unfortunate, because the Mazda6 does actually feel a bit more warm and inviting inside compared to many other mainstream sedans, and it’s a gorgeous car to behold. It also still has that secret Mazda zoom-zoom recipe in its chassis that makes it terrifically enjoyable to drive, even with its significant horsepower handicap. Now that a turbocharged version with some added tech is available for 2018, here’s hoping this often-ignored sedan gets some much-deserving attention from buyers.
-Christopher Smith
Subaru BRZ
The best-handling rear-wheel-drive car with a roof – at least under $30,000 – is struggling to hit 5,000 units sold on the year? Tragedy. Any of us who’ve sat at keyboards and bitched that automakers don’t care about the driving enthusiast any more, had better take a hard look in the mirror.
The BRZ is about as much fun as you can have behind the wheel of a car, within a pricing structure that most people can afford, and in a form factor that’s way more practical than many realize (as long as you don’t need regular use of four seats). I’m a convertible guy, so I understand the allure of spending BRZ-level money on the excellent Mazda Miata, but the fixed-roof fans need to come out in a bigger force. From the lively boxer engine, to the whip-fast steering response, to the super balanced chassis, to the slightly upgraded interior, this is a car that would impress many drivers if given a chance.
-Seyth Miersma
Nissan GT-R
Yes, the Nissan GT-R is expensive – even the new "entry" model lists for $99,900 before destination or options – and yes, this R35 model has been on sale in the U.S. since 2008. But Nissan has updated the GT-R every single year to continually improve it, so it remains one of the most impressive supercars on sale today. Break-neck launch control, stupendous lapping capability, and concept-car looks all mean the GT-R still has plenty of appeal today. If you want to go really, really fast around a race track, the GT-R is one of your best options. Yes, new contenders like the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1 1LE put up serious competition in terms of lap time-per-dollar, but there's still something special about a car so incredible that it was named "Godzilla."
-Jake Holmes
Honorable Mention: Chevrolet SS
Yes, the rules are being broken because this list isn’t supposed to include cars that were cancelled. But we’re making an exception for the SS because this is what happens when a legitimately cool car doesn’t get the love it deserves. In the world of domestic sedans, the SS delivered everything enthusiasts wanted, right down to a proper manual transmission sending 415 V8-derived horsepower to the rear wheels. It was well proportioned and modest in appearance, with plenty of space inside for passengers and enough gadgetry to satisfy most car shoppers. At approximately $46,000 it was also comparably priced to its full-size U.S. sport-sedan competitors – the Ford Taurus SHO and Chrysler 300C.
Truth be told, Chevrolet SS sales actually rose 37 percent through 2017, but that still only amounted to just over 4,000 units sold. The next time you want to complain about automakers never building the cars enthusiasts ask for, remember this car.
-Motor1.com
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