As we’ve entered a new decade, I thought it might be time to take a look back at the 2010s and see if, among the largely nondescript egg-shaped crossovers, there were some design gems. The sort of cars that’ll be looked back upon fondly down the road.
Got one in mind?
Before we begin, I’ll clarify that we’re only talking standard production cars today. That means no bespoke cars or one-offs, no design exercises that were cancelled during the prototype stage, and no ultra high-end supercars or exotica. Today’s designs should be relatively attainable; let’s keep their starting prices under $100,000. You know, cars for the common peoplekind, as they say in Canada. The model year of your pick must reside between 2010 and 2019.
Here’s mine:
And isn’t it lovely? It’s the original Audi A7. When introduced in 2010, I recall being very unsure about this new four-door liftback experiment from the conservative people at Audi. As an Audi traditionalist, prior owner of three Audis, and an apologist for their maladies as they age, I’d had a set of characteristics in mind for what an Audi should be and how it should look. Namely, the only acceptable shapes for Audis were coupes with trunk or liftback, sedans, or wagons. And that’s it.
But what I didn’t realize at the time was that Audi was about to go the Same Sausage Different Length approach with its models, standardizing the appearance of even the prestigious A8 along strict corporate design lines. So this new Audi which didn’t fit the mold ended up being, relatively speaking, the only unique design the brand offered. Sameness and crossovers, that’s what Audi was about post-2010.
Then I started seeing the A7 in traffic. I noticed its proportions, sleek shape, and little details. Like how the A7 had different wheels to other Audis, and how the Audi Rings played inside the rear tail lamps. A decade on it still looks great, especially in dark colors. The original A7 is easily my pick for best standard car design of the 2010s.
If you’ve got a better pick, let’s hear it.
[Images: General Motors, Audi]
I’ve never owned a M-B but their design language for the C, E, and S class are uniform and still ooze class. Perhaps not as much as some of my various models from the 1960s-1970s but still, in the day of so many vehicles looking the same, MB still knows how to make a good looking car.
I feel the same with Audi – vehicles that age well as the years go by.
Audi A5…. Hands down the best looking “normal” car in existence. The lines on those cars will never get old.
Yes, the original Walter de Silva Audi A5 was a very nice shape. I thought the stronger crease down the side of the 2016 model was inelegant and clumsy, not an improvement on the original in my opinion, but the rest of the update worked and it is still a great design.
Shame about the engine being stuck out ahead of the front axle, but I guess in the US that’s less relevant than in Europe.
There is no difference in the body lines between the original and the 2016 (which was a “face-lifted” model) A5. The only body differences were the hood creases that went down into the front bumper cover on the original. With the facelift came more modern headlight housings and the hood creases no longer went down into bumper cover with that new headlight design. From the sides though, the two cars were indistinguishable. I own both, an original and a facelift (B8 & B8.5) cars.
Call me a redneck, but I think the current generation of Mustang has the best lines the model has ever had.
I prefer the previous S197 generation, specifically the 2013-2014 refresh. Those taillights and the aggressive front end, part retro part futuristic.
But I would be happy enough driving a 2018 GT PP2 with the 10-speed auto.
Ugh, the ’13 refresh was like when Mr. Burns made Ken Griffey Jr. drink nerve tonic.
:-P
It’s like a marketer looked at a perfectly good base ’12 and said, “NEEDS MOAR SHELBY!” to the designers.
I push back because I mostly agree with you and think the pre-refresh S197 II (’10-’12, if I’m getting my years correct) is probably the best-looking Mustang after the ’65-’66.
Concur 2011 Mustang (1st year with both 3.7L V6 and Coyote) was better than ’13 refresh…
PP2 is manual transmission only. And that a good thing….
I agree and I wouldn’t call you a redneck unless you wanted the label. :)
No ‘redneck’ caller here, but the current Mustang hardtop looks a bit like a porker to me. Somehow, the Mustang convertible pleases me more even though I know its length and width match the hardtop. And, yes, I like the A7 and Cadillac coupe a lot.
I just love the tall boxy Land Rovers of the 2010s, elegant, purposeful and a look that says they’re good at their intended purpose, taking royalty across the trechorous landscape of Balmoral and Sandringham Estates.
Unfortunately that “look” doesn’t convey reliability or dependability :(
That’s a good pick. Love me a filing cabinet LR4.
On the way to work I pass a house that I used to rent some 5 years ago.
There is an older Land Rover Discovery in the driveway. I swear that I’ve never seen that car ever change it’s position.
I call it the “Driveway Ornament” edition. You open the hood and there is just a concrete block for the engine.
Now that’s silly, a concrete block would probably run better
Yup, I’m with you. Looks wise, the Land Rovers – all the premium ones – look the business.
2013 Ford Fusion. Easily the best-looking mainstream sedan of the 21st century.
Agreed. You can’t go wrong riffing on Aston Martin.
I don’t like the rear side/lights on it
Out of proportion, too narrow for its length.
The Fusion wasnt bad for its place in the mainstream sedan segment, but I’d have to give the nod to the Kia Optima during that era. They knocked it out of the park with style, raising the bar for other sedans, not unlike the A7 mentioned above (go figure, based on designer lineage!).
The ’13 Fusion was the most beautiful non-luxury car of it’s time. If you want to argue the Mazda 6 was better, I’ll agree they’re both very attractive. Both have also held up well.
The Kia Optima? I guess you’re allowed your opinion.
“2013 Ford Fusion”
Agreed and I bought two of them grey 2014 and blue 2018 both Titanium, and like 2018 more. But I dig A7 too, unfortunately it is overpriced and is very unpractical car.
Well I admit to being biased, but the 2013 Viper is timeless and started under $100K, so that’s my pick.
More in the spirit of the question, some designs I really liked (in no particular order) were the Volvo V90, the Kia Telluride, the 12-17 Accord Coupe, the last gen Chrysler 200, and the Lexus LC.
V90 also good. The sedan doesn’t look nearly as nice.
Nor the Cross Country with the odd cladding/rear doorline interaction.
The S90 is a bit…long. The S60 gets the look right. Not crazy about how it drives, though.
You know, S90 has that bulky FWD proportions issue like the Continental and MKS. Once they get so big and FWD you’ve gotta be very careful.
The Viper looked like embarrassing overcompensation back then, and it still does. I guess you could call that timeless.
I think the G70 is gorgeous and it has a third pedal.
For me, the 2014-present Mazda6 is the best. It’s been tweaked a few times but it’s held up beautifully.
The Ford Fusion is 2nd.
Mazda6 is great choice. It’s a lovely design. I really like the 2018 update to the front end.
Agree, the 6 catches my eye all the time. Like the shape, wheels, and the trim detail.
Mazda6 rocks. I also like 2014 accord. Eh, if it could combine 2014 front with rear lights from 2017…
Agreed. Still the best-looking attainable sedan—and aging well.
I’m with you on the A7. In fact, I think that’s a car that people will still think is attractive 10 years from now.
Same here and I fit in it.
I know a dude who’s 6’7″ and says his first gen A7 is comfortable. I wonder if the newer ones are as well.
You may as well say the VW CC.
Not a bad looking car, but an overall disappointment.
I’ve tried to see what most see in the 1st gen A7, but, I just haven’t been able to “make” it beautiful to my eyes. Too hefty-looking. I do love that hard, crisp line that begins underneath the headlamps and runs a few inches below the greenhouse. It’s a terrific element.
My pick is the CTS coupe with its wagon counterpart a close second. My only complaint is that Cadillac didn’t make it a true pillar less hardtop a la Mercedes-Benz’ E and S series coupes.
I’m with you on the Audi. That’s why I prefer the A6 – mostly the same lines, without the ill-fitting liftback.
I think the Jaguar XJL pulls off that “look” better then the A7
The (now dead) XJL had such weird panels at the back. I get the look they were going for, but probably should’ve gone liftback with it. As it stands, there were gaps in too many places, as well as gloss black panels to hide heft.
The 2nd gen. CTS; perfect as a sedan, breathtaking as a coupe, and iconic as a wagon.
2nd gen CTS debuted in 2008. But I agree it looks gorgeous even today. It has certainly aged well
+1 I still daily drive a gray gen-2 CTS sedan and people still ask if it’s brand new!
2010s cars as requested. In order by styling:
1. Subaru BRZ
2. Dodge Challenger
3. Chevrolet Camaro
4. Volvo C30
5. BMW Z4 E89
6. Mazda Miata hard top
And just to break the rules:
7. Nissan Xterra N50
Chevrolet SS in blue with a third pedal.
The only reason I didn’t get the blue stick shift is because that dealer would not work with it, I wasn’t paying $3k extra just for a different color no matter how good it looks.
In any color good enough
Chrysler hit a bunch of them out of the park. Most of them before 2010, but they kept on selling them. Hell, they’re still selling them. The 09 Ram, 11 JGC, both LX refreshes, the Challenger. Hard to pick a favorite but I think it’s the Challenger. It should lose some for being such a blatant knockoff but they picked the right car to copy.
As far as the A7, someone described the rear end as a dog taking a number two and I not only can’t unsee that but now see it in every other kamm backed sedan too. No thanks.
They must have some weird dogs where you live.
I’m too clumsy to tinyurl from my phone but the curvature of the back glass into the deck could have been traced from the curvature of the canine spine into the tail. Can not unsee!
The A7’s a good choice. The current S5 Sportback looks even better, at least to my eyes:
https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/NhZVoZVf9a-kg-PYWFlkGttF7BQ=/980×551/2017/06/12/ed5c6b29-6cd7-4e7e-ac20-f2c669c09331/21-2018-audi-s5-sportback-red.jpg
The A7 is urbane and architectural; the S5 Sportback is all curves and sex. It’s the best looking sedan you can buy. It’s also terrific to drive.
Some others I’d nominate:
1) BMW i8
2) Tesla Model S (before the ruined the front end design)
3) Hyundai Elantra Sport (pre-refresh)
4) That ATS in the picture above
5) Infiniti Q60
“ Tesla Model S (before the ruined the front end design)”
This, I still see a lot of the pre facelift Model S, I don’t get why they ruined the front end, it really cheapened out the entire car.
Prefacelift she was a looker.
“Tesla Model S (before the ruined the front end design)”
+1 to that, as much as I hate nearly everything about Tesla they got the major proportions on that one right.
And the front end as wrong as a unisex mannequin.
No argument with your choices (heck, I own an A5), but I’d like to know where one could find a new BMW i8 for under the $100,000 cut off price!
Do you have the coupe or the sedan?
I had an A5 Sportback as a service loaner not too long ago – aside from the piped-in engine sounds, I really liked it.
FreedMike,
My A5 is a 2008 coupe, 6 cylinder, manual transmission. It still looks and drives like new, but then, I only have 44,001 miles on it. (Yes, 44,001, it just turned!)
Lots of good picks so far.
Going for one I haven’t seen yet, I loved the look of the ’11-’19 “A5” Beetle. The redesign was 100% effective on me.
Lack of a “Beetle R” is really all that kept me from buying a new one. A used one will probably end up in my driveway in the next 4 years.
’11-’17 was peak Silverado/Sierra and went downhill shortly after, probably in terms of sales/profits too. OK they went downhill in every way possible.
I don’t have any order but I think the last gen Regal (RIP), last gen Impala (RIP) and the current gen Fusion (soon to RIP) would have my vote.
See a pattern here?
Oh, I forgot about the current gen MX-5. Such a gorgeous ride when optioned with the Hard Top
My choices are the following:
2011-2019 Buick Lacrosse–like both generations
2014-2020 Chevrolet Impala
The current Genesis G-90
The current Dodge Challenger
The current generation of Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.
The current Ford Fusion
The current Lincoln Continental
Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon is the odd one out. But I don’t disagree with the others.
“peoplekind” is a word I’s never heard before, b’y, and I lives here. Must be yer ‘magination, but you’s a come from away anyways.
Only recent car I can nominate that fascinated me at first sight was the Model S sitting in a supermarket parking lot in the pouring rain. It was parked next to mine when I returned from shopping. Couldn’t work out what it was as the rain on my windows distorted it. Thought it might be a Maserati. So I manfully got out again and took a good look. Yup, a Tesla, which considering the zero incentives for EVs in my province, meant someone had lashed out actual money for one. Darkish blue. Lovely.
Still, compared to my favorite two cars of all time on first encounter, it was lesser by far. The ’66 Toronado and the ’71 Citroen SM both had me walking around them for some time back in the day, taking in some really amazingly inspired lines. I will not pick one above the other, want one of each. Just need to win the lottery.
Yeah, I have a new Mazda6 turbo and boy was it perky today. It’s above zero, er, actually 36F for the disadvantaged of America. Once you own one, you see how cleverly the styling disguises a box. Most obvious from an upstairs window looking down on it from the rear. It’s pleasant, doesn’t knock me out, but doesn’t alarm me as to the probable mental health of its stylists like Toyotas or some US pickup trucks.
I never heard the term “peoplekind” before either. It must be regional. Canada is a big country eh?
Your president said it, and he knows what’s up!
Who’s the president of Canada?
Joe T, of course.
Geddy Lee.
I think BMW nailed the 2011 5 series after going a bit astray 2004-2010.
I would also add the 2012+ Passat, CC, Infiniti G37, and Altima Coupe. Nice looking attainable cars.
When it comes to looks, the redesigned XJ from 2010 or 2011 on looks so damn good. Interior design matches it too, which often doesn’t happen. Callum nailed the look.
The XJ and the LR3/4 for completely different reasons and aesthetics look like the class of the decade to me.
Personally, I thought the XJ was attractive, if a bit “jellybean,” but there’s no argument from me on the interior. The XJ is the last Jaguar that looks like a Jaguar inside.
The best car was the one I put my money on, 2014 Acura TSX Sportwagon. Practical, good looking (yea it has the beak) and economical.
Ha already every answer is different.
Really pretty hard to say. I prefer sedans that have presence and look classy.
S class is a good one.
I actually think the Cadillac CT6 also has real presence.
When did the F Type Jag get released?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee also manages to look classy, beefy, off roady, on rowdy, go camping, go to a fancy dinner. Still looks great today.
F-Type is a looker too. I take issue with the ride quality and how loud they are, but they look great.
Since I tend to buy by exterior design, along with other criteria, the F-Type is on my “for consideration” list too, along with the Audi S5, but I have not driven one yet.
F Type was released in 2013. I had a chance to be driven around in one on a race track in England, amazing car.
A few pics:
1) Audi A5 coupe and sport back.
2) BMW 4 series Gran coupe and convertible.
3) Cadillac ATS and CTS
4) Dodge Challenger
5) Ford Mustang
6) Mazda Miata
7) Tesla Model S (pre frontal refresh)
The ugly-Nissan Versa sedan. Overstyled Lexus models
It had lots of other issues, but I remain a fan of the looks of the first-gen Hyundai Genesis sedan, especially in R-Spec trim.
I’m a big fan of the C207 Mercedes E-Class coupe, which started as a 2000s design but was facelifted in 2013 and produced all the way through 2017. The current one is heavy and ugly by comparison.
But I think my favorite 2010s design is the Volvo S90/V90. Perfect proportions and detailing that’s a lot less fussy than you usually see these days. The XC90 is also my favorite SUV design on the market.
I’d like to give some sort of honorable mention to the A6 Jetta (especially pre-facelift) because its clean styling flew if the face of the decade’s tendency toward overwrought and ugly designs.
I’ll throw my nickel in with the current generation Mazda6 and the 300 after they flattened out the taillights (there’s something about taillights that jutted out vaguely that bothers me). Of the Germans, Audi is definitely my pick.
Jaguar F-Type, which others have mentioned.
Corvette C-7. The 2nd best looking ‘vette ever?
Ford Fusion for best sedan.
Alfa Stelvio for best SUV.
Dodge Ram 4th generation for pick-up. Yes I know it came out in 2009.
I have a 2014 CTS Coupe sitting in my Garage for this exact reason. I believe it’s a remarkably beautiful car. Granted it’s a massively compromised design, which is part of why I love the fact that Cadillac even made it.
The gentleman who owns the Audi/VW/German indie shop I take my cars to owns an A7 as his DD. I see it every time I go there. Silver with a bright red interior (custom maybe?) Its beautiful. It’s a 2013 I think?
But for my money, the pre-facelift D4 A8-L, as staid as it is, looks the business. Conservative yes, but I think its aged better than the BMW Series (the F01), and while the W221 S-Class is probably a better overall car, I think the interior was a little busier than the A8. Plus, the W221 with most common options generally plays in the $100k+ range, so doesn’t qualify by the rules of the question.
In more mainstream cars, the 2015-ish Sonata is fairly clean looking, and I love the look of the 4th gen Infiniti G37.
The only American car here for me would be the Impala LTZ2(I guess its called Premier now?)…maybe the Ford Fusion…in Platinum trim. Minor differences to the outward appearance, but the ‘upgraded’ paint colors and external trim cues make a difference in appearance to my eyes.
Jag XF Sportbrake
Mercedes E Class wagon
The Fusion/Mondeo wagon was beautiful and forbidden fruit, same for the Focus ST wagon
Ram made good looking trucks
Lexus LC500 is stunning in person
Chrysler 200
2015+ Dodge Charger
370Z Nismo is very attractive in white
Alfa Giulia, even in standard dress, is very attractive and available in actual colors!
+1 on the Charger. That’s the one affordable sedan I would actually buy…more fun than the Impala or the Fusion. The 6th gen and early 7th gen were not that good looking, but the current post-facelift ones look great.
I’ll say Alfa Romeo Giulia because I’m biased, and before you all start mine has never has so much as a misfire, unlike the Porsche it replaced.
These are just old enough for nobody to care about but the 2005 Chrysler 300 was by far the most popular and important car for America from 2000-2010. As for styling in general I’d say the 2004 Mercedes CLS takes the cake for that.
The Challenger goes without saying but its design was from 1970 largely.
2010-2019 is too recent imo
We need a voting mechanism. Lot’s of great nominations.
“…and how the Audi Rings played inside the rear tail lamps.”
As opposed to the front tail lamps?
Tough call. I think there were plenty of examples of stellar automotive design throughout this decade. For me, the best-looking sub-100K car to come out in the last 10 years is the current-gen Mustang. The lines and proportions are spot-on. It’s been out for 5 years and I still stop and stare whenever I see one on the street.
Runners-up:
Saab 9-5 (RIP)
Mazda 3 hatchback (current generation)
Honda Accord (current generation)
Volvo V90 (current generation)
Lincoln Continental