(iSeeCars) – The success of American cars has ebbed and flowed over the past 100 years, with historic automakers such as Duesenberg and Packard representing the peak of America’s automotive golden era before brands like Chevy, Dodge, and Ford took over in the post-depression, post-war era.
Today, traditional U.S. brands face ever-increasing competition from European, Japanese, and Korean automakers, not to mention a new domestic rival called Tesla. This has forced a shift away from old-school V8 engines and toward smaller, four-cylinder turbo powertrains to keep pace with rising fuel efficiency standards and lower CO2 regulations.
While traditionally the domain of Japanese brands like Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, American brands have stepped up their efforts to develop smaller, turbocharged engines that balance performance and fuel economy. You can now buy mainstream American vehicles, including pickup trucks and muscle cars, with advanced engine technology rivaling premium brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
And while Tesla kicked off the electric vehicle revolution over a decade ago, an ever-growing list of battery-powered, zero-emission new cars is now available. While import brands like Hyundai and Volkswagen offer some of the most impressive EVs on the market, U.S. automakers have aggressively introduced new electric vehicles in recent model years.
You can see all the Best American Cars below, ranked by their iSeeCars quality score across a number of categories. We’re classifying these models as “American” based on where their brand headquarters are located (in the U.S.), though we recognize many “foreign” cars like the Acura MDX or Kia Sorento are fully manufactured in U.S. plants.
Best American Small Cars
Chevrolet Spark – 8.2 / 10
Chevrolet Sonic (hatchback) – 7.9 / 10
Chevrolet Sonic – 7.8 / 10
Best American Midsize Cars
Ford Fusion – 7.7 / 10
Chevrolet Malibu – 7.6 / 10
Best American Luxury Midsize Cars
Lincoln MKZ – 7.8 / 10
Cadillac CT5 – N/A
Cadillac CT5-V – N/A
Best American Large Cars
Dodge Charger – 8.0 / 10
Chevrolet Impala – 7.6 / 10
Chrysler 300 – 7.4 / 10
Best American Luxury Large Cars
Lincoln Continental – 7.6 / 10
Cadillac CT6-V – N/A
Cadillac CT6 – N/A
Best American Sports Cars
Ford Mustang (coupe) – 8.7 / 10
Chevrolet Camaro (coupe) – 8.4 / 10
Chevrolet Camaro (convertible) – 7.9 / 10
Best American Luxury Sports Cars
Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) – 8.9 / 10
Chevrolet Corvette (coupe) – 8.9 / 10 (tie)
Ford GT – N/A
Best American Convertibles
Chevrolet Camaro (convertible) – 7.9 / 10
Ford Mustang (convertible) – 7.6 / 10
Best American Luxury Convertibles
Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) – 8.9 / 10
Best American Coupes
Ford Mustang (coupe) – 8.7 / 10
Chevrolet Camaro (coupe) – 8.4 / 10
Dodge Challenger – N/A
Best American Luxury Coupes
Chevrolet Corvette (coupe) – 8.9 / 10
Ford GT – N/A
Best American Subcompact Cars
Chevrolet Spark – 8.2 / 10
Chevrolet Sonic (hatchback) – 7.9 / 10
Chevrolet Sonic – 7.8 / 10
Best American Subcompact SUVs
Chevrolet TrailBlazer – 7.8 / 10
Jeep Compass – 7.7 / 10
Chevrolet Trax – 7.6 / 10
Best American Luxury Subcompact SUVs
Buick Encore – 7.9 / 10
Buick Encore GX – N/A
Cadillac XT4 – N/A
Best American Small SUVs
GMC Terrain – 7.9 / 10
Chevrolet Equinox – 7.8 / 10
Ford Escape – 7.7 / 10
Best American Crossover SUVs
Ford Explorer – 8.4 / 10
Jeep Grand Cherokee – 8.0 / 10
GMC Terrain – 7.9 / 10
Best American Luxury Crossover SUVs
Buick Encore – 7.9 / 10
Buick Enclave – 7.6 / 10
Lincoln Aviator – 7.6 / 10 (tie)
Best American Midsize SUVs
Jeep Wrangler – 8.5 / 10
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited – 8.5 / 10 (tie)
Ford Explorer – 8.4 / 10
Best American Large SUVs
Ford Expedition – 7.6 / 10
GMC Yukon – 7.5 / 10
GMC Yukon XL – 7.4 / 10
Best American Luxury Large SUVs
Buick Enclave – 7.6 / 10
Lincoln Navigator – 7.6 / 10 (tie)
Lincoln Aviator – 7.6 / 10 (tie)
Best American SUVs with 3 Rows
Ford Explorer – 8.4 / 10
GMC Acadia – 7.8 / 10
Chevrolet Traverse – 7.7 / 10
Best American Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows
Buick Enclave – 7.6 / 10
Lincoln Navigator – 7.6 / 10 (tie)
Lincoln Aviator – 7.6 / 10 (tie)
In conclusion, the American automotive market offers a diverse range of top-tier vehicles across various categories, from trucks to hybrids and electrics. Whether you’re seeking power, efficiency, or luxury, there’s an ideal vehicle to suit every preference. With consistent performance ratings and innovative technologies, American automakers continue to raise the bar, offering consumers a wide array of options to meet their driving needs. From the reliable Ford F-150 and the versatile Chevrolet Colorado to the eco-friendly Tesla Model 3, the future of American-made cars is as dynamic as ever.
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About iSeeCars:
iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $421 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.
This article, Best American Cars, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.
