Top American Cars by Class

There was a time when it looked like the American automobile had lost its luster. Quality suffered in the 1970s as domestic brands struggled to deal with gas crunches. The '80s saw Japanese automakers claim market share with cars that bested American products in both fuel economy and space efficiency. A focus on SUVs in the 1990s and early 2000s left American cars further behind the competition. But a decade ago things started to change. Domestic brands began developing new platforms, engines and technologies, and many of today's American cars are as good as any on the market and in some cases they are the best cars available. Let's look at the best American vehicles by class.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Built on architecture developed with Mercedes-Benz, the Grand Cherokee platform provides the basis of a smooth riding, fine handling vehicle. Jeep also outfitted the Grand Cherokee with rich interior materials, an advanced but easy-to-use infotainment system, elegant good looks, strong engines and the requisite Jeep off-road capability. With prices starting at less than $30,000, the Grand Cherokee is a good value, too, although a Summit trim tops $50,000 quite easily. Still, the Grand Cherokee is the best midsize SUV on the market.

Top American Cars

2014 Chevrolet Impala

In the midsize sedan segment Japanese entries lead the way. Among full-size sedans, however, the new Chevrolet Impala is a great choice for families. It offers plenty of room for five in one of Chevrolet's better interiors. Pricing starts at about $27,000 with the adequate 4-cylinder engine, but a well-equipped 2LT trim with the strong V6 will run about $31,000. The Impala may not be the best full-size car in the market, but for the first time in decades Chevrolet is in the discussion.

2014 Chevrolet Traverse

General Motors invented the full-size crossover segment with the 2009 Traverse and its Buick, GMC and Saturn siblings. Fuel economy jumped thanks to less weight and V6 instead of V8 power, and the driving character became much more carlike. A 2012 refresh has given the Traverse interior quality materials to go with seating for up to eight. We also like the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer. All three models are among the best 3-row crossovers on the market.

2014 Ford Escape

The global C-segment platform that underpins Ford's Escape and Focus is an impressive piece of engineering. It gives both vehicles the sophisticated balance of a smooth ride and sporty handling that you would expect from a luxury brand. That pleasing driving character puts the Escape at the top of the compact crossover class, along with the Mazda CX-5. Three fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines are offered, with the top engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter, delivering a spritely 240 horsepower.

2014 Cadillac ATS

Cadillac got it right when developing this fun little sport sedan, employing every weight-savings measure it could and developing the car's handling on the famed Nurburgring track in Germany. The result is the most agile sport sedan on the market — and that includes the vaunted BMW 3-Series. We don't think the base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine belongs in a car of the ATS' stature, but both the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and the 3.6-liter V6 provide plenty of thrust and decent fuel economy.

2014 Cadillac CTS

In a midsize luxury sedan market that's become bloated and stodgy, the CTS stands out for its athletic character. The car shares its underpinnings with the equally impressive Cadillac ATS, and despite 300 extra pounds it drives very much like its smaller sibling. The turbocharged 420-horsepower V6 engine is exhilarating, and the design is stunning inside and out, including top-notch interior materials. We'd take a CTS over a BMW 5-Series. Seriously.

2015 Cadillac Escalade

The first redesigned trucklike SUV in quite some time is the Escalade that is due in early 2014. We haven't driven it yet, but if General Motors' latest trucks are any indication, the new Escalade will be quieter, more fuel-efficient and better controlled. We've seen the interior and it is certainly more luxurious. We don't recommend it as an everyday driver, but if you need to tow a trailer and carry the family, the 2015 Escalade could fit the bill.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette has been America's sports car for 60 years, and for most of that time it has offered performance to rival the world's best, but at a more affordable price. With its 2014 redesign, that performance is again improved, thanks to more power from a new 6.2-liter V8 engine and a focus on weight savings. It also gets a measure of refinement with a higher quality interior and more supportive sport seats.

2014 Ford Mustang

The Mustang gets the nod as America's best convertible almost by default. The only other American 2-row convertible is the unloved Chrysler 200, and while the 2-seat Corvette also offers a convertible, the 'Vette has already earned our top sports car honor. Still, the Mustang is a fun drive. The 420-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine spins freely and builds power quickly, while the 3.5-liter V6 offers a good balance of power and fuel economy, delivering up to 31 mpg.

Top American Cars by Class

2014 Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler invented the minivan 30 years ago, and today's Town & Country is competitive with the best in the class. The Toyota and Honda entries may be more reliable, but no minivan is as versatile as the Town & Country and its sibling, the Dodge Grand Caravan. Both offer Stow 'n Go seating that allows the van to seat seven comfortably, or you can tuck those seats away to open up a cavernous 143.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

2014 Ram 1500

The Ford F-Series dominates the full-size pickup sales race, but the Ram 1500 is our choice due to its smooth ride and a rich interior that has higher quality materials and more soft-touch surfaces than its rivals. A coil-spring rear suspension gives the Ram the smoothest ride in a pickup, and it's the only full-size light-duty truck to offer a diesel engine. Ford and GM pickups are close competitors; trucks by Toyota and Nissan are behind the curve.

2014 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet calls the Volt an extended-range electric vehicle because it runs mostly on electricity, but in our book if it has an engine and an electric motor it's a hybrid. The Volt hasn't caught on like the Toyota Prius, but it represents the next evolution of the hybrid concept, running 38 miles on electricity and another 300 on gasoline. That eliminates range anxiety while allowing those with shorter trips to use it almost exclusively as an electric vehicle.

2013 SRT Viper

The SRT Viper is an extreme sports car sold in such limited quantities that it qualifies as an exotic. Its massive 8.2-liter V10 engine cranks out 640 horsepower, launching the car from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and pushing it to a top speed of 206 mph — ticking, lashing and burbling all the while. That noise and the sometimes too-willing power can make it a challenge to drive on the street, but the Viper really comes alive on a racetrack.

2014 Tesla Model S

Recent issues with fires have begun to erode the Model S' image, but Tesla's second car has made the electric car stylish. The Model S has earned accolades from the automotive media for its build quality, power and driving dynamics, which is impressive considering that Tesla was established only in 2004. Buyers have a choice of two batteries with 208 or 265 miles of range. The 85-kilowatt-hour Performance model boasts a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.

2014 Jeep Wrangler

Jeep is the first name in off-roading, and Wrangler is the most capable of the breed. Every Wrangler comes with Command-Trac 4-wheel drive with low-range gearing, and buyers can opt for locking front and rear differentials, 32-inch tires and sway bars that can be disconnected electronically. Most of the advanced off-road features are standard on the $30,995 Rubicon, but pricing starts as low as $22,395 for the Sport, making off-roading prowess attainable by the masses.

Top American Cars by Class