1. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Key Factor: Off-road ability
Base Price: $30,215
When you say off-road adventure nothing comes before than Jeep. With its comfy and spacious interior coupled with more power, the new Grand Cherokee tops the top 10 chart. The new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine delivers 23 mpg highway and 500 mile driving range.
Grand Cherokee can tow 7,400 pounds when properly equipped. It features Trailer Sway Control that senses trailer sway and automatically applies the right amount of braking to remain in control.
When it comes to horsepower and torque, the 5.7L V8 engine is there serve you.
While driving on rough or slippery terrain, Hill Descent Control with grade sensing allows a smooth and controlled hill descent, Hill Start Assist allows starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill.
2. Lotus Evora
Key Factor: Fun to drive
Base Price: $74,675
The 2011 Lotus Evora is essentially a driver’s car. Designed to compete with Porsche’s Cayman on the performance side, the Evora will be more practical with is four-passenger capacity.
A hardcre sedan fan will be attracted towards its Sport Pack that includes unique throttle response and a higher RPM limiter, a sports traction control mode with increased slip thresholds, a sports diffuser, cross-drilled brake discs and engine oil cooler.
Weighing less than 3,000 pounds, the 2011 Lotus Evora is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 from Toyota's parts bin, which can produce 276 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. The car gives a sub-five-second zero to 60 mph sprint and a 160 mph top speed
3. Hyundai Sonata
Key Factor: Value
Base Price: $19,395
Winner of the 2011 PMV—Popular Mechanics's Value—award, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata looks more luxurious than a midsize economy coupe. With the astonishing new design, the car embraces a 200-hp four-cylinder, removing the V6. You can also opt for a turbocharged four-banger with 274 hp.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata offers standard safety equipments that include electronic stability control (ESC), traction control and antilock brakes with brake assist. The company also offers a hybrid model of the car that gets over 30 mpg.
4. Toyota Sienna
Key Factor: Versatility
Base Price: $25,270
Compared to the Toyota Sequoia, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is 5 inches shorter, but still it offers 39.1 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third-row seat. In addition, Sienna’s seats are adaptable to various configurations.
Star Safety System includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
For 2011, Toyota offers a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic that return up to 24 mpg. The Toyota Sequoia can tows up to 3500 pounds.
5.Ford Mustang
Key Factor: Performance
Base Price: $22,145
Truly, the Mustang is not just a pony car, it’s “a fan-favorite performance vehicle”. Thanks to a pair of new engines, the car offers better performance and improved efficiency. The 2011 Ford Mustang comes with a versatile V6 engine, coupled with a 3.7-liter unit. It develops 305 horsepower while reaching over 30 mpg.
In case of the V8-powered Mustang GT, here comes the 5.0 badge, representing high performance with 412 horsepower 390 pound-feet of torque. The latest pony car also features upgraded brakes, body and suspension enhancements. The 2011 Ford Mustang is fuel-efficient too.
6. Ford F-250 Super Duty
Key Factor: Workhorse
Base Price: $28,020
If you have quite a heavy load to move, and move quickly, 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty can serve your need well. Equipped with Ford’s first in-house Power Stroke turbocharged V8 and the new 6.2-liter gasoline powered V8, the 2011 Super Duty is also offered with a V10 gas engine.
The 6.7-liter diesel V8 can crank out 400 horsepower. However, an F-350 is dually capable of handling over 7000 pounds in its bed and tows over 22,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch.
The 2011 Super Duty incorporates a new technology suit, known as Ford Work Solutions. The suit features four unique technologies that are targeted to business owners and operators. The first one is an in-dash computer that provides high-speed Internet access via Sprint Mobile Broadband and navigation by Garmin.
The second technology is the Tool Link system with RFID tracking that verifies that all tools are in the truck before leaving a job site.
The third technology called Crew Chief system lets fleet owners or operators to control vehicles and send off workers with real-time tracking and records.
The fourth technology in the suit called Cable Lock security system helps avoiding theft of expensive tools that are too large to fit inside the car.
7. Ford Fiesta
Key Factor: Fuel efficiency
Base Price: $13,320
The 2011 Ford Fiesta boasts of a dual-clutch transmission and electric power-assisted steering and its 1.6-liter 16-valve four-cylinder Duratec that generates 120 horsepower with the help of variable-cam timing.
The car features PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission that gives a boost to its mpg (29 mpg city/40 mpg highway), while maintaining a firm grip on the road. Features like electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and class-exclusive available Hill Start Assist have also made 2011 Ford Fiesta one of the better choices.
The Super Fuel Economy Package features underbody shields and blockers on the lower grille to help minimize air resistance and increase fuel efficiency.
8. Cadillac CTS Coupe
Key Factor: Design
Base Price: $38,165
The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe does bear the edges, but the car has got a handcrafted look as they have been tempered with curves. Although the CTS Coupe has similarity with the CTS Sedan in terms of its front end, there are certain features that make it stand out - a swept windshield, blacked-out B-pillars and almost flat rear glass.
The 3.6-liter V6 engine generates 304 horsepower, and can achieve 27 mpg on the highway using regular unleaded.
9. Infiniti M37/M56
Key Factor: Luxury
Base Price: $47,125
While the 2011 Infiniti M’s 3.7-liter V6 that generates 330 horsepower, the new 5.6-liter V8 can generate up to 420 horsepower. Talking about the next year, the M hybrid will become more efficient than the current M37 by 25 percent, and will also deliver 40 more lb-ft of torque than the M56, according to the Popular Mechanics report.
The M56 with a 5.6-liter V-8 that generates 420 horsepower starts at $58,415, and the all-wheel-drive M56x begins at $60,915. Both the 2011 M37 and M56 have astounding styling.
10. Chevrolet Volt
Key Factor: Technical Innovation
Base Price: $41,000
General Motor’s first plug-in gas/electric vehicle, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is called, in GM’s words, an “extended-range electric vehicle”, because it has two different drive trains - an all-electric one (battery and motors) that drive the car for the first 40 miles after a full plug-in recharge, and a gas-powered hybrid system (gas engine and fuel tank) that automatically takes over after that to give about another 300 miles of range, according to a Consumer Guide Automotive report.
The gas engine is an 84-horsepower 1.4-liter 4-cylinder. The combined total of the gas engine and the electric motors is 149 horsepower.
Key Factor: Off-road ability
Base Price: $30,215
When you say off-road adventure nothing comes before than Jeep. With its comfy and spacious interior coupled with more power, the new Grand Cherokee tops the top 10 chart. The new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine delivers 23 mpg highway and 500 mile driving range.
Grand Cherokee can tow 7,400 pounds when properly equipped. It features Trailer Sway Control that senses trailer sway and automatically applies the right amount of braking to remain in control.
When it comes to horsepower and torque, the 5.7L V8 engine is there serve you.
While driving on rough or slippery terrain, Hill Descent Control with grade sensing allows a smooth and controlled hill descent, Hill Start Assist allows starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill.
2. Lotus Evora
Key Factor: Fun to drive
Base Price: $74,675
The 2011 Lotus Evora is essentially a driver’s car. Designed to compete with Porsche’s Cayman on the performance side, the Evora will be more practical with is four-passenger capacity.
A hardcre sedan fan will be attracted towards its Sport Pack that includes unique throttle response and a higher RPM limiter, a sports traction control mode with increased slip thresholds, a sports diffuser, cross-drilled brake discs and engine oil cooler.
Weighing less than 3,000 pounds, the 2011 Lotus Evora is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 from Toyota's parts bin, which can produce 276 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. The car gives a sub-five-second zero to 60 mph sprint and a 160 mph top speed
3. Hyundai Sonata
Key Factor: Value
Base Price: $19,395
Winner of the 2011 PMV—Popular Mechanics's Value—award, the 2011 Hyundai Sonata looks more luxurious than a midsize economy coupe. With the astonishing new design, the car embraces a 200-hp four-cylinder, removing the V6. You can also opt for a turbocharged four-banger with 274 hp.
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata offers standard safety equipments that include electronic stability control (ESC), traction control and antilock brakes with brake assist. The company also offers a hybrid model of the car that gets over 30 mpg.
4. Toyota Sienna
Key Factor: Versatility
Base Price: $25,270
Compared to the Toyota Sequoia, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is 5 inches shorter, but still it offers 39.1 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third-row seat. In addition, Sienna’s seats are adaptable to various configurations.
Star Safety System includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).
For 2011, Toyota offers a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic that return up to 24 mpg. The Toyota Sequoia can tows up to 3500 pounds.
5.Ford Mustang
Key Factor: Performance
Base Price: $22,145
Truly, the Mustang is not just a pony car, it’s “a fan-favorite performance vehicle”. Thanks to a pair of new engines, the car offers better performance and improved efficiency. The 2011 Ford Mustang comes with a versatile V6 engine, coupled with a 3.7-liter unit. It develops 305 horsepower while reaching over 30 mpg.
In case of the V8-powered Mustang GT, here comes the 5.0 badge, representing high performance with 412 horsepower 390 pound-feet of torque. The latest pony car also features upgraded brakes, body and suspension enhancements. The 2011 Ford Mustang is fuel-efficient too.
6. Ford F-250 Super Duty
Key Factor: Workhorse
Base Price: $28,020
If you have quite a heavy load to move, and move quickly, 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty can serve your need well. Equipped with Ford’s first in-house Power Stroke turbocharged V8 and the new 6.2-liter gasoline powered V8, the 2011 Super Duty is also offered with a V10 gas engine.
The 6.7-liter diesel V8 can crank out 400 horsepower. However, an F-350 is dually capable of handling over 7000 pounds in its bed and tows over 22,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch.
The 2011 Super Duty incorporates a new technology suit, known as Ford Work Solutions. The suit features four unique technologies that are targeted to business owners and operators. The first one is an in-dash computer that provides high-speed Internet access via Sprint Mobile Broadband and navigation by Garmin.
The second technology is the Tool Link system with RFID tracking that verifies that all tools are in the truck before leaving a job site.
The third technology called Crew Chief system lets fleet owners or operators to control vehicles and send off workers with real-time tracking and records.
The fourth technology in the suit called Cable Lock security system helps avoiding theft of expensive tools that are too large to fit inside the car.
7. Ford Fiesta
Key Factor: Fuel efficiency
Base Price: $13,320
The 2011 Ford Fiesta boasts of a dual-clutch transmission and electric power-assisted steering and its 1.6-liter 16-valve four-cylinder Duratec that generates 120 horsepower with the help of variable-cam timing.
The car features PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission that gives a boost to its mpg (29 mpg city/40 mpg highway), while maintaining a firm grip on the road. Features like electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and class-exclusive available Hill Start Assist have also made 2011 Ford Fiesta one of the better choices.
The Super Fuel Economy Package features underbody shields and blockers on the lower grille to help minimize air resistance and increase fuel efficiency.
8. Cadillac CTS Coupe
Key Factor: Design
Base Price: $38,165
The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe does bear the edges, but the car has got a handcrafted look as they have been tempered with curves. Although the CTS Coupe has similarity with the CTS Sedan in terms of its front end, there are certain features that make it stand out - a swept windshield, blacked-out B-pillars and almost flat rear glass.
The 3.6-liter V6 engine generates 304 horsepower, and can achieve 27 mpg on the highway using regular unleaded.
9. Infiniti M37/M56
Key Factor: Luxury
Base Price: $47,125
While the 2011 Infiniti M’s 3.7-liter V6 that generates 330 horsepower, the new 5.6-liter V8 can generate up to 420 horsepower. Talking about the next year, the M hybrid will become more efficient than the current M37 by 25 percent, and will also deliver 40 more lb-ft of torque than the M56, according to the Popular Mechanics report.
The M56 with a 5.6-liter V-8 that generates 420 horsepower starts at $58,415, and the all-wheel-drive M56x begins at $60,915. Both the 2011 M37 and M56 have astounding styling.
10. Chevrolet Volt
Key Factor: Technical Innovation
Base Price: $41,000
General Motor’s first plug-in gas/electric vehicle, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is called, in GM’s words, an “extended-range electric vehicle”, because it has two different drive trains - an all-electric one (battery and motors) that drive the car for the first 40 miles after a full plug-in recharge, and a gas-powered hybrid system (gas engine and fuel tank) that automatically takes over after that to give about another 300 miles of range, according to a Consumer Guide Automotive report.
The gas engine is an 84-horsepower 1.4-liter 4-cylinder. The combined total of the gas engine and the electric motors is 149 horsepower.
