10Best involves more than drawing up lists of our sub-$80,000 favorites. Every year we enter our weeklong evalu­ation looking for new and improved combinations of virtues: value and engagement, performance and poise, sights and sounds, soul and character. The cars that earn this award do more than merely succeed on one or two criteria; they come to us fully formed, polished, complete. But how do they get that way? This year we delve deeper into our winners’ makings to better explain why they won. Who builds and develops these cars? Where? How do they go about it? What is a 10Bester truly made of? There are, of course, varied answers because cars are not simple things. You do not buy them on Etsy, and we’re not running a Maker Faire here. Automobiles are still the most complex and technologically advanced consumer products that man has ever devised. What follows in this section is our proof.



THE WINNERS:

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EDITOR'S LETTER:



CJ Benninger and Steve Siler Car and Driver

Every year we pick our 10Best cars, and every year we leave four to five times that many off the list. Usually, there is a vast gulf between the winners and the losers. But not this time.

—

Eddie Alterman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

10BEST EXTRAS:

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View Photos Car and Driver

CANDIDATES FOR THE REWORK LOT

For deficient dynamics:



BMW 328i/340i M Sport

“This car needs more help.”

—T. Quiroga Chevrolet Malibu 2.0T

“Is this better than the Accord? Drive over that first big bump and listen to the hollow thunk of the suspension and I think you’d conclude not.”

—E. Dyer Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

“In the war between weight and power, there will be thousands of tire casualties.”

—E. Alterman Ford Mustang GT

“Hey! What happened to my revs?”

—D. Pund Kia Optima

“Never feels like one axle knows what the other is experiencing.”

—E. Johnson

Needs powertrain remediation:



Honda Civic

“I want to drive a manual version.”

—M. Sutton Lexus IS200t F Sport

“Between the turbo’s reluctance to spool up and the transmission’s reluctance to kick down, bursts of speed require a waiting room.”

—J. Phillips Mazda 6 i Grand Touring

“Its chassis and steering live up to the promise, but the engine is only adequate”

—J. Lorio Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI

“Dirty cheating bastard.”

—M. Duff

Value proposition too low:



Acura ILX A-Spec

“Utterly pointless in a world containing the Honda Accord.”

—M. Duff Mazda CX-3

“Its only major flaw is not being a Mazda 3.”

—D. G. Johnson Mercedes-AMG C63 S

“Big, dirty fun, but so are fat hookers.”

—J. Phillips Porsche Macan S/Turbo

“Why not just buy a Cayenne?”

—M. Duff

Lacking refinement:



Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

“It’s not done. Send it back.”

—T. Quiroga Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

“Goes like stink, but stinks like plastic.”

—D. G. Johnson Fiat 500X

“Doesn’t drive enough like a car.”

—D. Sherman Honda HR-V

“Does drive like a car—a bad one.”

—D. Sherman Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T

“Feels like a Chinese knockoff of the Golf.”

—J. Sabatini

Aesthetically challenged:



Mini Cooper Hardtop John Cooper Works

“A parody of itself.”

—M. Duff Nissan Maxima SR

“From the inside you almost forget how insane this car looks.”

—J. Gall Scion iA

“So much less attractive than the Mazda 2 hatch we were supposed to get.”

—D. G. Johnson

Lacking excitement:



Audi TT Coupe/Roadster

“The gauge cluster is the most exciting thing about this car, which is as sterile as an alcohol swab.”

—E. Johnson Cadillac ATS-V Coupe/Sedan

“Stellar chassis, aggressive aesthetics, catapult power, the ATS has everything but personality.”

—D. G. Johnson Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

“You can’t earn a 10Best spot with miles per gallon.”

—D. Sherman Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG

“The methadone of AMG cars.”

—T. Quiroga Scion iM

“A convincing argument for killing the brand.”

—J. Gall Toyota Camry XSE 2.5/SE Hybrid

“Hates going fast; tolerates the posted speed.”

—A. Wendler

Click here for our 2015 10Best Cars.

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