Car and Driver 10Best
Car and Driver 10Best is a list annually produced by Car and Driver beginning in 1983, nominating what it considers the 10 best cars of the year. C/D also produced the 5Best list, highlighting what it considers the five best trucks of the year.
All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these recent restrictions:
- The vehicle must be on sale by January
- It must be priced below 2.5 times the average price of a car that year
- The manufacturer must provide an example for testing
- Only substantially changed or new vehicles and the past year's 10 best winners are nominated
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Top Models
From the start of the 10Best in 1983 through 2023, the following models were represented on the 10Best lists the most years.| Rank | Model | Number of wins |
| 1 | Honda Accord | 38 |
| 2 | Chevrolet Corvette | 25 |
| 2 | Porsche Boxster / Cayman | 25 |
| 4 | BMW 3-Series / M3 | 23 |
| 5 | Volkswagen GTI / Golf | 19 |
| 5 | Mazda MX-5 Miata | 19 |
| 7 | Ford Mustang | 11 |
| 8 | Audi 5000 and Audi A6 / A7 | 10 |
| 8 | Honda Prelude | 10 |
| 8 | Cadillac CTS and Cadillac CT5 | 11 |
| 11 | Honda Civic | 10 |
| 12 | Acura Integra and Acura RSX | 8 |
| 12 | Mazda RX-7 and Mazda RX-8 | 8 |
| 12 | Nissan 300ZX and Nissan 350Z | 8 |
| 15 | Ford Focus | 7 |
| 15 | Ford Taurus | 7 |
| 15 | Honda Fit | 7 |
| 15 | Honda Odyssey | 7 |
| 15 | Mazda 3 | 7 |
| 15 | Porsche Macan | 7 |
| 21 | BMW 5-Series | 6 |
| 21 | Honda Pilot | 6 |
| 21 | Audi A4 / S4 | 6 |
| 21 | Ram 1500 | 6 |
| 21 | Chrysler LH | 6 |
| 26 | Toyota Celica Supra / Toyota GR Supra | 5 |
| 26 | Mercedes-Benz GL450 / GLS450 | 5 |
| 26 | Chevrolet Silverado | 5 |
1983
For the 1980s, Car and Driver picked four domestic and six import cars.Fastest car tested: Jaguar XJ-S HE, 142 mph
Top-selling cars:
1984
Instituted the price cap at $30,000.Fastest car tested: Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole, 144 mph
Top-selling cars:
1985
Price cap: $30,000Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette, 150 mph
Top-selling cars:
1986
Price cap: $30,000Fastest car tested: Porsche 944 Turbo, 157 mph
Top-selling cars:
1987
Price cap: $30,000Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 176 mph
Top-selling cars:
1988
Price cap: $35,000Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa, 173 mph
Top-selling cars:
1989
Imports and domestics chosen by marque, not by place of manufacture.Price cap: $35,000
Fastest car tested: 750iL V12, 158 mph
Top-selling cars:
1990
Eliminated half domestic/half import rule as impractical.Price cap: $35,000
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 175 mph
Top-selling cars:
1991
New rule: No more than two places per marque.Price cap: $35,000
Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 176 mph
Top-selling cars:
1992
Price cap: $40,000Fastest car tested: Ferrari F40, 197 mph
Top-selling cars:
1993
Price cap: $40,000Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo, 204 mph
Top-selling cars:
1994
Institution of the 2.5x price cap, now at $43,000.Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 179 mph
Top-selling cars:
1995
Price cap: $46,000.Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo VT, 185 mph
Top-selling cars:
1996
Price cap: $48,000Fastest car tested: Ferrari F355, 179 mph
Top-selling cars:
1997
Price cap: $54,000Fastest car tested: Dodge Viper GTS, 177 mph
Top-selling cars:
1998
Price cap: $55,000Fastest car tested: Ferrari F50, 194 mph
Top-selling cars:
1999
Price cap: $59,000Top-selling cars:
2000
Price cap: $61,000Top-selling cars:
2001
For 2001, Car and Driver created a separate "5Best Trucks" award with a single winner in each of five categories.Top-selling vehicles:
10Best Cars
Price cap: $62,0002002
Top-selling cars:10Best Cars
Price cap: $66,0002003
10Best Cars
Price cap: $66,0002004
10Best Cars
Price cap: $69,0002005
10Best Cars
Price cap: $70,000For 2005 and 2006, the magazine named one winner in each category.
2006
10Best Cars
Price cap: $70,0002007
10Best Cars
Price cap: $71,0002008
10Best Cars
Price cap: $72,0002009
10Best Cars
Price cap: $71,000Beginning with the 2009 list, Car and Driver considered the Porsche Boxster and Cayman to be the same car.
"Dishonorable Mention"
In conjunction with the 2009 10Best Cars list, Car and Driver issued a list of what it called "The 10 Most Embarrassing Award Winners in Automotive History", spotlighting cars previously honored by a major automotive magazine that, with the passage of time, it considered to be anything but award-worthy.2010
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002011
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,000This year marks the first appearance of an electrically powered car, the Volt, as well as the first appearance of a Korean automaker, Hyundai, on C&D 10Best.
2012
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002013
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002014
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002015
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002016
10Best Cars
Price cap: $80,0002019
10Best Cars
''$90,000 base-price cap''2020
10Best Cars and Trucks
Beginning with the 2020 list, SUVs and trucks are no longer separate2021
10Best Cars and Trucks
The 2021 10Best list was released on November 18, 2020. Every car from the 2020 list returns, with the exception of the Jeep Gladiator. The Genesis GV80 makes its first appearance on the list.2022
10Best Cars and Trucks
The 2022 10Best list was released on November 17, 2021.2023
10Best Cars
The 2023 10Best Cars list was released on December 19, 2022.10Best Trucks and SUVs
The 2023 10Best Trucks and SUVs list was released on January 17, 2023. Beginning with the 2023 list, SUVs and trucks are once again separate.2024
10Best Cars
The 2024 10Best Cars list was released on December 5th, 2023.10Best Trucks and SUVs
The 2024 10Best Trucks and SUVs list was released on December 5th, 2023.2025
Price cap: $110,000The 2025 10Best Cars and 10Best Trucks lists were released on December 3rd, 2024.
2026
Price cap: $115,000The 2026 10Best Cars and 10Best Trucks lists were released on December 16th, 2025.