What do you think is the best new car of 2007?
Wednesday January 24, 2007
In a couple of weeks, I'll be posting our first annual Top Ten Best New Cars list -- the best of what's new for 2007. Only cars that are new or significantly updated for 2007 will be eligible. The list is almost complete -- just a couple more cars to test drive and review, and we'll be done.
Before I finalize the list, I want to hear from you. What do you think is the best new car for 2007? Check out our photo gallery of new and redesigned 2007 cars, then click the "comments" link below to tell me what you'd pick and why you'd pick it. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Aaron Gold
Comments
My vote would be the Mazdaspeed 3.
Even though it’s a simple go-fast job, it’s one on an already credible and accessible car. You can seat five, go hellafast, and do it without a ticket. Granted, I would have rather seen the treatment on the sedan 3, but I take what I get…and what I could reasonably afford.
For me, Mazda has been the ONLY car company willing to placate speed-merchants with good product and without a serious hit to the pocketbook.
I only get to pick one? Well, the Saturn Aura is something else. It’s a great sign the brand isn’t dead, like I thought it was.
Go Saturn!
two considerations here.for the public in general, i relly think that the honda fit is a car that fits so many needs for so many people…gas mileage,good spaciousness(is that an actual word?),surprisingly good handling,darn good accelleration(considering…) and you know if it’s a honda it’s gonna be around a long time. as for me, if they improved the mini/mini s, then that’s my pick…it has many of the fit’s attributes but sooo much fun to drive! hard to believe they improved it!!!
Lexus LS460
BMW335
Lexus ES350
Golf GTI
I know you didn’t ask the editors, but here’ s my list in no particular order:
BMW 335i (and the convertible, which I’ll drive in March)
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Versa
Saturn Aura
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
Chevrolet Silverado
Hyundai Azera
Fusion/Milan AWD
Buick Lucerne
Lexus LS460
Hyundai Azera………Test drive one and you will be hooked!
Mazda5
This vehicle is the stealth vehicle of 2006. It’s a van, It’s a CUV, It’s a sports sedan…….It’s a Mazda5!!
Seating for 6 when needed, unique, edgy styling, Mazda Zoom,Zoom. With the 5 speed transmision, 4 wheel disc brakes, 2.3L engine, this little rascal takes on Mini-Cooper S vehicles while allowing room for the family and dogs. Add in the auto-dimming mirrors, tilt and telescope steering wheel, navigation and satellite radio and this is a superb little car.
Road and Track gives it 4 stars, I say 4 and 1/2.
1. bmw 330 convertible…very sleek restyling vs past square look of this model.
2.ls460…no finer car in the land and this restyle ,like the bmw, takes away a lot of the square look and makes it much more stylish.
3.in the economy range of cars Mazda has done a great job of styling their cars and making them economical and fun to operate at the same time.
4.saturn sky…very sharp reasonably priced fun convertible.i was disappointed to see the miata now burns premium gas!
2007 Mini Cooper S - no doubt about it!
(But I want it in pink!)
For all around good space, fuel economy, sensible options, a price, my vote goes to Hyundai Elantra.
The best new car of 2007 has to be the Honda Fit. For $15,000 or so, this car would honestly fulfill the needs of 85% of drivers, even in the United States. It has enough room to load mountain bikes or other large pieces of equipment. With all the seats in position, it can comfortably carry 4 adults. The gas mileage is good, and the performance is adequate. What more do you need?
the mustang gt500 convert, pure american muscle, pure american flavor, nor jap crap or euro trash here, just one hot ride.
i bought a 2007 mercedes s550 5 months ago… with 5k miles, i can say this is one fabulous car…its fast, powerful, quiet, handles great, lots of technology and so far not one mechanical issue… oh…it gets 25 mpg on the road too…
Camry SE. Sporty, 4 cyl. stick is fun to drive while returning 34 mpg. Great looking car. Lotsa compliments.
i like the 2007 mitsubishi eclipse spyder…. but thats because i’m biased! I also like the subaru sti limited! and any mustang is gorgeous and speedy to me!
Jaguar XK/XKR - simply beautiful and fantastic performance with good gas mileage. Next, Aston Martin DB9. And, who wants to drive a 4-cyl cracker box that struggles up the hills and looks like most others on the street even if it gets 100mpg?? So they can can drive in the #1 lane and slow everyone? Boring.
The nissan Versa seems to be one of the more sensible new cars outthere.
Hi Aaron,
My vote for 2007 car of the year goes to the one and only diesel the Mercedes E 320 CDI Bluetec. I think it represents a very important first step in an American shift in fuel economy philosophy from hybrids to diesels. It is a truly remarkable clean powerful efficient power plant. Thanks! I always enjoy your articles. Paul
My vote is for the MazdaSpeed3. Handles and performs better than my wifes 06 Mini and she states “Is too much POWER for me!!” Love it almost–not quite as much as the enduro karts I used to race–at least I don’t lose 10 pounds every time I get out of the Speed3
Loved the Nissan Versa - just wish they were available when I needed to buy. Saturn Aura is a fantastic car - just a little out of my price range. No major redesign on Mazda 5, but a truly fun and functional car.
New Audi S3 hands down
My vote goes to the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe. Quiet, comfortable, right size, fair gas mileage, and very thoughtful design, inside and out.
The most improved Saturn Aura,(granted they still haven’t caught all the way up but a big jump. The most important Dodge Caliber, granted quality and refinement may be lacking but the focus on new innovative, practical features and styling if it could be combined with improved refinement (especially engines)and materials would really give Korea and Japan something to deal with.
My vote is for the 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan, in the luxury sport catagory it’s hands down best value. I purchased one in november and I love everything about it. Its fast, great sound (engine), great looks, etc.
After driving the new 335 BMW, it has to be the car of the year. Handling is great and you would have to spend ten of thousands $ to get something close in term of performance. The only other car that we get close will be the new convertible 335. What a slick shape
It’s definitely the Lamborghini Murcielago or Dodge Challenger Concept.
For an all around value, Price, quality, safety, performance, size, comfort, handling it is hard to overlook the Subaru Outback.
I have a 2007 model and am very impressed thus far.
My vote goes to Saturn. The innovation and design along with pricing are a very nice package for many types of drivers. Remember also this little company makes a auto basically dent-less for those days at the mall. Go Saturn
Toyota Camry
Honda Fit
Surprise vehicle of year, Saturn Aura…in all honesty, I had never heard of it until it was voted car of the year at the International Car Show!!!
I had the opportunity to sit in the mazdaspeed3 - I haven’t driven the speed version but the 2.3 non-turbo is a blast to drive. I fit (I’m 6′2″), the controls are right where they should be, it looks great, it’s a usable vehicle with the hatch, and the speed version is smokin’ fast. Really like the speed exclusive blue color too.
Lexus ES350 because I bought one. After that that Saturn Aura. Saturn and GM really needed that car and I don’t understand why GM and Ford don’t bring more of their overseas cars here. They look better and are tuned better.
Only new (non exotic) Car that lights my fire is the :
Z06 Corvette !
Bob
Never has a single new model generated this much fanfare or this much ADM profit for its dealers…..
2007 Shelby GT500
perhaps the only real ‘Bold Move’ Ford made this year. But you gotta hand it to them, 500HP for under $45k? No one else even comes close.
I USED TO HAVE A MAZDA PROTEGE. IT WAS PERFECT. WHAT I WOULDN’T HAVE GIVEN TO HAVE A MAZDASPEED 3 ENGINE IN IT.
The new 2007 Nissan Altima with the 270-hp V6 and Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission & The keyless Push Button Ignition, OHH and there is a Coupe coming this summer, now thats what I’m talking about, aHH HmmM, anyone looking? OK now…. That’s HOT….:)
Best for what?
Seriously, not to get too existential here, but the question of a “best car” infers some scale of measurement, and that infers that something must be measured, which brings us to deciding what that something–or somethings–is/are.
What’s rewarded? Is it technical innovation? Quality of execution? Sociological implications? Economic considerations? Ecological ramifications? Geopolitical repercussions?
Dart board? Oija board? Is calculus required?
Some of the above? All of the above? Or is just which car rings our chimes?
And then there’s the matter of the time period. Is that “introduced within the last calendar year”? Or is it the “current model year”? How does one reconcile models introduced as a 2007 after others have been introduced as 2008 models.
No doubt this is a job for highly skilled professionals. Don’t try this at home, kids. You’re liable to hurt yourselves.
S600 or RS4, but I would go with the new S-Class due to its performance and technology for a car of that size.
LUXURY:
Acura TL (type-S)
Lexus IS500 (2008?)
SUV / CROSSOVER:
GMC Acadia
Caliber SRT-4
SPORT:
Corvette (regular and Z06)
2007 Toyota Camry SE
Power, Performance, Price, Perfection.
Fantastic Looks with Ground Effects.
Reliability… the Lexus look without the price tag.