Audi achieved its highest U.S. sales ever in 2010 (101,629 units) and it expects to break this record in 2011. Its success is well-deserved. This is a brand that's been turning out top-quality products for years; good-looking vehicles whose interiors are often class-leading, offered at prices that make them excellent value propositions.
Still, Audi has a long way to go before it catches up with Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the sales leaders in the luxury segment. Each of these brands sold over 220,000 units in 2010, a figure that more than doubles Audi's sales. These numbers suggest that appealing as its vehicles are, Audi continues to be overlooked by shoppers on the hunt for luxury transportation.
This situation got me thinking about other worthy models that are frequently overlooked.
When car shoppers draft their lists, they tend to be populated almost exclusively by sales leaders. Family-sedan shoppers will consider the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry or those hot-selling up-and-comers, the Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata. Minivan shoppers will make time to test drive stalwarts like the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan and Toyota Sienna.
But these popular models aren't the only roses in the garden. The six picks listed below may not be swaggering sales titans but they each have much to offer when it comes to quality and value.
1: Suzuki Kizashi
So let's get the not-so-great stuff out of the way first: Suzuki has an anemic dealer network in the U.S., so there's a very good chance that you'll have to drive a ways to find a dealership -- a fact that can be inconvenient when the time comes to service your vehicle. But if this is something you can live with (or if you're lucky enough to have a dealership within bearable distance), you'll be rewarded with a sweet little sedan that's more refined than anything else in its segment. Ride quality is smooth and gracious and the attention paid to detail in the cabin is extraordinary, with high-quality materials, and buttons and knobs that feel like they belong in an entry-level luxury model. These days there are lots of capable choices in the midsize sedan category but the Kizashi has the goods to go head-to-head with the very best.
2: Volvo C30
Volvo's C30 should be everywhere. It's got gorgeous sheet metal, a Scandinavian-sexy cabin, engaging handling and a price tag that won't leave your finances cratered. No, it's not as sporty as other hatches like the Mini Cooper or Volkswagen GTI, but it has both these models beat when it comes to raw style and sophistication. If you're looking for a less ordinary hatchback, this is it.
3: Hyundai Elantra
If there were some kind of automotive "Best Makeover" award, Hyundai would be grinning at the podium. The manufacturer has gone from laughable also-ran to maker of models that prove that yes, high quality and bargain-basement prices can live hand-in-hand. The latest model to get the old wand-wave from the Hyundai fairy godmother is the 2011 Elantra, and it emerges a chic-looking beauty with a roomy cabin and OMG fuel economy (up to 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway). The compact-sedan segment is overrun with impeccable newbies and stars like the Chevy Cruze and Ford Focus have quite deservedly garnered lots of attention. Still, I hope shoppers find it in their hearts to appreciate the charms of the rather special Elantra.
4: Buick LaCrosse
The LaCrosse gets it right in so many ways. Its handling melds comfort and engagement, keeping the driver involved while maintaining appropriate levels of luxury-car gentility. Its sheet metal is bold, strong and distinctive, and its cabin presents high-quality materials and stirring design. Of course, luxury cars are often all about image, and for many, the Buick brand isn't as coveted as certain others from Germany and Japan. But if snob appeal is a non-issue for you and your focus lies with getting a luxury sedan that offers great handling, impressive features, good looks and superb value, the LaCrosse deserves a look.
5: Audi A6
Audi's A6 has parked hidden in the shadows for years but that could change thanks to its 2012 redesign. Relative to its predecessor, the new A6 offers better handling, a roomier interior and lighter curb weight. Audi's hallmarks are in evidence: The car's sheet metal is handsome in the most discreet way possible and its cabin is a symphony of top-of-the-line materials and gorgeous design. Pricing hasn't yet been announced but if history is any indication the A6 will be the low-price leader in its circle of German standard-bearers.
6: Mazda 5
Many Honda Odyssey and Dodge Grand Caravan drivers probably don't need all that space; they'd likely be better served by a smaller choice like the Mazda 5. The 5 is roomy enough for smaller families and offers many of the features that folks love about minivans -- yep, it's got sliding doors. Its relatively compact footprint makes it nimbler than the typical minivan and more forgiving at the pump. A 2012 redesign brings a new engine that manages to boost both horsepower and fuel economy.
Which overlooked models would you add to this list?
tmanz says:
09:01 AM, 03/20/11
#1: the sited poor dealer network, I just can't see taking a day off work if the car needs to go to the dealer.
#2: Great interior, fun styling. Not as practical of a hatch. From what I've heard Volvo's reliability isn't the highest and I really need a 4 door. Dealer isn't as far away as the Suzuki one but still not handy.
#3: On my list to test drive. Closer that the first 2 dealers but still nearly an hour away. Salespeople at this dealer latch onto you like sucker fish. They have no comprehension of the phrase "Just looking". They will actually interrupt my wife and me talking about a car as we sit in the car to ask "what kind of car are you looking for". What kind of idiot stops me from looking at a specific car to ask a question you'd ask someone just meandering around the dealership?
#4 Too big. More stylish than the Regal but just too large and just can't quite get over the thinking that I'd need to join AARP to drive one.
#5 Too expensive, Audi reliability worries me. And don't even get me started on the completely awful experience at the local Audi dealer. Practically had to shove my way out of the showroom as the salesman expressed his shock at how stupid we were for not wanting the used Audi that was the wrong color and had a ton of options we didn't want on it so it was more expensive than the new model we actually wanted them to order for us.
#6 Mazda is dead to me since they put the smile on all their cars. (yeah I know some get used to it and a couple people even like it but it ain't for me)
ed124c says:
09:38 AM, 03/20/11
6. Ford Fusion
It is a highly rated car from a highly rated carmaker. Yet it is not in the top ten. Even the cookie cutter Malibu outsells it, and the Chevy has far fewer powertrains, doesn't offer a stickshift or SYNC, and is priced higher than the Fusion.
7. Mazda 6 (previous generation)
This is just a reminder of what we, as consumers, lost due to buyers lack of interest.
Spacious 5 door hatchback. (And it didn't even LOOK like a hatch-- just the fact that it WAS a hatch scared people off.)
Station wagon model. Beautiful car.
Manual transmission on the 6 cylinder models. (OK, it is a trend that most carmakers are doing.)
firstwagon says:
09:49 AM, 03/20/11
#1 Dealers aren't problem for me, there's 2 within a half hour drive but a bit expensive to me. Nice car though.
#2 Not really into Volvos. Not a bad car but several others would be on my list first
#3 Top selling caar so far this year so it's not overlooked in Canada. I'd wait for the hatch though.
#4 Nice big car, one of my favourite rentals. I'd buy one for half price when it's 2 to 3 years old.
#5 The way I've always looked at it is the A4 so so good, why bother with the A6? Considering how many A4s I see and how rare the A6 is most people agree. Never driven one though so I could be wrong.
#6 At morning drop off at my kids elementry school it seems almost every second van is a Mazda5. It's the perfect minivan for the standard family with 2 kids. Sooner or later you'll be hauling around some of their friends and it great to pop up that extra seat. Rest of the time you have lots of cargo space. The smile even works here, it's OK to smile in Canada.
tmanz says:
11:06 AM, 03/20/11
"7. Mazda 6 (previous generation)"
Yep, that was a good car. To me the current one was a move in the wrong direction. We rented one for a week long trip and took it back before we left.
another thing with:
#1 is what will the resale value be in 5 years? If people can't pronounce the name now and have no idea what it is then who is going to be searching online for one 5 years from now.
09cobaltsstc says:
11:44 AM, 03/20/11
ed124c.... The Malibu is in no way shape or form a cookie cutter design.The Fusion like the mustang got a very mild makeover and has looked the same for more than a half of a decade with a very boring design and a interior that is BLAND with a capital B.
I like the C30 alot and think it offers much better design and more power than the super boring gti. I have drove the gti because all rave reviews. I found it slow but had a very refinded ride and nice interior but in no way a class leading in performance or handling.I walked away very underwelmed.
banhugh says:
01:22 PM, 03/20/11
#2: Expensive
questionlp says:
01:55 PM, 03/20/11
I agree with the choice of the Hyundai Elantra and if I were to recommend an A6, it would have to be in Avant form. Neither the sedan or the Avant have a manual transmission here, so I'd rather get something with a bit more utility. I would have preferred a 535xi Touring, but BMW thinks that we want the whale of the 5 GT instead.
With the A4 sedan and Avant grown since their previous generation, I would opt for one of those over the A6 anyday as well. The only thing that I would want is for a more refined 2.0T. Maybe Audi can bring out a detuned version of the turbo 2.5-litre inline five found in the TT-RS or RS3 to replace the decent 3.0/3.2-litre V6 engines of yore.
ocramidajzj says:
02:30 PM, 03/20/11
Current gen Mazda6. Yeah yeah, blah, blah. say what you want but the new version is a better car than the old. Have had my sGT for over a year now and the only real improvement this fun and practical car needs is some interior upgrades. Namely better plastics on the doors and center console and the CX-9's wonderful seats.
With a better interior this car can go head to head with some German rivals.
firstwagon says:
07:22 PM, 03/20/11
ocramidajzj
I think what people liked about the 1st Mazda6 has nothing to do with plastic trim and consoles
It drove like a 4 door sports car, maybe not as good as a people mover but as a drivers car nothing in the price range matched it.
blueguydotcom says:
07:37 PM, 03/20/11
Audi is a value to whom? Acura and Infiniti give consumers far more car for less cash. All the Japanese and American luxury brands offer better service, better reliability and all for less money. Audi's only advantages: nice interiors and somewhat sporting behaviour (which Infiniti easily usurps for less money and BMW beats for the same cash and far, far, far better warranty/dealer service).
If there's a luxury brand with less to offer consumers than Audi...well...no there isn't. Maybe MB?
wrinklebump says:
08:52 PM, 03/20/11
"offered at prices that make them excellent value propositions."
hahah
Acura, Infiniti, Lexus and Caddy all over more bang for the buck at the dealer lot and in the service bay; BMW, Benz and Lexus offer at least as much (and probably more) country club cred. Who, exactly, is Audi a value to? The brand's not the sales punchline it was just a few years ago, but its shortcomings are pretty obvious: the cars are expensive without offering the same cache.
From the point of view of your average oil baron or hedge fund manager or corporate podiatrist, it's a better bet to just buy the big Benz and cover all your bases when it comes time to talk about your whip at the governor's ball.
From the point of view of those aspiring to own a luxury car (which, I presume, is the situation more ILers find themselves in): it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to dump your kid's college fund into a new A4 when a pampered last-gen 5-series could be had for far less cash, does it?
tmanz says:
09:08 PM, 03/20/11
"It drove like a 4 door sports car"
Yep, rented one of those back when they first came out for a drive up through the hills and found myself commenting "If Mazda can make a sedan this much fun, how much fun must a Miata be"
Everyone has different taste in cars but that was a great car, better sized than the competition and way more fun. There's a good reason that 99% of the used ones that came up for sale were prior rentals. Everyone else held onto theirs.
ocramidajzj says:
07:24 AM, 03/21/11
My point is that the new 6 still drives like a sports car. I think people who don't think so haven't really driven it hard or are simply judging a book by it's added size.
blueprint1 says:
09:31 AM, 03/21/11
#1: test one with a CVT and you'll get another big reason why this car is overlooked.
The 1st-gen Mazda 6 had a lot in common with the Suzuki. In Canada, it outsold for awhile the Accord and Camry. The 2nd-gen car is dead in our market, being too large and with the hatch and wagon gone. The Dodge Intrepid styling doesn't help either.
Mazda 5 is the brand's #2 seller up here in Freezerland.
tmanz says:
10:07 AM, 03/21/11
"My point is that the new 6 still drives like a sports car."
Like I said, everyone has their own opinion. If we all looked for the same thing in all cars then there would only be one car company and one model car.
Having driven both (put 300 miles on the new one and about 500 on the old) the new one is a move in the wrong direction for me.
Hopefully going more mainstream worked for Mazda. I think the old one filled a need that few others did. While the new one may be sportier than an Accord or a Camry it isn't the same as the old one where I'd seek out longer routes to places.
stovt001 says:
12:45 PM, 03/21/11
Mazda's entire lineup (less the Tribute) needs to be on this list.
The Kizashi is compelling. If I could afford a new car right now, I'd be very, very, very tempted to forget about the weak dealer network and go for it.
I'd even maybe add the Honda Fit. It isn't exactly forgotten in this market, but I'd still say not nearly enough people have one considering how perfectly it fits the needs of the average car buyer.
bodyblue says:
01:00 PM, 03/21/11
""It drove like a 4 door sports car""
And nobody cares....at least those who are looking to buy a car......have you seen mazdas sales lately? The brand is becoming a niche player for sure. I like them just fine but unless they do something quick, it will be looking bad in just another couple of years. Zoom zoom does not sell enough cars......
carmageddon says:
03:54 PM, 03/21/11
Maybe Audi would move a few more A6's if the styling updates for each new generation amounted to more than what its competitors consider mid-cycle refreshes. Or if its sedans didn’t adhere so strictly to the same sausage in three lengths paradigm that BMW finally got away from (and to which it sadly is now returning). Or if the cars didn't all suffer from numb steering FWD push. Or if it had come up with some new designs for its formerly class leading interiors before everyone else caught up.
firstwagon says:
04:12 PM, 03/21/11
"And nobody cares....at least those who are looking to buy a car......have you seen mazdas sales lately? The brand is becoming a niche player for sure. "
I wouldn't call them a niche player, not with a car in the top 5 sales here. Never understood why Americans won't listen to the experts and just buy the small cars we choose.
"Year-to-date to the end of February, the top ten were the Hyundai Elantra (6,212 sold), Toyota Corolla (4,121), Honda Civic (3,926), Mazda3 (3,514), Chevrolet Cruze (3,264), Volkswagen Jetta (3,019), Toyota Matrix (2,453), Hyundai Accent (2,427), Ford Focus (2,397) and Ford Fusion (1,751)."
As you can see, we know small cars.
anonimo says:
07:42 PM, 03/21/11
blueguydotcom says:
"Audi is a value to whom? Acura and Infiniti give consumers far more car for less cash. All the Japanese and American luxury brands offer better service, better reliability and all for less money. Audi's only advantages: nice interiors and somewhat sporting behaviour (which Infiniti easily usurps for less money and BMW beats for the same cash and far, far, far better warranty/dealer service).
If there's a luxury brand with less to offer consumers than Audi...well...no there isn't. Maybe MB?"
This is the some of the most biased, generalized nonsense I think I've ever read on this site. Aren't you the "guy" who goes on and on and on at every opportunity about how much Audi sucks based on a singular ownership experience (if I remember correctly)? I just bought my FOURTH Audi (an S6) in five years because they consistantly provide the best overall ownership experience. I've owned a lot of luxury cars (I currently own three--and two are Audis) and I can tell you that there is no better value for the money.
Please explain again the genesis of your clear, deep hatred of Audi and we'll see if you can earn some credibility. We are all very sorry you had a bad Audi experience, but when you steamroll the brand every other day, you have absolutely zero credibility. Get over it.
anonimo says:
07:42 PM, 03/21/11
blueguydotcom says:
"Audi is a value to whom? Acura and Infiniti give consumers far more car for less cash. All the Japanese and American luxury brands offer better service, better reliability and all for less money. Audi's only advantages: nice interiors and somewhat sporting behaviour (which Infiniti easily usurps for less money and BMW beats for the same cash and far, far, far better warranty/dealer service).
If there's a luxury brand with less to offer consumers than Audi...well...no there isn't. Maybe MB?"
This is the some of the most biased, generalized nonsense I think I've ever read on this site. Aren't you the "guy" who goes on and on and on at every opportunity about how much Audi sucks based on a singular ownership experience (if I remember correctly)? I just bought my FOURTH Audi (an S6) in five years because they consistantly provide the best overall ownership experience. I've owned a lot of luxury cars (I currently own three--and two are Audis) and I can tell you that there is no better value for the money.
Please explain again the genesis of your clear, deep hatred of Audi and we'll see if you can earn some credibility. We are all very sorry you had a bad Audi experience, but when you steamroll the brand every other day, you have absolutely zero credibility. Get over it.
tmanz says:
08:12 PM, 03/21/11
"And nobody cares....at least those who are looking to buy a car......have you seen mazdas sales lately? The brand is becoming a niche player for sure. I like them just fine but unless they do something quick, it will be looking bad in just another couple of years. Zoom zoom does not sell enough cars."
I still say the changes hurt Mazda.
For starters the old 6 filled a spot where there wasn't many other players. Now they are playing in the Altima, Accord, Camry, Sonata territory. And even "if" they are the sportiest of those cars it is still a crowded group to compete in.
I know the smile on the other models has been discussed to death but I'd say that in a marketplace that now has tons of great small car choices if your edgy styling doesn't bring in way more customers than it drives away it is the wrong direction. I know some like it and some may even buy the car because of it. The problem is I'd guess way more fall to the not so crazy about it side of the scale. If that's the case then it is giving more buyers pause than the number it is causing to run directly to the Mazda dealership. So even if they don't hate the look, all it takes anymore is just not liking the car completely for the next car to win.
The Mazda3 was king when the small domestic cars were awful in every way and the imports were either boring or unreliable. Mazda was one of the first Japanese models to offer leather and HID in an economy car. They were a blast to drive when the competition was just transportation.
I used to see 3's and 6's everywhere around here. I rarely see the new ones.
stovt001 says:
09:58 PM, 03/21/11
I'm seeing a ton of new 3s around here, smiley face notwithstanding, but I hardly see any 6s. Shame because even softened and dumbed down for the US market it is still great.
blueguydotcom says:
05:56 AM, 03/22/11
@anonimo - yes, I'm alone in my dismissal of VW/Audi products. Read the entire blog, obviously, I'm not the only one who feels VWAG's Audi/VW brands (3 of them for my household in 10 years) are not up to Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Caddy or BMW levels.