Ars Technica’s favorite cars and SUVs of 2019
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There are four BEVs and PHEV in my top 10 (and a PHEV in my bottom 5). That's where.
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My sister sold the Tesla after 3 yrs and bought a Subaru. Just sayin'.
They can have any vehicles they want. Over the decades, they've had Lexii, a Range Rover, Priuses, Volvos, BMWs, Benzes, Hondas, and now they are down to a Subaru and Ford Expedition (boat towing) as empty-nesters.
There is no 1-car for everyone for life.
In my house, we are slower to swap vehicles. Have a 19 yrs old Acura that is still going and expected to keep going 10 more years, easily. It isn't worth even $3K anymore, but drives like new still. Recent models seem to have quality problems, so they aren't on the top of our lists. Drove a loaner MDX a few years ago and hated it. Actually preferred a Volvo wagon over it. We've been without a truck/hatchback far too long. Will probably solve that with a Subaru or Mazda3 in the next few years.
Really wish more time was spent in these automotive articles going over vendor data collection and anti-privacy "features" that have been added by most makers. At least how to enable, disable, update, and transfer all the access to a new owner should be included.
That would be a perfect fit for Ars, right?
They can have any vehicles they want. Over the decades, they've had Lexii, a Range Rover, Priuses, Volvos, BMWs, Benzes, Hondas, and now they are down to a Subaru and Ford Expedition (boat towing) as empty-nesters.
There is no 1-car for everyone for life.
In my house, we are slower to swap vehicles. Have a 19 yrs old Acura that is still going and expected to keep going 10 more years, easily. It isn't worth even $3K anymore, but drives like new still. Recent models seem to have quality problems, so they aren't on the top of our lists. Drove a loaner MDX a few years ago and hated it. Actually preferred a Volvo wagon over it. We've been without a truck/hatchback far too long. Will probably solve that with a Subaru or Mazda3 in the next few years.
Really wish more time was spent in these automotive articles going over vendor data collection and anti-privacy "features" that have been added by most makers. At least how to enable, disable, update, and transfer all the access to a new owner should be included.
That would be a perfect fit for Ars, right?
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It’s SHOCKING that Johnny can’t RTFA !
Or not...people choose ‘piss ant’ as their default setting now.
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Since we didn’t test a Miata or a new Corvette in 2019 they aren’t on the list. You read the article and note that we only included vehicles we drove this year, correct?
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The very first friggin' car discussed in the article is electric. It's almost like you actively avoided looking.
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Thanks guys,
Really enjoyed the coverage this year. Been really interested at the transition of cars from mechanical things to another IT platform. I’ve also been saddened that half of the Japanese car industry (Nissan outside of EVs, Mitsubishi, Lexus) haven’t worked that out yet. Who thought a billion Buttons in a cockpit that you can’t look at while moving at speed was a good idea. A question - with No Volkswagens, Renault’s, Toyota’s on the best list, where are they at?
Really enjoyed the coverage this year. Been really interested at the transition of cars from mechanical things to another IT platform. I’ve also been saddened that half of the Japanese car industry (Nissan outside of EVs, Mitsubishi, Lexus) haven’t worked that out yet. Who thought a billion Buttons in a cockpit that you can’t look at while moving at speed was a good idea. A question - with No Volkswagens, Renault’s, Toyota’s on the best list, where are they at?
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Because it includes ICE cars? I'm personally happy that EV's are now making such lists. Just recently wouldn't have thought that. Don't get the sourness of some
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We’re an American publication writing for an overwhelmingly American audience. When Renault starts selling cars in the US again, we’ll start reviewing them.
The only VWs I drove this year were a Jetta GLI (which is fine but not a top 10 car), the ID Buggy which is a concept, and the new Passat which was almost as mediocre as the Maxima but has not-broken steering and better infotainment so it’s probably only the 6th most mediocre car I drove all year.
In the new year you can read reviews of the Prius Prime and Corolla Hybrid; neither stood out enough to merit a top 10 spot.
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People can complain about the presence of internal combustion engines in our coverage when EVs make up more than 3% of total new vehicle sales.
The fact that there are four BEVs and a PHEV on my top 10 should be clear evidence to all but the most motivated trolls that we actually care about EVs.
The fact that there are four BEVs and a PHEV on my top 10 should be clear evidence to all but the most motivated trolls that we actually care about EVs.
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Quite a mix of cars, though it does lean a little on the unobtainable side... (probably part of the reason they cost so much! They're that good to drive).
But I was most interested in the Worst Of lists, since those are the most fun. Nissan (and by extension Infiniti) really need to get their shit together as we all know. With Senior Ghosn out maybe THIS will finally come to life. Or I can stop dreaming.
But I was most interested in the Worst Of lists, since those are the most fun. Nissan (and by extension Infiniti) really need to get their shit together as we all know. With Senior Ghosn out maybe THIS will finally come to life. Or I can stop dreaming.
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Not a critique, just an observation: No ultimate driving machine sedans, but one SUV.
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BMW has really screwed the pooch. I love the i3, but it is not a practical car for a lot of people, and terrible value at MSRP. meanwhile, how could anyone spend so much money on a 3-series sedan when Tesla's exist? The 5-series at least has luxury going for it, but neither one is particularly compelling. The PHEV versions of both are also expensive enough that I can't understand who or what they are even for.
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The PHEV 530e is the exact same price as the not-hybrid 530i. That’s actually one of the few things BMW seems to have done right recently.
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Most BMW PHEVs are designed around the needs (taxation mainly) of Western Europe fleet and company car buyers.
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The problem with the Leaf Plus is the same is with the other Leafs: No active thermal management for the battery. If you look at social media groups for the Leaf, there is CONSTANT discussion of battery degradation. You just do not see that discussion on the Chevy Bolt or Tesla groups. Active thermal management for the battery is crucial for the long term life of the battery.
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The more and more the EV folks freak about the fact that people still can like ICE vehicles just keeps reminding me of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFAAdOBB1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFAAdOBB1c
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You can get some good discounts on the 530e, my coworker got a well specced one for $17K off msrp. The car had about 1700 miles on it, but there was nothing wrong with it. Also got the tax credit on top of that.
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We’ve been writing about cars for longer than you’ve been registered on the website. And each year we write a list of the best new cars we’ve driven that year. It’s not really that complicated.
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I'm sure you bitching about it in these comments is going to fix everything. Just be sure you don't dislocate your shoulder from patting yourself on the back too hard.
There's a hell of a lot of tech which has gone into making ICEs run as cleanly and efficiently as they do.
or is "tech" in your mind just stuffing thousands of laptop battery cells into a car and having them power a 100 year old electric motor design?
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The 2019 Jetta (non-GLI) is a piece of trash. I own one. Several recalls and a bunk transmission. VW won't admit how bad the transmission issue is, but a lot of used car dealers won't even consider buying a 2019 Jetta (I know, because I tried to offload mine). I think your review of the 2019 Jetta was in 2018, but would suggest it should go on the bottom 5 as a warning.
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Maybe the entire country being on fire is the motivation Australians need to reduce their per capita carbon emissions, which are higher than just about anywhere else on earth.
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Australia has the same issue we have.
Large Oil Money controls the government and puts into power Conservatives to Protect their Economic interest vs. the interests of the 99% of the population.
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Since Ars is a tech and science site, I really feel they should be leading on listing the expected carbon footprint of the fuel burned by ICE vehicles (ideally per year). Not as a commentary, but rather as a metric so that people can judge them against each other. It seems like a much more important comparitive spec than whether the infotainment systems supports carplay or Android auto.
I limit this to the fuel burned by ICE vehicles for two reasons:
1) as was pointed out here by the staff, EV's only account for about 3% of vehicle sales, so this information is critical for ICE vehicles right now. Less so at the moment for EV's.
2) it is trivially easy for a publication to figure out this value for cars sold in the United States. (EPA mileage / average yearly mileage driven per year by the average American x 20 / 2000). It's quite hard to calculate for EV's due to the flexible nature of their fuel source.
It should just be a number that is published right there with all the other stats for every car review as standard. I can't think of a single reason not to do so. Maybe those who disagree could explain why it shouldn't be included - perhaps there is something I haven't considered. But at the moment I can't imagine why it couldn't (or shouldn't) be a standard part of any review.
Edit:
Just to be clear, all I'm suggesting is that the average CO2 emissions per year be included in the standard set of stats listed with each vehicle.
I'm not suggesting ICE vehicles shouldn't be reviewed, or even given good coverage. I drive an ICE vehicle myself. I just think that this one important statistic should be included so that when people are reading reviews and comparing cars that they have all the important information. It's a simple thing to include and applies universally across all ICE vehicles (which represents 97% of all vehicles sold).
I'd recommend it for EV's as well, but that is a lot harder to calculate. Perhaps there is a standard way to evaluate that as well and that could also be included. But if so, those values couldn't be compared one for one with ICE values, so perhaps there would be two separate categories: CO2 from fuel consumed directly by the vehicle, and CO2 from fuel burned to produce the "fuel" consumed by the vehicle.
Edit #2:
I stand corrected. It seems that car reviews are a terrible, nonsensical place to list the comparitive amount of CO2 produced by the fuel burned while operating that car. And car review comments are a terrible place to suggest adding this information to car reviews.
I limit this to the fuel burned by ICE vehicles for two reasons:
1) as was pointed out here by the staff, EV's only account for about 3% of vehicle sales, so this information is critical for ICE vehicles right now. Less so at the moment for EV's.
2) it is trivially easy for a publication to figure out this value for cars sold in the United States. (EPA mileage / average yearly mileage driven per year by the average American x 20 / 2000). It's quite hard to calculate for EV's due to the flexible nature of their fuel source.
It should just be a number that is published right there with all the other stats for every car review as standard. I can't think of a single reason not to do so. Maybe those who disagree could explain why it shouldn't be included - perhaps there is something I haven't considered. But at the moment I can't imagine why it couldn't (or shouldn't) be a standard part of any review.
Edit:
Just to be clear, all I'm suggesting is that the average CO2 emissions per year be included in the standard set of stats listed with each vehicle.
I'm not suggesting ICE vehicles shouldn't be reviewed, or even given good coverage. I drive an ICE vehicle myself. I just think that this one important statistic should be included so that when people are reading reviews and comparing cars that they have all the important information. It's a simple thing to include and applies universally across all ICE vehicles (which represents 97% of all vehicles sold).
I'd recommend it for EV's as well, but that is a lot harder to calculate. Perhaps there is a standard way to evaluate that as well and that could also be included. But if so, those values couldn't be compared one for one with ICE values, so perhaps there would be two separate categories: CO2 from fuel consumed directly by the vehicle, and CO2 from fuel burned to produce the "fuel" consumed by the vehicle.
Edit #2:
I stand corrected. It seems that car reviews are a terrible, nonsensical place to list the comparitive amount of CO2 produced by the fuel burned while operating that car. And car review comments are a terrible place to suggest adding this information to car reviews.
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Is your semi-illiteracy because English isn't your first language, or are you as dumb as your arguments?
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