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<\/p>\n<\/div>\u2018Politics is the choice between a lesser of two evils,\u201d said George Orwell, and 2016 seemed to illustrate his point. How refreshing to have politics\u2019 antithesis in automobiles.<\/p>\n
Today there is more choice than ever to satisfy your transportation needs. Walking the Detroit auto show floor on the first public day last Saturday I heard from more than one attendee that they were overwhelmed by the choices.<\/p>\n
I tested 55 new cars last year, from the frugal Mitsubishi Mirage to the if-you-have-to-ask-you-can\u2019t-afford-it Audi R8 \u2014 and I can recommend every single one. Even the ginormous, three-ton Ford F-250 \u2014 a truck so big I couldn\u2019t see over it much less fit it in my garage. Stuffed with finer interior materials than my living room, I think it would make a great summer cottage up north. I could garage the Mirage in its pickup bed.<\/p>\n
I sit on the North American Car of the Year jury and we limited our nominees to new-to-2017 vehicles. My Detroit News list is a little more expansive as I include variations on marques that have been previously introduced. Like the apex-carving Camaro ZL1 (another order of species above the very good Camaro SS) or the Ford Fusion Sport (beauty and the V-6 beast) or the VW Alltrack (the AWD Golf).<\/p>\n
Add them to the list of much-anticipated, all-new vehicles like the Chevy Bolt EV, Alfa Giulia or Honda Ridgeline pickup, and it\u2019s a challenge culling the herd to three nominees. But cull I did. Here are the best from the crossover, sedan and performance car categories.<\/p>\n
The envelope please …<\/p>\n
First runner-up: BMW M2<\/strong><\/p>\n The last year was a showcase for iconic sports cars: Porsche 911 Turbo, Audi R8, Corvette Grand Sport and Porsche Boxster\/Cayman. Incredible athletes. I tested them all. Hard.<\/p>\n The 911 carved up Thunderhill Raceway Park <\/a>like a veteran, shrugging off 100-degree heat to lap effortlessly with its 8-speed dual-clutch tranny. At one-third the price of the Porsche, the Grand Sport humbled Atlanta Motorsport Park. On Woodward \u2014 or just off it at M1 Concourse\u2019s Champion Motor Speedway <\/a>\u2014 the mid-engine R8 stood out for its wailing, normally aspirated V-10 mill. It\u2019s music to the ears. The Porsche Boxster\/Cayman remains my favorite car <\/a>to drive, even if its musical flat-6 has been replaced by a tone-deaf turbo-4.<\/p>\n But the revelations of the performance-car world this year have rear seats (so the kids can sit it on the fun): the Camaro ZL1 <\/a>and BMW M2<\/a>. The first (of many) Chevy vehicles to get GM\u2019s dual clutch-like 10-speed gearbox, the ZL1 shares the Corvette Z06\u2019s ferocious 650-horse engine. At Willow Springs Raceway in California, Motor Trend hot shoe Randy Pobst was just a second off his Z06 pace.<\/p>\n With its superior interior and rear legroom, the 365-horse, turbo-6 M2 is my pick of the litter. At $56,000 (as tested) it is the bargain of my sports picks, yet loses nothing in looks and agility. It is the perfect combination of raw, Camaro-like thrust and Porsche athleticism.<\/p>\n Runner-up:<\/strong><\/p>\n Subaru Impreza wagon<\/strong><\/p>\n The most decorated car of 2016 was the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Chevrolet out-Tesla\u2019d Tesla by introducing the first, fun electric car that got more than 200 miles to a charge – and cost less than $40,000. I love it \u2014 it\u2019s speedy, techy and roomy. But there\u2019s a lot you can get for that much money \u2014 or much less: New crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape<\/a>. Hot hatches like the 2017 Ford Focus RS<\/a>.<\/p>\n But for my money the best five-door bargains on the market are compact wagons. They are better-handling than compact utility vehicles, roomier than the Bolt EV and 15-grand cheaper. Good luck finding one. The best of the genre is the Subaru Impreza, especially as it\u2019s the only wagon to match CUVs with the all-wheel drive that\u2019s crucial to frigid Detroit winters.<\/p>\n Well, it was the only such wagon until this year. VW stepped up with the Alltrack <\/a>(and sister SportWagen) that adds AWD to the superb dynamics of the Golf chassis. Subaru didn\u2019t take the challenge lying down. It produced an all-new chassis for the Impreza, tightened up its droning CVT transmission and toned its bod.<\/p>\n The V-dub and Subie match each other feature-for-feature, pound-for-pound. Bravo VW. But with the Subaru\u2019s best-in-class resale value<\/a> and vaunted reliability, it holds the edge for now.<\/p>\n My pick for 2017 Detroit News Vehicle of the Year of the year, however, is in a class by itself.<\/p>\n Winner: Chrysler Pacifica<\/strong><\/p>\n We know that minivans have the most family-friendly interiors in autodom. But what to do about that uncool, boxy image? Pacifica blew away the stereotype by not only redefining the minivan, but making one of the most attractive, tech-savvy family haulers on the road today.<\/p>\n The Pacifica was a part of every conversation this year. What car reinvented the minivan segment? Pacifica. What vehicle did Waymo use to develop a spacious, self-driving family mule? Pacifica. What was the first family utility vehicle to go 30 miles on electrons? The same.<\/p>\n