Top 11 Jalopnik Reviews Of 2008 [Jalopnik Reviews]

[Andy]

pWe wrote a href="http://jalopnik.com/tag/jalopnik-reviews"159 reviews/a during 2008. While culling the best for this list of the top 11, one thing became abundantly clear: America is making good cars again./p pSure, we still liked offerings from both the Far East and Europe, but, overwhelmingly, our favorites hailed from Detroit. Believe it or not, there was a discussion earlier this year as to the appropriateness of having a road test editor who was so anti-American cars. That’s no longer a topic of conversation; check out the 11 most popular reviews, listed in reverse order below, and I think you’ll see why./p h1strongClick on the images below to read the stories./strong/h1 h1strong11.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/370269/2009-acura-tsx-reviewed"2009 Acura TSX/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/370269/2009-acura-tsx-reviewed"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/TSX.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong Ray summed up the TSX in four words: "competent yet remarkably boring." I’d add “the most attractive use of Acura’s buck-toothed front end, but that’s not saying much.” According to Acura, the TSX’s buyer is looking for a well-made, fully-featured, reliable vehicle. While we acknowledge that many people fit that profile, we don’t.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 20,464br strongHow Much:/strong $29,160br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 201/p h1strong10.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5039101/2009-honda-fit-first-drive"2009 Honda Fit/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5039101/2009-honda-fit-first-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/Honda_fit.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong I had to choose between driving this, or the ZR1. You might be surprised to hear that I thought about that for more than 10 seconds. The Fit’s always been the fun choice for those needing a practical small car on a budget. John Krewson found that, for 2009, it’s ramped up that practicality without sacrificing too much in the way of fun. He also made friends with it. He’s a bit weird.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 24,860br strongHow Much:/strong $14,550br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 117/p h1strong9.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/347464/2008-smart-fortwo-first-us-drive"2008 Smart ForTwo/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/347464/2008-smart-fortwo-first-us-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/smart.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong I get really fed up with people’s preconceived notions about cars. More people have more preconceived notions about the little Smart than just about any other car, so I wrote this one to address those notions. In hindsight, I probably should have provided more justification for the “it’s not gay” part.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 24,964br strongHow Much:/strong $18,500br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 70/p h1strong8.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/376456/2009-bmw-x6-part-one"2009 BMW X6/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/376456/2009-bmw-x6-part-one"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/x6.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong This one was a complete surprise. BMW’s range has really lost its “Ultimate Driving Machine” edge. They don’t steer that well anymore, they’re not that involving. Bizarrely, despite its complete absence of steering feel and complete reliance on involvement-removing performance aids, the X6 is really fun to drive. It’s the size of a Suburban, but goes like an M3. You sit 10-feet off the ground, but there’s no dive and no roll. The X6’s capacity for cornering is unlimited. When the torque vectoring differential BMW calls Xdrive trickles down to a more obvious performance application it’s going to be big news. Mark my words.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 26,616br strongHow Much:/strong $63,225br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 300/p h1strong7.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5107120/2010-ford-fusion-hybrid-first-drive"2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5107120/2010-ford-fusion-hybrid-first-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/Fusion_hybrid.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong Ray ordered me to win the mileage challenge Ford held for journalists. So I did, getting 43.8 MPG driving through LA traffic. Most journalists got between 32 and 37 MPG, which is more realistic for the average driver. That’s only part of the story however, the Fusion Hybrid is good-looking, good to drive and, for the class, has a nice interior. All that’s wrapped up in a reasonable price tag. It’s not the kind of vehicle we fall asleep dreaming about, but it is the kind of vehicle people are going to buy in big numbers.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 27,344br strongHow Much:/strong $27,270br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 191/p h1strong6.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/365724/2009-subaru-forester-part-one"2009 Subaru Forester/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/365724/2009-subaru-forester-part-one"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/forester.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong the Forester was always the anti-SUV, all capability and no pretense. For 2009 it gains a tall, SUV-style body, which, too many, is a huge step in the wrong direction. Despite this, it retains all of the utility it’s become famous for while proving fun to drive both off-road and on.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 27,439br strongHow Much:/strong $26,195br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 224/p h1strong5.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5075561/2010-ford-f+150-svt-raptor-first-ride"2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5075561/2010-ford-f+150-svt-raptor-first-ride"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/Raptor.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong We didn’t actually drive the Raptor — no one outside Ford has yet — but we did ride in one and, as you’d expect from a beefed-up off-roader built for speed, it was awesome. I’m looking forward to driving this more than any other vehicle in 2009.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 29,968br strongHow Much:/strong n/abr strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 400/p h1strong4.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5043650/2009-cadillac-cts+v-first-drive"2009 Cadillac CTS-V/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5043650/2009-cadillac-cts+v-first-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/CTS-V.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong Cadillac reps had to order me out of the CTS-V after nearly four hours of continuous lapping at Monticello Motor Club. Combing detuned versions of the motor, brakes and suspension from the ZR1 with one of the nicest luxury sedans on the market is a winning formula, out M-ing or AMG-ing all comers. If emGawker/em paid me more, I’d buy one of these to live in.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 30,531br strongHow Much:/strong $60,355br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 556/p h1strong3.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/356497/hypermiling-the-2007-honda-civic-22-i+ctdi-and-2007-audi-q7-42-tdi"2007 Honda Civic 2.2 CTDI Vs. 2007 Audi Q7 4.2 TDI/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/356497/hypermiling-the-2007-honda-civic-22-i+ctdi-and-2007-audi-q7-42-tdi"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/civic_diesel.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong A real slap on the head moment, this. Guess what? Diesels are great to drive and can deliver ridiculously good mileage. While trying kinda hard (sticking to speed limits, no aero mods) we got 72.4 MPG highway from the Civic and 33.2 MPG from the 550 Lb-Ft Q7. Yes, that’s ridiculous, and no, we don’t know why you can’t buy them here.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 35,410br strongHow Much:/strong n/abr strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 326-Q7, 138-Civic/p h1strong2.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5109059/2010-ford-mustang-first-drive"2010 Ford Mustang/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5109059/2010-ford-mustang-first-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/mustang.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong I’m not what you’d call a emMustang Person/em. I don’t watch televised sports. I don’t own a single pair of cotton hammer pants. But, when equipped with the optional Track Pack, the 2010 GT won me over. Know the romantic image saying “Ford Mustang” conjures up somewhere in the back of your mind? The one involving the PCH and lots of cheesy helicopter shots? The 2010’s handling, looks and driving experience finally live up to that.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 36,148br strongHow Much:/strong $27,995br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 315/p h1strong1.) a href="http://jalopnik.com/5037293/2009-corvette-zr1-first-drive"2009 Corvette ZR1/a/strong/h1 pa href="http://jalopnik.com/5037293/2009-corvette-zr1-first-drive"img src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2008/12/ZR1.jpg" width="804" height="300" style="display:block;float:none;" //astrongJalopnik's Take:/strong The most anticipated car of the year lived up to the hype by being faster, better handling and more involving than anyone could have possibly hoped. I’ll remember the day I spent driving it at the Lutz Ring as one of the highlights of my career and, to this day, have a hard time conveying the experience in words. The ZR1 single-handedly convinced me that the American car industry has a bright future; there’s no better car made anywhere in the world.br strongHow Many Readers:/strong 77,053br strongHow Much:/strong $103,300br strongHow Many Horsies Under The Hood:/strong 638br/p pa href="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/VEUnougO_3svydjWsYRBsRKn9oI/a"img src="http://feedads.googleadservices.com/~at/VEUnougO_3svydjWsYRBsRKn9oI/i" border="0" ismap="true"/img/a/pdiv class="feedflare" a href="http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/jalopnik/full?a=k4xLJMCB"img src="http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/jalopnik/full?d=120" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/jalopnik/full?a=mN0SH0uU"img src="http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/jalopnik/full?d=41" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/jalopnik/full?a=VPSRVwxJ"img src="http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/jalopnik/full?i=VPSRVwxJ" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.gawker.com/~f/jalopnik/full?a=iqOqQFlo"img src="http://feedproxy.google.com/~f/jalopnik/full?i=iqOqQFlo" border="0"/img/a /divimg src="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~4/1jPgsQCJHw0" height="1" width="1"/

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