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The 2000s have been a captivating time for automotive design. Whereas high-end manufacturers have been busy crafting unique supercars and ultra-luxury flagships, many automakers poured actual coronary heart into designing their on a regular basis fashions. These weren’t constructed to win design awards — and but, a few of them completely may have.
Even throughout a decade stuffed with rising security laws, rising gas economic system calls for, and shifting client tastes, a number of automakers delivered commuter-friendly vehicles that appeared much better than they needed to. These are the each day drivers that went above and past — vehicles that appeared sharp, intelligent, or simply downright cool, even with no six-figure price ticket.
Our Strategies
Let’s face it: design is subjective. However these vehicles stood out not simply to us, however to journalists, fanatics, and house owners alike. They paired affordability and usefulness with one thing somewhat extra thrilling — considerate shapes, sensible proportions, and in lots of instances, a contact of boldness.
Driving impressions come from a mixture of private expertise and revered sources like Automobile and Driver. What unites all of those fashions is their skill to face out in a crowded car parking zone — and nonetheless maintain up superbly right now.
Toyota Venza
The Toyota Venza introduced a completely new form to Toyota’s lineup when it debuted in 2008. Combining the consolation of a sedan with the practicality of a crossover and the graceful silhouette of a wagon, the Venza proved that utility and magnificence may coexist.
Its smooth roofline, vast stance, and outsized wheels gave it a particular presence. And beneath the hood? Based on MotorTrend, it boasts a refined 3.5-liter V6 shared with the Lotus Evora — as a result of why not?
Honda Accord CL7 / Acura TSX
The Acura TSX, primarily based on the worldwide model of the Honda Accord, confirmed simply how good Honda was at designing a balanced, stunning automobile. It was clear, compact, and proportioned with actual precision.
North America received this particular Accord because the Acura TSX. As Ron Kiino of Automobile and Driver reported again within the day, this was simply top-of-the-line merchandise supplied by Acura. Honda additionally completely knocked it out of the park with the design, one of the vital ageless designs ever cooked up by a Japanese automaker.
Lexus IS (XE20)
There may be a slight bias right here, as I personal an XE20 Lexus IS myself. Nevertheless, I actually do consider that that is one in every of Lexus’ most interesting hours when it comes to design.
Elegant and athletic, the second-generation Lexus IS discovered the candy spot between sport and class. Its low stance, sculpted physique, and premium touches made it a standout, particularly in colours like Glacier Frost Mica or Deep Sea Blue.
The IS wasn’t simply stunning on the surface. Inside, it featured a cockpit-style inside that felt extra performance-oriented than lots of its friends, providing a refined driving expertise wrapped in a smooth design.
Volkswagen Scirocco
Reviving a legendary nameplate, Volkswagen gave the Scirocco a recent, fashionable form that blended aggression and magnificence. The sloping roof, vast stance, and angular entrance fascia made it immediately recognizable.
Based mostly on the Golf platform however sharper in each method, the Scirocco captured the spirit of the basic coupe whereas feeling completely present — and genuinely enjoyable.
Acura RSX
Simply because the early 2000s spelled the tip of the Acura Integra nameplate in North America didn’t essentially imply the mannequin needed to go away fully. The DC5 Integra did certainly come to North America, however to raised slot in with the nomenclature of Acura’s lineup, it merely grew to become the RSX.
Bar a couple of Acura badges, the RSX was only a Honda Integra. There was additionally a spicy Kind S model, which Tony Swan of Automobile and Driver liked. The RSX is such a clear and easy design, nevertheless it completely works. It’s well-proportioned and really engaging for a compact automobile. It additionally responds exceptionally effectively to exterior mods, and the inside can also be a reasonably stylish piece of design.
Volkswagen Passat CC
Yep, Volkswagen is displaying up for the second time right here. After the Mercedes CLS launched the world to the concept of a four-door coupe, Volkswagen didn’t need to be outdone. Within the late 2000s, it launched the Passat CC, later renamed to the CC.
The CC was smooth, polished, and simply premium sufficient to face other than every part else in its phase. It was a chic different that proved stunning design doesn’t should be reserved for luxurious manufacturers.
Scion tC
The Scion tC was all about fashion and ease. With clear traces, a sporty stance, and manufacturing unit wheels that appeared straight from the tuner scene, it gave younger consumers an reasonably priced automobile they may actually be pleased with.
Constructed on a stable European platform and backed by Toyota reliability, the tC was greater than only a fairly face, however that face definitely helped.
Fiat 500
How can we neglect about one of many best examples of retro styling carried out proper that we now have ever seen? The present Fiat 500 (the gas-powered one, that’s) returned in 2007 to problem the revived BMW Mini, and what a problem it put up.
The styling was straight impressed by the Nineteen Fifties authentic, nevertheless it was so effectively executed. The spherical headlights, the lashings of chrome, the winged Fiat badge within the entrance — it was simply oozing persona all over the place. It’s no small marvel that it grew to become such a success, significantly in Europe, and we’re glad that Fiat is retaining it round for some time longer.
Toyota / Scion iQ
Again within the 2000s, this was one of many few authentic rivals to the revolutionary Good Fortwo. Launched within the late 2000s, the Toyota iQ, or Scion iQ in North America, had two foremost issues going for it. One was the clearly snarky title, and the opposite was the sensible design.
Solely a smidgen longer than its foremost rival, the iQ may seat 4 folks and carry a good quantity of cargo, although, as pre-CarWow Mat Watson demonstrated, not each on the similar time. It was cute, very charismatic, and even the inside was filled with some sensible concepts and loads of room. It’s unlucky that Toyota didn’t take this idea to the following degree, however with the arrival of small, reasonably priced EVs, now can be an ideal time.
Volvo C30
Hatchbacks have been a reasonably large deal within the 2000s, and Volvo had one of the vital distinctive ones available on the market. The C30, impressed by the SCC idea automobile from a couple of years prior, was Volvo’s entry-level mannequin in the course of the peak of the Premier Automotive Group period.
It was solely out there as a three-door, and its all-glass rear hatch places us in thoughts of stuff just like the unbelievable P1800ES and the 480 from the Eighties. Whereas the C30 was by no means actually meant to be a sporty automobile, its styling positively makes it stand out even to today. Proper up there with the Alfa Romeo Brera, when you ask me.
Wrapping It Up
The 2000s gave us extra than simply sensible vehicles — they gave us designs that also maintain up years later. Whereas many producers targeted on operate, these fashions proved that type didn’t should be sacrificed.
From daring coupes to cleanly styled hatchbacks and smooth sedans, these vehicles introduced actual creativity to the street. They could have been constructed for the each day commute, however they appeared good doing it, they usually nonetheless do.
These weren’t simply vehicles folks drove. They have been vehicles folks liked.
