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| Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005 |
Most Significant Vehicle of the Year
 Winner: Chrysler 300
It's been all too long since a new American sedan created anything more than an apathetic yawn from consumers. Between relentless Japanese competition and America's seemingly endless obsession with trucks and SUVs, the idea that a domestic four-door could be the "it" car of the year seemed laughable. Then along came Chrysler's new 300 sedan, a car so unabashedly nontraditional in both its style and its substance that it makes the competition look hopelessly bland in comparison.
Chrysler veered from the usual route of designing a car that would appeal to the broadest swath of the general public and instead went for a look that's original at best and polarizing at worst. Like it or not, there's no denying that it has a presence on the road that no Camry or Taurus could ever hope to duplicate. Backing up its sinister looks is the performance of a rear-wheel-drive chassis and a suspension design shared with some of its more expensive Mercedes cousins. And not only does the outrageous exterior look good, it surrounds a cavernous, well-trimmed interior that's as spacious as any sedan on the road.
Built to straddle the lines between upscale family car and entry-level luxury sport sedan, the 300 offers both a base V6 (190 horsepower) and a midlevel V6 (250 hp), depending on your budget. As surprisingly adept as these V6s are at getting the big sedan up to speed, it's the top-of-the-line Hemi-engined 300C that gives the car its star power. With 340 horses running through a five-speed automatic transmission, the 300C is in a class of its own. And if that's not enough, you can always step up to the high-performance SRT-8 version that packs a 425-hp Hemi under the hood along with larger wheels and a lowered stance.
Chrysler took a chance when it decided on such a radical design for the 300 and the results speak for themselves. Along with an award like Most Significant of the Year, the 300 will also serve to garner the respect of car buyers who always yearned for something a little different but couldn't justify something exotic to fulfill their wishes. The 300 not only gives them something to aspire to, it gave fans of the American sedan something to be proud of — a most significant feat indeed.
Honorable Mentions:
Ford Mustang
Redesigning a legend is never easy. Sticking with an old-school look might not be enough to attract new customers while taking too many steps forward threatens to alienate the legions of fans who worship the original. Ford looks to have successfully straddled the line between retro influences and modern design with the 2005 Mustang as it's both visually appealing and physically potent. With more power under the hood, a simple yet effective suspension and an interior that will impress young and old alike, this Mustang is a winner.
Subaru Legacy
After years of toiling in relative obscurity, Subaru's top-of-the-line model finally has the kind of refinement, performance and comfort to land it in the heart of the entry-level luxury segment. It still has all the capability of its predecessors thanks to standard all-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance, but with two powerful engine options and an upscale interior it feels more like a luxurious sport sedan than just an all-weather "winter car." If you haven't driven a Subaru lately, the Legacy will surprise you.
Lotus Elise
The temptation of the Elise is nothing new to European drivers, but after waiting several long years American drivers finally get to taste the thrills of the Lotus design philosophy. Weighing in at just 2,000 pounds, the Elise offers a power-to-weight ratio that makes this 190-horsepower two-seater as fast as any high-dollar exotic. And not only is it fast, it can rip the corners off a racetrack like few other street-legal cars on the market. Its interior is sparse and there's not much room for luggage, but if you want to have the most fun possible for the least amount of money the Lotus has no equal.
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