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Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005

Every year, the Edmunds.com editors gather to ponder that eternal question, "What cars or trucks would we most want to park in our garage?" For the 2005 model year our editors have once again scoured the entire automotive spectrum looking for their favorite vehicles. What they've came up with are the Edmunds.com Editors' Most Wanted cars and trucks for 2005.

Under $15,000 | Under $25,000 | Under $35,000 | Under $45,000 | Over $45,000

Under $15,000

Sedan Under $15,000: Mazda 3 With sharp looks and even sharper handling, this Mazda feels anything but cheap.

Coupe Under $15,000: Honda Civic Refined and fuel-efficient, the Civic is a class act among economy coupes.

Wagon Under $15,000: Scion xB Not just another wagon thanks to its space-saving design and mini-truck styling.

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Under $25,000

Sedan Under $25,000: Chrysler 300 This dynamic new sedan exudes high style — and offers Hemi power to boot.

Coupe Under $25,000: Ford Mustang Boasting four decades of nameplate heritage, the Ford Mustang is a living legend.

Convertible Under $25,000: Mazda MX-5 Miata An update on this perennial favorite has kept the Mazda MX-5 Miata in our top slot over the hot new Mini Cooper Convertible.

Wagon Under $25,000: Dodge Magnum Proving wagons don't have to be mundane family transportation.

SUV Under $25,000: Chevrolet Equinox The perfect SUV for families who want a midsize but can only afford a compact.

Compact Truck: Dodge Dakota The comfort of a car and capacity of a truck, all wrapped up in one tough-looking package.

Large Truck: Nissan Titan After bursting out of the gates at full gallop, the new kid on the block continues to impress.

Minivan: Honda Odyssey The minivan crown shifts once again to a very familiar nameplate.

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Under $35,000

Sedan Under $35,000: BMW 3 Series Costlier than the competition, but worth every penny.

Coupe Under $35,000: BMW 3 Series A coupe that offers performance perks with few of the drawbacks.

Convertible Under $35,000: BMW Z4 Edgy styling and BMW's flair for performance make the Z4 our pick for top-down excitement.

Wagon Under $35,000: Audi A4 Avant So luxurious, you won't believe its relatively low price.

SUV Under $35,000: Toyota 4Runner Capable both on- and off-road, the 4Runner offers universal competence.

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Under $45,000

Sedan Under $45,000: Cadillac STS All the power, luxury and sophistication you could ask for in a midsize sedan.

Coupe Under $45,000: Chevrolet Corvette The classic, all-American sports car continues to thrive after 42 years of production.

Convertible Under $45,000: Audi A4 German sophistication won out over a remake of an old British sports car favorite to take the top honors in this category.

Wagon Under $45,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class When family hauling demands German luxury, the Mercedes stands above the rest.

Midsize SUV Under $45,000: Volkswagen Touareg An SUV that drives like a car and hauls like a truck — truly a winning combination.

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Over $45,000

Sedan Over $45,000: Audi A8 Turning establishment on its ear every once in awhile is a good thing.

Coupe Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Uncompromising luxury and massive power place the Mercedes-Benz CL in a class by itself.

Convertible Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Speed, power, freedom and luxury, all wrapped up in one safe, little package.

SUV Over $45,000: Land Rover Range Rover Still the king when it comes to luxury, performance and the ability to crawl over the occasional boulder or two.

Exotics: Ford GT An American legend returns better than ever.

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Why We Began the Editors' Most Wanted List

• Our staff members get the same question over and over: What's the "best" car or truck?
• There isn't a single "best" car or truck that will meet everyone's needs.
• When somebody asks us what the "best" of the crop is, we respond by quizzing the inquiring mind about his needs and wants in a vehicle.
• Still, readers want to know which cars and trucks we'd buy given the resources.

• Our editorial staff gathered to hash over the roster of 2005 models.
• We voted for our 26 favorite models in a variety of vehicle classes, plus we chose our Most Significant Vehicle of the Year. To improve the functionality of our Most Wanted awards, we picked standardized price points for each vehicle type (sedans, wagons, SUVs, etc.). To be eligible for a given price category, at least one version of a model line had to have an MSRP (not including destination charge) below that category's price limit. This was typically the base model with no options. Unlike in previous years, there was no upper price limit for eligible winners.
• The result of our voting is a list of cars and trucks we'd want in our own garages.
• Only 2005 models were eligible and at least one member of our editorial team had to have driven the vehicle prior to our voting deadline of October 1, 2004.

When reviewing our selections, keep in mind that we're a group of men and women that enjoys driving.

• Our staff of writers ranges in age from the mid-20s to the late 40s.
• Some of us have kids.
• We all enjoy long road trips and the occasional blast up a twisting canyon road.
• Some of us lead active lifestyles, while the rest of us chomp Thai chicken pizza and eagerly await The Simpsons reruns each night.

We need vehicles that fit this kind of lifestyle.

We eat, breathe and dream automobiles, and in many instances, this love for the car overruled common sense during our selection process. But that's the great thing about the Edmunds.com Editors' Most Wanted list: it's guided by passion, not science (much like the majority of car purchases).

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Give us your feedback about our Editors' Most Wanted picks.
E-mail: editor@edmunds.com

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