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All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:
# The vehicle must be on sale by January
# It must be priced below 2.5 times the average car price for that year
# The manufacturer must provide an example for testing
# Only substantially changed vehicles and the past year's 10 best winners are nominated

The magazine sometimes selects a specific trim and other times a whole family of vehicles.

See also: Car Of The Year


TOP TEN MARQUES

From 1983 through 2006, the following marques were represented on the list the most times, including both the car and truck lists.


TOP MANUFACTURERS

Further breaking down the marques into their controlling manufacturers amplifies Honda 's dominance of the contest over the last 24 years.

Note that this number is skewed by the multiple products picked over the years. For example, the Chrysler minivans were picked three times, totalling 8 "points" for DaimlerChrysler from three wins. The Diamond-Star cars were a similar problem, double-dipping "points" for both Mitsubishi, Plymouth, and Eagle. These situations were not "fixed"; rather, they are left as-is, skewing the totals.


TOP TEN MODELS

From 1983 through 2006, the following individual models were represented on the list the most times:

Note: The Acura RSX and Acura Integra are similar models. The RSX's 2002 and 2003 wins would bring the Integra into 5th place if their numbers were combined.


1983

For the 1980s, Car and Driver picked five domestic and five import cars.

Fastest car tested: Jaguar XJ-S ''HE'', 142 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
# Ford Escort
# Ford LTD


1984

Instituted the price cap at $30,000.

Fastest car tested: Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole , 144 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Chevrolet Cavalier
# Ford Escort
# Ford LTD


1985

Price cap: $30,000

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette , 150 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Chevrolet Cavalier
# Ford Escort
# Chevrolet Celebrity


1986

Price cap: $30,000

Fastest car tested: Porsche 944 ''Turbo'', 157 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Chevrolet Celebrity
# Ford Escort
# Chevrolet Cavalier


1987

Price cap: $30,000

Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa , 176 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Escort
# Ford Taurus
# Chevrolet Cavalier


1988

Price cap: $35,000

Fastest car tested: Ferrari Testarossa , 173 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Escort
# Chevrolet Corsica / Beretta
# Ford Taurus


1989

Imports and domestics chosen by marque, not by place of manufacture.

Price cap: $35,000

Fastest car tested: 750iL ''V12'', 158 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus
# Ford Escort


1990

Eliminated half domestic/half import rule as impractical.

Price cap: $35,000

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ''ZR-1'', 175 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus
# Chevrolet Cavalier


1991

New rule: No more than two places per Marque .

Price cap: $35,000

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ''ZR-1'', 176 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus
# Toyota Camry


1992

Price cap: $40,000

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F40 , 197 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Taurus
# Honda Accord
# Toyota Camry


1993

Price cap: $40,000

Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo , 204 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Taurus
# Honda Accord
# Toyota Camry


1994

Institution of the 2.5x price cap, now at $43,000.

Fastest car tested: Chevrolet Corvette ''ZR-1'', 179 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Taurus
# Honda Accord
# Ford Escort


1995

Price cap: $46,000.

Fastest car tested: Lamborghini Diablo ''VT'', 185 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Taurus
# Honda Accord
# Toyota Camry


1996

Price cap: $48,000

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F355 , 179 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Ford Taurus
# Honda Accord
# Toyota Camry


1997

Price cap: $54,000

Fastest car tested: Dodge Viper ''GTS'', 177 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Toyota Camry
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus


1998

Price cap: $55,000

Fastest car tested: Ferrari F50 , 194 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Toyota Camry
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus


1999

Price cap: $59,000

Top-selling cars:
# Toyota Camry
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus


2000

Price cap: $61,000

Top speed recorded: Ferrari 360 Modena , 173 mph

Top-selling cars:
# Toyota Camry
# Honda Accord
# Ford Taurus


2001

For 2001, Car and Driver created a separate "Five Best Trucks" award with a single winner in each of five categories.

Top-selling vehicles:
# Ford F-Series
# Chevrolet Silverado
# Ford Explorer


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $62,000


Five Best Trucks



2002

Top-selling cars:
# Ford F-Series
# Chevrolet Silverado
# Toyota Camry


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $66,000


Five Best Trucks



2003


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $66,000


Five Best Trucks



2004


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $69,000


Five Best Trucks



2005


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $70,000


Five Best Trucks



2006


Ten Best Cars

Price cap: $70,000


Five Best Trucks