[No Boost]

Bimmer-less...again

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...8/10best-2021/

[fastboatster]

Well, Supra is a BMW)

[stein_325i]

List is pretty much unchanged from 2019 other than swapping the Gladiator for the GV80. Still not a fan that they combined the lists, they should have stuck to their previous method of 10 cars and 10 SUVs and Trucks, rather than cutting their work in half. I definitely would agree with most of their picks, except for the Supra, I don't think that car deserves a 10 best title, Miata should always be on the list in my opinion as it is still the best sports car value on the market. Other than that I have to say the photos are really cool, interesting choice using the Carvana Vending Machines.

What I found more interesting this year was the contender's list, where they gave short synopsis of each new car they evaluated for the possible spot on the list. They gave some insights on the 2er Gran Coupe (in 28i and M35i trims) as well as the new 4er, and well... I'll just say they were not very positive, especially the 2er - although they aren't wrong.

2021 10Best Contenders: Cars That Didn't Make the Cut

[..Rush..]

I stopped reading Car and Driver in the late 80s.

[elliswyatt]

Originally Posted by ..Rush..

I stopped reading Car and Driver in the late 80s.

Yeah, that was the heyday, 1970s and 80s. Tremendous journalism back then. Highly average now although the last few issues have had fewer pages but better quality.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by ..Rush..

I stopped reading Car and Driver in the late 80s.

Nowadays I find the best automotive journalism online and outside the mainstream. I can't imagine why any good car write wouldn't want to be independent and have their own blog, vlog, social media presence, etc.

[heavyD^2]

I still like C&D. They always seem to get the best performance testing numbers of all the auto media. It's the only magazine subscription over the years I have kept up with annually as it's been a part of my life since I was a kid.

[heavyD^2]

I lol'd at the Nissan Rogue comments;

The Rogue is no longer a complete mess, but the competition is still better.

[No Boost]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

They always seem to get the best performance testing numbers of all the auto media.

As far as I know, they are the only ones who level the playing field by standardizing measures such as ambient temps, humidity, altitude density, etc. For this reason, we can compare performance numbers from multiple vehicles and know which one is actually 0.2s faster in a speed test.

I remember Motor Trend testing the '16 M2 and they got a 107 mph trap in the 1/4. As an owner, I was really butt hurt .

[Darth One]

In fairness, there's not many new-for-2020 BMW's that meet the criteria. I'd have strongly considered the M2 CS but that's it.

[chassis]

Two Porsches and a VW. VAG must be doing a few things right these days.

No BMW, only a little surprising. Nothing that warrants a "wow" from BMW since the G01 launch

No MB, not surprising. MB appears to many to have lost their way.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by chassis

Two Porsches and a VW. VAG must be doing a few things right these days.

No BMW, only a little surprising. Nothing that warrants a "wow" from BMW since the G01 launch

No MB, not surprising. MB appears to many to have lost their way.

It's all obviously quite subjective. The E class and Defender win Motortrend's Car and SUV of the Year Awards respectively, but neither cracks Car and Driver's Top 10.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by nick3753

It's all obviously quite subjective. The E class and Defender win Motortrend's Car and SUV of the Year Awards respectively, but neither cracks Car and Driver's Top 10.

Subjective, yes indeed. Advertising spend helps in this regard.

The E-Class four cylinder has seen piston failures. This is a growing trend of vehicles nearing or just past warranty mileage. The latest 48V eco start-stop system is not liked by many owners.

Do the Car of the Year, and Top 10 awards to go vehicles that have been sanitized by carmakers of typical factory defects? Do the rankings exclude reliability issues after delivery? If yes to either or both questions, I can understand the rankings.

[Germanauto]

If their price cutoff was higher then Porsche would've swept the field with the 911 and Taycan.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, even the Porsche Macan is more fun to drive than the 3-series nowadays. I really thought the G20 would return to C&D's 10 Best, that's too bad. BMW makes a lot of good "cars," but the only ones remaining that stand out to me as being good "BMWs" are the M2 and X3M.

On a side note has anybody noticed how ever since the 3-series dropped off their list, C&D has been unable to find a sport sedan to place on their list consistently? I think the Giulia made the list at some point and the G70 did once as well, but otherwise nothing has been able to replace the admiration they had for those old 3ers.