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Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2004

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 2004 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 2004.

Most Significant Vehicle of the Year: Nissan Titan Forget everything you thought you knew about the full-size truck.

Sedans | Wagons | Coupes | Convertibles | Trucks | SUVs | Vans | Exotics

Sedans

Sedan Under $15,000: Mazda 3 A car this cheap has no business looking this good or performing this well.

Sedan Under $25,000: Volkswagen Passat A family sedan that thinks — and will have you convinced — it's a luxury car.

Sedan Under $35,000: BMW 3 Series The sport sedan everyone wants to be like even as it remains unlike any other.

Sedan Under $45,000: BMW 5 Series Proof that performance and technology make the best of friends.

Sedan Over $45,000: Audi A8 L A sedan whose luxury and design make it a standout among standouts.

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Wagons

Wagon Under $15,000: Scion xB Forget the youth-oriented image, anyone seeking utility and value will like it.

Wagon Under $25,000: Volkswagen Passat Perfect for the upscale family on a down-to-earth budget.

Wagon Under $35,000: Audi A4 Avant Part family hauler, part sport sedan, all beauty and grace.

Wagon Under $45,000: Audi A6 Avant It's not easy to make a wagon cool and sporty, but it is possible.

Wagon Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class A no-compromises premium family car in a class by itself.

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Coupes

Coupe Under $15,000: Honda Civic The term "value" doesn't have to mean boring.

Coupe Under $25,000: Volkswagen Golf Reminding all of us that, yes, hatchbacks can be cool!

Coupe Under $35,000: BMW 3 Series An interior and exterior that are only surpassed by its road manners.

Coupe Under $45,000: Chevrolet Corvette An exotic-car killer that leaves the college fund intact.

Coupe Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Sets a new standard for personal luxury, performance and style.

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Convertibles

Convertible Under $25,000: Mazda MX-5 Miata America's favorite roadster hasn't changed a bit…thankfully.

Convertible Under $35,000: Honda S2000 Remains an unfiltered sports car experience in an overly filtered world.

Convertible Under $45,000: BMW 3 Series The sports car for buyers who still need some real-world functionality.

Convertible Over $45,000: Mercedes-Benz SL All the thrills of top-down driving, yet all the security and coddling of a personal luxury coupe.

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Trucks

Compact Truck: Dodge Dakota Still the bully that can kick sand in all the other small trucks' faces.

Large Truck: Nissan Titan The full-size truck market just got a little bigger…and better.

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SUVs

SUV Under $25,000: Kia Sorento Rides and hauls like a midsize SUV while being priced like a compact SUV.

Midsize SUV Under $35,000: Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer The SUV that made "SUV" a household term is still as compelling as ever.

Midsize SUV Under $45,000: Volkswagen Touareg An SUV that looks as good as it drives — on-road or off.

Midsize SUV Over $45,000: Land Rover Range Rover The off-road expert is now suitable for on-road royalty.

Large SUV Under $45,000: Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Power, utility and comfort blend seamlessly in this full-size SUV.

Large SUV Over $45,000: Escalade/Escalade ESV Excels at off-road bruising and on-road cruising.

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Vans

Minivan: Toyota Sienna Combining luxury and utility to create the ultimate people mover.

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Exotics

Exotics: Aston Martin Vanquish The British supercar has returned with a Vanquish.

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How It Works

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 what cars and trucks we'd buy given the resources.

• Our editorial staff gathered to hash over the roster of 2004 models.
• We voted for our 29 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 2004 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, 2003.

When reviewing our selections, keep in mind that we're a group of men and women who 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 "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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Your Feedback

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

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