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6. Volkswagen CC
A lot of Volkswagen models are well known – the Jetta, Passat, Beetlen and Tiguan, to name a few. Yet the CC gets nary a glance from consumers. This is disappointing, since the Volkswagen CC has a lot to offer if it was just given an opportunity to show what it can do. In fact, this German engineered sedan is a perfect example of just how good a Volkswagen can be when it doesn’t try to be all things to all people. In a rush to transform itself into the German equivalent of Japan’s Toyota Motor Company, Volkswagen forgor a lot about what made its affordable range of cars so endearing. The Jetta and Passat became anonymous in design and driving manners. The Golf is still great, but Americans aren’t too fussy about hatchbacks (see the aforementioned Chevy Cruze). The CC is different. It is a vehicle that has loads of style, enough room for four adults, and that Germanic feel in its driving controls that is used to make VW products exciting and appealing to the working man, who maybe can’t afford a BMW.
5. Toyota 86 Coupe
Toyota is another car maker that has a number of popular and well regarded vehicle models to its nameplate. The 86 Coupe, however, is not one of them. And that’s a shame, as people will miss the 86 Coupe should Toyota decide to discontinue it. That’s because the 86 Coupe was developed in cooperation with Subaru, and when it first came out, it arrived as the Scion FR-S. With the Scion brand since being jettisoned, the FR-S has been brought back into the Toyota stable. Many bemoan that the flat four-cylinder engine, created by engineers at Subaru, only produces about 200 horsepower. But this sports coupe has handling that is matched only by the world’s most elite sports cars. Truth be told, the 86 Coupe is like an affordable Porsche Cayman, all the power, handling, and torque — but at half the price.
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