Autocar has been giving cars comprehensive road tests since 1928. Our first ever test was done for the Austin Seven, then the best-selling car in the US. Since then we’ve tested thousands of cars, and we give each one an overall score out of five. We very rarely give cars full marks – usually just one or two a year at most.
In this story we’ve gathered together all the cars that we have given the full five stars to in the past 10 years – just 21 cars made it. Join us, then, for a look at the best cars of the past decade – we include the date of publication for the test too:
In alphabetical order, the A110 is one of the top-rated cars. In our test of this car, we concluded that every significant component part of the A110’s driving experience – from the rasping turbocharged torque of its engine to the hilariously immersive poise and panache of its handling – was intoxicating. Moreover, it was ready to deliver its own fresh brand of fun pretty much whenever, wherever and however you might want. It brought to life journeys and roads that rivals wouldn’t; and yet its handling for which your affection can only grow as you explored it more closely.
You won’t find too many mechanical ingredients or areas you could call genuinely exceptional. But put them all together and we couldn’t help but conclude that the A110 was and is a much, much greater car – and achievement - than the sum of its parts would suggest. Rarely does a car come along so devoted to driver involvement, and so singularly effective at it, even among sports cars.
View Price on AmazonThe A110 is quick, agile, effusive and ultimately enormous, accessible fun. Their desirability and rareness seems to help them retain their value – you won’t get a used one today for less than $42,000.
Having played the renegade on the ultra-lightweight sports car scene for so long, the Ariel Atom became a key part of the establishment it once sought to disrupt. Such progression doesn’t happen by chance; and this car is so typical of how cleverly its maker has developed it over the years to retain what makes it so special.
In a visual sense, the Atom remains an appealing car to anyone who likes the idea of being able to see their car working. It’s also so deliciously simple that it makes modern ideas of perceived quality and more meaningful built-in quality one and the same consideration.
A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has boosted the car’s usability as well as its roll-on performance with little entailed compromise, while Ariel’s other chassis and suspension tweaks have proven well worth making. The Atom retains so absorbing a dynamic character that it can be enormous fun on both road and track, when so many of its close rivals simply can’t do both.
They are very rare, but occasionally come up for sale for around $78,000.
Source: autocar.co.uk
