Off Duty, Automotive - Marine Corps Times

Tops for 2010

The last time the car industry was on its knees, in the early 1980s, the cars were just as desperate as the times. Four-cylinder Camaros, 5-liter V-8s with less power than modern 3-liter V-6s, and economy cars whose only virtue was they didn’t suck — gas, that is.

It’s different this time around. The car business is a disaster area, but the cars themselves are probably the best they’ve ever been. We’re seeing economy cars that are actually pretty cool, performance cars that can tickle 30 miles per gallon on the highway, tricked-out hybrids and next-generation turbodiesels, and trucks that pull like Clydesdales (and ride like Cadillacs). It’s a great time to be in the market for a new ride.

Here’s a look at the new — and radically updated — models for 2010, as well as the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for each.

Hot sports cars

Fun and funky ... and under $15k

Fun and functional ... and under $20k

Biggest guns under $25k

Sport compact fury at a not-so-furious price

Hybrids that save you gas and cash

Best new full-size trucks

Family-friendly (and family-priced) cruisermobiles

Luxury rollers

Great SUVs/crossovers

DISCUSS: Cars