The field of Motor Authority Best Car to Buy 2024 Nominees included everything from sports cars to hand-built luxury electric cars to off-road pickups and traditional luxury cars.
The list of applicants started at almost 30 vehicles. Some cuts were easier than others, but after disagreements among our editors, we ultimately narrowed the list down to just five finalists.
We will detail each of the five finalists before the 2024 Motor Authority Best Car To Buy winner is announced on January 3, 2024. In the meantime, here’s why these vehicles didn’t make the cut.
Aston Martin DB12
The Aston Martin DB12 impresses with its power, balance and handling. It also costs more than $225,000 and is arguably a heavily updated DB11. Although the fabulous interior features an Aston Martin-developed infotainment system and premium materials, it’s still a hard sell in this competition as it’s not suitable for the track. Where is Valhalla?
2023 BMW XM
Have you watched it? Would you believe that its design is perhaps the least offensive feature of the flagship BMW M division? From its unrefined drivetrain with itchy trigger finger to its noticeable lean in corners, the XM disappointed almost everyone on the team. Trying to be everything to everyone can lead to compromises, and that’s exactly what the XM has achieved. It just doesn’t do a lot of things as well as the price suggests. The XM’s interior is its greatest strength, with premium materials and build quality. However, the sheer number of surfaces can be overwhelming, which is a good way to describe the XM as a whole. Overwhelming.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
We drove this off-road pickup from Reno to Vegas almost exclusively off-road and it performed well. With 10.7 inches of ground clearance, a 2.7-liter turbo-4 engine producing 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, front and rear locks, and excellent slider shocks, the Colorado ZR2 is one of the most off-road capable pickup truck models. Trucks that money can buy. However, it was simply overshadowed by louder, more futuristic and faster vehicles that provided a different kind of fun this year.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Only one Corvette can take part in this competition. We argued for and against the E-Ray more than any other competitor, but in the end the Z06 with its flat-plane crank LT6 V-8 propelled it into the finalist circle. The Corvette E-Ray runs and shoots with the Z06 from the factory and in almost all performance metrics. It also has the advantage of all-wheel drive thanks to the electric motor mounted on the front axle, but this is designed for better overall performance rather than efficiency. The E-Ray just didn’t dazzle us like the Z06 did with its track moves and exotic sounds.
2023 Genesis Electrified GV70
The Electrified GV70 integrates a battery and electric motors into the GV70 we know and love, making it heavier, quieter and faster. Made in the USA, the build quality is amazingly dense, with even panel spacing and a rock-solid feel. The weakest part of it Electrified GV70 is its range of 236 miles, which is exceeded by most other electric vehicles. Everyone in the editorial team loves the Electrified GV70, but no one has championed it as a finalist.
2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV
Two years after his debut GMC Hummer EV SUV Finally arrived on the road. It’s everything GM promised and looks a lot like the Hummer H2 that flaunted its excesses at the start of the millennium. Stocky and broad, it is an American bulldog. But the Hummer EV is far from leading society toward a more sustainable future, and GM appears unable to increase mass production of this beast. It’s ridiculous in both good and bad ways, and those bad aspects – inefficiency, high price, weight of the road grader – prevented it from making the final round.
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo
The last generation of the Maserati GranTurismo aims to prevent extinction with a multi-layered drive concept. The sweet-sounding V-8 is dead. Under the hood is either a V6 twin-turbo engine or an electric drivetrain. The latter delivers rapid EV acceleration on the Folgore model thanks to instant torque, while the former offers a final taste of the petrol-powered Maserati’s performance. It’s all wrapped up in a neat package, but the entire lineup feels like the automaker is taking a core sample of how its customers will respond to the future ahead.
2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE SUV
The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV can be viewed as either the smaller, sportier and better-looking brother of the more expensive EQS SUV or the larger, more practical, American-focused version of the EQE sedan. In any case, it’s a midsize luxury crossover electric vehicle at $79,050 to qualify for the federal tax credit. It is available in standard version or AMG form with up to 617 hp. It’s an attractive package with plenty of room for a family and offers a glimpse into the automaker’s future. However, it doesn’t match the electrical technology of some competitors and the range for the AMG model can be as low as 235 miles.
2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 E Performance
The S-Class remains the standard in the luxury car segment and the top of the Mercedes-Benz range. This year, the automaker pushed its plug-in hybrid AMG powertrain into the S-Class to give it a new face a breathtaking 791 hp and 1,018 lb-ft of torque. The luxury barge can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and travel about 15 miles on electricity alone, although that’s not really the point. It may be the most complex car ever built, and it combines luxury and performance quite well, but it’s expensive, not overly efficient and not as fun as our finalists.
2024 Nissan Z Nismo
The Nissan Z Nismo was launched as a more track-focused variant of the iconic nameplate. The improvements are minor but meaningful, with an additional 20 hp and 34 lb-ft of torque compared to the regular Z’s 420 hp and 394 lb-ft. It features improved engine oil cooling and revised suspension to be ready for track use. However, the only transmission option is a 9-speed automatic. The Z Nismo was actually invited as a finalist and we were excited to test it further, but the automaker declined to provide a vehicle, so it dropped out of the competition.
2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Some enthusiasts argue that the 911, despite serving as Porsche’s halo, is the 718 Cayman GT4 RS This is what makes Porsche perfection. The mid-engine design combines the best aspects of the 911 GT3 without losing the fire, fury and power of the automaker’s icon. The GT3’s 493 hp six-cylinder boxer engine is a free-revving pleasure with a displacement of 4.0 liters that screams at 9,000 rpm. At over $160,000, the GT4 RS has already increased by almost $20,000 since its launch in 2021, and it’s extremely difficult to get a car without a hefty dealer markup. For practical reasons it was shortened.
2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
The latest Porsche 911 GT3 RS has arrived quickly make faster. With incredible mechanical adjustability, motorsports technology integrated into its design and all the tricks Porsche knows how to use in a street-legal package, the latest GT3 RS is best described as a weapon in the search for the perfect lap. It’s also more than excessive for almost any mere mortal, both on the road and on the track. It starts at $225,250, and that’s if you even get on the list to get one at all, let alone one at MSRP. The latest representative of the 911 series sets new standards, but not for this competition.
2025 Volvo EX30 Electric SUV (Dual Motors, Vapor Gray)
With a base price of $36,245 and the ability to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds for $46,195, the EX30 offers an electric car bargain with premium Volvo badges. It’s also the fastest production Volvo in the automaker’s history. Yes, it’s quick, but the cost-saving interior might be a bridge too far for those who love Volvo’s immaculate interiors. From the dash-mounted soundbar to the single screen that houses all of the vehicle’s controls, the EX30 doesn’t feel like a premium product.
