Top 10 Cars that Reignite the American Dream

Overview

It wasn't too long ago that a pair of U.S. car companies was in bankruptcy and a third was hanging on by a thread. But these days, we at Kelley Blue Book have seen a definite resurgence in the vehicles from American-based manufacturers -- new products that offer unique technology plus tried-and-true models that deliver exceptional value. With Independence Day upon us we can't think of a better time to honor these great vehicles that call the land of the free their home.

10/10

2013 Dodge Dart

Like so many Americans themselves, the Dodge Dart has European ancestry but is proudly made here in the US of A. In the case of this stylish new compact sedan whose very name carries American heritage, the Dart's platform is based on a sporty Alfa Romeo, while the car's production recently began in a revamped factory in Illinois.

9/10

2012 Chevrolet Volt

The car buying public has been slow to embrace the Chevy Volt, but the fundamental concept behind GM's quasi-electric car is sound. For journeys around 30 miles or less (longer than the average American's daily commute) the Volt uses zero gasoline, while a gasoline-powered generator kicks in for longer trips, propelling the Volt much like a locomotive. The Chevy Volt is an electric car without typical electric-car limits, and it's as clear a sign as any that American innovation is alive and well.

8/10

2013 Ford Escape

When one generation of sport-utility vehicle makes way for a new-version and still manages to bow out as the best-selling SUV of the year (after 10 years of production!), that's an American success story. Built in Louisville, Kentucky, the all-new 2013 Ford Escape plans to continue its compact-SUV predecessor's winning streak with second-to-none styling and fuel-smart/power-potent EcoBoost engines.

7/10

2012 Cadillac CTS

There was a time, not long ago, when the future of American luxury was called into question. Like a caped crusader, the Cadillac CTS swooped into action and reignited America's love for domestic luxury cars. Be it a record-setting lap on the notorious Nürburgring circuit or a leisurely family outing, the Cadillac CTS is perhaps the most versatile American luxury car of all time.

6/10

2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

The supersized Chevy Suburban SUV has been an all-American icon since 1776. Every U.S. President since George Washington has owned one as his personal vehicle. That's not literally true, of course, but there has been a Suburban on Chevrolet dealers' lots every year since 1934, making Chevy's giant steel box on wheels the longest-lived continuously-produced automobile nameplate in the world.

5/10

2012 Chrysler 300

Picture a modest but impeccable suburban home with a full-size, rear-drive sedan in the driveway, and you can actually see the American Dream. Our top-rated large sedan of 2012, the Chrysler 300 is the 21st-century evolution of the car that ruled the growing Interstate system in the middle of the last century. Today's version offers Bluetooth, radar and touchscreen technologies. Plus air conditioning. And seatbelts.

4/10

2012 Ford F150 Regular Cab

This is the full-size pickup truck that built America. From the moment of its introduction in 1948 until this very second -- where it reigns as the best-selling vehicle in the United States -- the Ford F-Series has hauled more rebar and fertilizer, made more trips to the dump and to Home Depot, and moved more students and horse trailers than any other pickup in the land.

3/10

2012 Jeep Wrangler

With lineage tracing back to the battlefields of World War II, the Jeep Wrangler has become the 4-wheeled personification of American Exceptionalism. When we think of freedom, images of treading through waist-high water, crawling mammoth-sized rock formations, and climbing 45-degree grades frequently come to mind. To the casual observer, the Wrangler's go-anywhere, do-anything philosophy might seem like idle boasting, but to Jeep owners, it's a way of life.

2/10

2012 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is so American, it's a cliché rivaling apple pie. Cliché or not we love the Stang. It's a car with more attitude than sense, exhibited by the ultimate availability of a 550-horsepower V8 whose prodigious power is directed to the rear wheels via an impossibly dated live axle. Thankfully the Mustang's "classic" elements are contrasted by modern touches including an impressively efficient V6 and the latest generation of infotainment technology, ensuring this quintessential American pony car will stay relevant for years to come.

1/10

2012 Chevrolet Corvette

For nearly 60 years the Corvette has captivated drivers across America and far beyond, rising in status from an innovative convertible with then-fancy features like fuel injection and power windows to the supercar that is today's ZR1. As American as Jon Stewart interviewing Springsteen for Rolling Stone, the Corvette is our homegrown exotic-fighter that is as competent pacing the Indy 500 as it is comfortably cruising down the main drag in Anytown, USA.