Still in 2024 too many continue to underestimate how great some American cars are, flogging out-of-date stereotypes about low quality, poor engineering, bad handling and so on. The truth of the matter is very different, however. Many American cars actually put up quite the challenge to their european rivals. From the latest Corvette Z06, which is as thrilling a supercar as we've seen in the past few years, to the Ford F-150 Lightning, which is a great mix of old- and new-school, here are our picks of the best American cars to buy.
The 8 best American cars to buy in 2024
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1. Ford Bronco Raptor
It's been a few years now but nothing is quite as cool, or as American, as the reborn Bronco, which combines all the Raptor’s off-road attitude with a dose of retro style and a teasing ‘what if’ for what Land Rover might have done with the new Defender had Waitrose car park acceptability not featured so high in its priorities. With the usability for the Monday to Friday commute but the off-road cred and ability to shed doors and roof for weekend fun, the Bronco Raptor and indeed the normal Bronco are MAGA done right. But, sadly, not headed for these shores in an official capacity.
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2. Jeep Avenger
Quite unlike many cars on this list, the Jeep Avenger is very much a Europe-centric vehicle. Built on Stellantis-based underpinnings but with that rugged Jeep style, the Avenger is a trendy, appealing small EV crossover that should prove more interesting to many than fairly generic choices from Hyundai, Kia and Volvo. It's well-equipped, surprisingly well made and a nice little car in which to spend time.
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3. Hennessey Performance Venom F5
As the famous, state-wide anti-littering campaign once had it, “Don’t mess with Texas”, a philosophy adapted into the world of tuning by local speed merchants Hennessey. In a land where excess of all kinds is celebrated Hennessey has long pushed the boundaries of horsepower by levering supercharged V8s of increasing awesomeness into a variety of machinery. Indeed, the original Venom was based on the Lotus Elise, albeit with around 10 times the horsepower. The latest Venom F5 packs a 1,817PS (1,336kW), 6.6-litre V8 and is aiming to blow Bugatti out of the water with a top speed the far side of 300mph. The differences in mindset between Texan hot-rodders and European hypercar royalty couldn’t be more stark but the need for speed is just as strong.
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4. Lucid Air
Imagine a gang of dissodants at Tesla that aren't happy with how some things are done. Imagine then that they left and set up their own company, to create a car of their own to rival and beat Tesla. That company is Lucid and that car is the Air. So well-resolved and so acclaimed is this product that's come from seemingly nowhere, that big names like Aston Martin have bought into the company, to partner on EV tech. A ringing endorsement for the company, that makes this great-looking luxury electric car.
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5. Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Fear not though, the new Mustang Dark Horse should have attitude enough to make you forget all about the plug-in horse. A hopped-up 480PS (353kW) V8, a six-speed manual, a torque-sensing limited-slip diff, a braced chassis and suspension and sticky rubber makes for what is by far the most hardcore naturally-aspirated Mustang since the GT350R. The difference? The Dark Horse can be yours, with the car now on sale in the UK.
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6. Tesla Model 3 'highland'
Love 'em or lump 'em, Tesla is a huge distruptor and innovator in motoring and if you pick the right one, they're really quite good cars. Strangely for a company that prides itself on doing weird stuff, it's the most 'normal' ones that are the best. Take its three-box Model 3 saloon. Competent to drive, efficient, well-supported with over the air updates and laden with cool features, they're a perfectly viable small exec for many. Now, in 2024, it's been updated, with more range, performance and a more handsome – if more generic – face. A fine car that shouldn't be dismissed out of sheer brand hatred.
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7. Jeep Wrangler
While British off-roaders battle over the few remaining miles of green lane still open to 4x4s over in America there is the space to really enjoy such things, there being state-run ‘Vehicular Recreation Areas’ where off-roaders on two wheels and four can let rip without fear of any finger-wagging ramblers. Little wonder American carmakers are ready to cater to this demand, the new Jeep Wrangler still trading on its wartime roots and tough image but recently brought bang up to date with the latest 392 Rubicon. While you can buy the Wrangler here you’ll have to cope with half the cylinder count and the choice of a 272PS (200kW) petrol or rattly old diesel while the Americans get to enjoy a 470PS (346kW), 6.4-litre V8 and the terrain to properly exploit it.
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8. Corvette Z06
'Affordable' and 'heavily inspired by the Ferrari 458 Italia' shouldn't be compatible statements but that's what the new Z06 is, relatively speaking of course. For the price of a 911 GT3 you can have a 670PS (492kW) 5.5-litre, twin-cam, flat-plain-cranked supercar that screams like the old guard and gives a GT3 a run for its money, both in performance and thrills. This is the definition of an American car sticking it to the European stalwarts. And praise be, it's available in right-hand drive! Just make sure you swap out the Euro-spec exhaust for the shoutier less restrictive and prettier American item.
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