Nissan

It takes a realistic optimist to be enthusiastic about vehicles in 2009. A realistic optimist looks at 2009 as the basis for a meaner, leaner decade, shaped by some sense of purpose. And purpose is surely what’s been lacking in the credit-driven capitalistic society. It’s an old trend with a new name: maturialism.

The reality is that 2009 was full of painful and complex issues that played out in the car business — the demise of the Detroit way, the deflation of sizzle in the super-luxury fantasy world, the further spiral of vehicles as banal, utilitarian means of transportation, and the omnipresent melting polar ice caps. But, there are some optimistic aspects of the moment. People managed to make cars happen, cars that have been in the works long before the bubble burst, and in this forward movement are beacons of hope — yes, hope, for a way that dictates a new approach for a new century, with research dollars devoted to looking at four wheels with fresh perspective

So without further adieu, Gotryke’s maturialist and guilty pleasures for 2009:

1. Ford Fusion Hybrid
The great Ford hope that betters the Toyota Camry Hybrid’s city mileage with 41 m.p.g. floss. The Fusion is a metaphor for everything that’s gone right with Ford lately — it’s attractive, it has a conscious and it’s mindfully made for the average new car buyer.

2. Audi S4
When the S4 landed in my universe, we had the aha! feeling that’s been missing lately in test driving. The beauty of driving expensive, extraordinarily crafted, svelte new cars. And then we drove S4. 333-horsepower supercharged V-6, clocking in with 26 mpg.

3. Volvo XC60
Volvo continues to invent modern day safety and will carry the torch for clean Scandinavian car design. As parents, we can’t deny them. Everyone else step in line behind the holistic approach to driving.

4. Land Rover LR4
What is your favorite SU…. Land Rover. Always. Land Rover knows the thick of the luxe SUV business — combining driving prowess with thorough cabin design and the pedigree that makes any mountain man feel right at home. In a future with less SUVs, only the strong survive.

5. Toyota Prius
Toyota invented the hybrid game, and they own it with the most iconic hybrid shape, and a few additional highlights.

6. Nissan Cube
When we climbed into the Cube with three adults and one baby, we didn’t expect to find unanimous love for the white box, but that’s exactly what happened. The interior created an eccentric ambiance that made our journey more fun, and redefine the geometrical car battles.

7. Jaguar XFR

The XFR vehicle restored our faith in Jaguar as a true contender in the sly sports car segment. It was a head turner and a stand out and a ridiculous performer — and we want to go back.

8. Porsche Panamera
Think of it this way — the 911 DNA, with the practicality of a sedan — ideal for a long Autobahn trip or picking up friends for a night of flossing. The design proportions of Panamera are different. And we need our design envelope stretched. We all know Porsche makes fast cars, but after the success of the Cayenne its interesting to see how they move forward in the future.

9. BMW 750LI
We can’t help ourselves. B stands for Bad with a capital B. Here’s what we said in the review:
When you’re the big dog, sometimes it’s hard to decipher your finer points, but living with the 750 is an exercise in appreciation for the finer elements. While it’s voluminous, it’s also sleek, a canon cocked to unleash, that is best when zipping by on the highway.

10. Dodge Ram
The fact that Chrysler could deliver a class A Dodge Ram in the midst of so much turmoil is proof in the pudding of how strong the truck biz is in Auburn Hills. And yes, we do need our trucks for towing and doing the big jobs.

They figured out how to put coil springs on a pickup. Somebody send these guys to CERN to fix the Large Hadron Collider.

Honorable Mentions:

Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro turns head. Outside of Corvette territory, it’s been sometime since Chevy has turned heads like that. While we have some quibbles about the roofline, it’s still an extreme pleasure.

Mazda 3
We drove Mazda 3 this summer. We hope Ford takes notes in it’s soon-to-be cousin Fiesta handling. I’ve long been a 3 fan, for it’s deft handling, but the grand touring five door really is the max to the minimum. Three’s good company.

Mercedes-Benz E Class
We like the elegance restored in the new E Class. We haven’t experienced it due to scheduling oversight. (The vehicle launched earlier in the year.) It’s our new year revolution to drive it.

Volkswagen Golf TDI
Yippy! It’s fun, it’s fast frugal feisty Fahrvergnügen. And also at 41 mpg on the highway. For the Wunderkind

Next Up: Why we are amped for Twenty-Ten.

Our Picks Reviewed on Gotryke:
Audi S4
Nissan Cube
Jaguar XFRDodge Ram
BMW 750li
Chevy Camaro
Land Rover LR4
Porsche Panamera
Toyota PriusVolvo XC60

More on 2009 lists:
30 Most Expensive Car Crashes of 2009: Jalopnik

10 Defining Feminist Moments

Wall Street’s 10 Greatest Lies of 2009

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