The American University’s Kogod School of Business conducts a survey each year about American-made vehicles no matter the brand. There are seven criteria used in these rankings, whereas it boils down to Canadian and American parts used and the location of the vehicle’s production. Even though the list is similar to the one from the last year, there are some important changes, and we are going to revise them all below. Now, we will focus on top 10 vehicles even though Kogod’s inclusive survey ranks every model in the US. Here are top 10 most American cars in 2017.
10. Cadillac ATS
If you are looking for a mid-size premium sedan, the Cadillac ATS is the American car for you. The carmaker offers both four- and six-cylinder engines and one of these is the impressive 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 in the ATS-V. However, the best model according to Kogod is the one with the AWD configuration.
9. Ford Taurus
Ford can be proud of this cop car in disguise because it is the company’s best-selling sedan and it is definitely a typical American vehicle. This sedan is available with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 288 horsepower, but there is also a 2.0-liter EcoBoost I4 good for 240 hp. Blue Oval still produces the Taurus SHO which is a performance version with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that is rated at 365 horsepower. FWD system is standard whereas the AWD is optional.
8. Lincoln Navigator
The vehicle that you can see here is the 2017 Navigator and not the brand-new 2018 model which is going to be released later this year. The upgraded Navigator is definitely worth the wait, but if you cannot be patient than the 2017 body-on-frame luxury SUV is the classic American car for you. There is a fierce competition in the form of Cadillac Escalade, and Ford Expedition and all three options are good. If you opt for the Lincoln, you will end up with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 good for 380 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque and the engine is connected to a six-speed automatic that sends power to the rear wheels.
7. Ford Expedition
We have mentioned the Ford Expedition as the competitor to the Lincoln Navigator, and there is no wonder why it is on this list. These two vehicles are similar with minor bodywork and interior differences, but the Expedition is more down-market than the Lincoln Navigator. Just like Lincoln, the Expedition comes with two different wheelbase lengths and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood. The powerplant is connected to the six-speed automatic and it produces 365 hp.
6. Jeep Wrangler
Interestingly enough, Jeep Wrangler is a new addition to the Kogod’s list, and according to the source, it is here due to an update to the survey’s criteria. We will explain everything. One of the criteria is about the headquarters’ location, and they award six points max for the US company. However, FCA’s headquarters is in Michigan and Italy whereas the financial branch is in London. Because of this, FCA earned three points in total.
The all-American Wrangler has been assembled in Ohio, and that hasn’t changed ever since World War II. Under its hood, the Wrangler has a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that generates 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This American classic vehicle is offered with a 4WD as standard, but there are numerous trim levels which come with different gearing, axles, and options while for the off-road enthusiasts Jeep offers Rubicon version. Some other models that you can find are two-door Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited.
5. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
First things that come to your mind when you think of the US are Apple Pie, Baseball and Chevrolet. Despite the fact that the seventh-generation Chevy Corvette is heavily influenced by the European supercars, it is a typical American vehicle. This coupe comes with a big V8 engine that sends power through the eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. There is a seven-speed manual which is built by a Mexican-owned company Tremec.
4. Ford F-150
This is a list of typical American vehicles, and it is not just Chevy which is a classic American carmaker. We have already mentioned two cars from the Blue Oval, but there is one more – the Ford F-150. This full-size pickup has a long and incredible history, and it is the only truck on this list beating the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 which are assembled in Mexico.
Furthermore, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra are also engineered and produced in the US, but their headquarters are outside the US. The F-150 is the best choice when it comes to cab, engine, bed, drivetrain, trim and additional options. This pickup will be refreshed for 2018 model, but don’t expect that it will change much because Ford has found a winning combination.
3. GMC Acadia
The 2017 GMC Acadia is a brand-new model, and there has been nothing but positive feedback so far. The new car is slightly smaller, but it has shed a significant amount of weight while it comes with a wider choice of drivetrain options and way more useful features. In addition, its design has been improved, and people start to love this model from the first time they see it.
When it comes to the engines, there is an entry-level 2.5-liter I4 good for 193 hp, but the company also offers a larger and more potent 3.5-liter V6 powerplant that delivers 310 hp. There is only one transmission choice, and that is a six-speed automatic while both FWD (standard) and AWD (optional) are available. The Acadia’s off-road abilities are improved with an addition of the All-Terrain trim which brings more rugged, twin-clutch transfer case to the mix. The GMC Acadia deserved to be on this list as a typical American vehicle.
2. Chevrolet Traverse
The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse is for those people who are not too wealthy, and it is perhaps a better solution to the more expensive, body-on-frame Suburban. The company decided not to change this model for a while, and it has been the same since 2014 – it still offers three rows of seats whereas the maximum number of passengers is eight.
The Traverse is powered by an older variant of the 3.6-liter V6 which is good for 281 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, and the power is sent to the front wheels, but AWD configuration is possible to add. The new generation is expected in 2018, and it is definitely worth the wait as it will bring much-needed upgrades in terms of aesthetics and technology. It will be interesting to see which position will the new-generation Traverse occupy on the Kogod’s list next year.
1. Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a gorgeous American car, and it doesn’t take much to see all the badges on its attractive body. Well, basically, the Buick Enclave is a better version of the Chevrolet Traverse since the two use the same architecture and are powered by the same V6 unit. The good news is that the new Enclave is going through the same changes as the 2018 Traverse and once it gets those tweaks, it will be a tremendous vehicle.
However, the 2017 Enclave is the most American-built car that is sold in the whole US. Follow us for details about the new Enclave’s official debut, but before that happens, we also need to mention that the current model has room for eight and you can tow up to 4,500 pounds with this one.
Which car is your favorite out of these 10?
