10 Cars You May have Forgotten About

2016 Volvo S60 ・ Photo by Volvo

To create a shopping list for today’s automotive marketplace is no easy task, and with literally hundreds of nameplates from which to choose, there are likely going to be some cars you may have forgotten about. Just consider this roster of the unremembered, each guaranteed to be greeted with a “Oh, they still make those?”

10) 2016 Volkswagen CC

Remember when Volkswagen wanted to be a premium brand and introduced cars like the ultra-lux Phaeton and CC “four-door coupe”? Well, while the company pulled the former from this country nearly a decade ago, the 2016 Volkswagen CC remains at dealerships and was, in fact, updated for the new model year with a new infotainment system. The standard setup includes a 6.3-inch touchscreen—that doubles as a standard rearview-camera display—along with a USB port and VW’s Car-Net App-Connect technology. Further, like a lot of cars that you may have forgotten about, the CC provides a pricing bonus to help jog your memory: In this case, it’s a cost reduction of $1,425, thanks to the debut of the new CC 2.0T Trend trim. And keep in mind that the turbocharged Trend edition nonetheless boasts standard goodies like 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats and a leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel.

Photo by Volkswagen of America

9) 2016 Honda CR-Z

For a brand that’s as popular as Honda, there are a surprising number of cars you may have forgotten about at its dealerships. Not only is the 2015 Crosstour—the lifted Accord/crossover/wagon—still on sale, but so is the 2014 Insight hybrid, at least in some locations. However, it’s the 2016 Honda CR-Z “sport-hybrid” that will make the transition to a new model year, and it even receives some mild updates along the way—according to the automaker’s home-country media sources. Per Honda’s Japanese website, the 2016 CR-Z will show a revised, more aerodynamic styling outside, along with LED headlights and turn-signal indicators. Then, it will deliver sharper driving dynamics backed by upgraded suspension and braking performance. Now, the 2016 CR-Z isn’t expected to actually go any faster than the previous one, but it will have an engine-noise amplifier and enhancer so it sounds faster, and it will continue to offer a manual transmission, too.

Photo by Honda

8) 2016 Lincoln MKT

Matthew McConaughey himself may have trouble saving the Lincoln brand’s big three-row crossover. The issue here: a polarizing design that leaves many observers cold. Yet customers who can clear that hurdle will find the 2016 Lincoln MKT to be a versatile people hauler with room for either seven occupants or more than 75 cubic feet of cargo space. Additionally, the MKT serves up an available EcoBoost engine and a fair amount of premium features, ranging from a 700-watt, 14-speaker THX II audio system to Sync with MyLincoln touch to a suspension that furnishes continuously controlled damping. Of course, truth be told, despite the large Lincoln offering these advantages, you could easily be forgiven for lumping this large Lincoln among the cars that you didn’t know were still on sale. That’s because the MKT primarily serves as a fleet vehicle these days, leveraging its benefits for the livery market.

Photo by Lincoln

7) 2016 Volvo S60

It may be hard to recollect, but there was a time when it seemed as if a sexy new Volvo sedan would herald a breaking dawn for the brand. Unfortunately, after its star turn in the unforgettable “Twilight” saga, Team Edward’s car of choice has become one of those cars you may have forgotten about. Yet the current edition, the 2016 Volvo S60, has much for drivers to sink their teeth into, highlighted by the premiere of a range-topping Inscription model. Designed for an executive-class rear-seat experience, the S60 Inscription relies on a stretched wheelbase to supply an extra three inches of rear-seat legroom, sunshades for the rear and rear-side windows, and a “silk metal” coat hanger. Along with the expected portfolio of safety features, the S60 roster also welcomes two Drive-E powertrains for 2016, one combining 240 horsepower and 37 mpg highway and the other good for 305 horses and 35 mpg.

Photo by Volvo Cars

6) 2016 Scion FR-S

Then there was the time Scion launched a dedicated rear-wheel-drive sports car with an affordable price tag and exotic good looks. True, it was only a few years ago, but there’s a good chance the 2016 Scion FR-S is one of those cars you may have forgotten about already, especially if you’re not an enthusiast. Even those shoppers, though, haven’t exactly been enthusiastic about the FR-S, and the car’s sales were down significantly for the 2015 model year. On the other hand, the brand does deliver some new touches for the 2016 FR-S, with the most noticeable being a new standard display audio system and rearview camera setup. New on the menu as well are bright silver accents in the cabin, to create a more sophisticated driving environment, and two more exterior colors: Ablaze Red and Oceanic Blue. The FR-S closes the deal with 200 horsepower in the engine bay.

Photo by Scion

5) 2016 Subaru Legacy

You know what else contributes to the list of cars you may have forgotten about? The fact that there’s so much focus today on SUVs and pickups. For example, did you remember that Subaru—well known for its hot-selling crossovers like the Forester and Outback—also offers a mainstream midsize sedan? It’s the 2016 Subaru Legacy, and to be clear, it does provide the non-mainstream advantage of symmetrical all-wheel drive, just like its more rugged brand-mates. Moreover, it serves up that signature Subaru technology with a competitive MSRP of $21,745 and standard EPA ratings of 26 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg combined. The Legacy also exemplifies the brand’s burgeoning reputation for safety: The 2016 model has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA—with 5 stars in all tests—and while the latest Legacy hasn’t been tested by the IIHS as of this writing, the 2015 edition garnered Top Safety Pick+ recognition.

Photo by Subaru Media

4) 2016 Ford C-Max

A victim of lower gas prices—and a bit of a kerfuffle over its original fuel-economy marks—the 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid touts EPA ratings of 42 mpg city/37 mpg highway/40 mpg combined, but distinguishes itself from similarly powertrained vehicles with a relatively spacious cargo hold. Thus, when the vehicle’s rear seats are folded, owners enjoy 52.6 cubic feet of storage space. The C-Max also tries to set itself apart from other cars you may have forgotten about by introducing some of the Blue Oval’s popular convenience technologies, including a hands-free, power-opening rear liftgate and an updated iteration of Ford’s SYNC communications and entertainment system. The new SYNC 3 technology delivers faster and more accurate performance, along with enhanced voice-recognition capability, a smartphone-style touchscreen and, on that screen, a simplified user interface. Nor should green customers forget about the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, which adds a 19-mile all-electric driving range.

Photo by Ford

3) 2016 Cadillac XTS

For the core Cadillac car lineup, it’s a case of “one of these things is not like the other”: You’ve got three high-tech, performance-proud rear-wheel-drive sports sedans in the ATS, CTS and upcoming CT6 flagship, and then, among the cars you may have forgotten about, is the full-size, front-wheel-drive 2016 Cadillac XTS. The XTS certainly brings an imposing presence to the table, with a particularly detailed exterior lighting package that features LED spot-light and light-pipe accents. Likewise, the cabin exudes luxury, with real wood trim, two choices of rich leather, and Platinum front-row seating that showcases 22-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functionality. As for technology, again, the XTS has plenty, starting with 4G LTE connectivity and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, but also encompassing the Cadillac CUE infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, and a full range of driver-assistance measures. Capping it all off, the XTS is priced slightly less than the smaller CTS.

Photo by General Motors

2) 2016 Nissan 370Z

If you’re an enthusiast whose memories go back to the 1970s, you likely recall the Datsun 240Z as a world-wide sports car icon. Yet some parts of the world have probably forgotten that that car’s spiritual successor is alive and kicking right now, at local Nissan dealerships. In fact, the 2016 Nissan 370Z, despite being one of those vehicles you may not remember, carries on the Z car’s tradition of performance with notable aplomb—and with the help of a 332-horsepower V6 engine, a four-wheel independent suspension, and the driver’s choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. The automaker additionally enables two ways of fine-tuning the driving experience to better meet owner preferences. Folks who like it faster can opt for the 370Z NISMO, upgraded all-around by the brand’s in-house performance-engineering team, and convertible customers can select the 370Z Roadster, with an easy-to-open fabric top.

Photo by Nissan USA

1) 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer is a lot like some of the other cars you may have forgotten about, in that it’s a low-volume choice that’s been outshadowed by both the rise of crossovers and SUVs in general, and some attractive new choices in the Mitsu lineup in particular. That said, the Lancer also joins the ranks of the refreshed for the 2016 model year, which should help it gain some amount of extra attention. After all, it gains new style cues for a more modernized appearance, and the brand boasts that the base ES model will supply more standard equipment than any previous entry-level Lancer, including Fuse hands-free technology, automatic climate control with rear-seat heat ducts, LED daytime running lights, a 140-watt four-speaker audio system, fog lights and alloy wheels. Sadly, the performance-oriented Lancer Evolution has been cut from the roster, although the automaker will offer a limited run of 2015 Final Editions.

Photo by Mitsubishi Motors North America