Only soothsayers and fools would venture to predict which cars will be hot sellers or otherwise stand out in 2017 – but that won’t stop us from trying. Many feel that the next year could see an overall decrease in sales, though that is hardly an outrageous prediction given the cyclical nature of the automotive market. After several years of steady growth, a pause in the trend would not be a surprise.
In my list, I’ve included a number of cars that, while not particularly spectacular, should make an impact on the market in general, or at least in their specific segment. You’ll also notice there are a few models included that have been hotly awaited in North America, sometimes for years.
My trusted crystal ball dusted off and in hand, I hereby jump merrily into the predictions racket. I fully expect to be correct in some cases while doing a face-plant in others. Here is my choice of a dozen vehicles that should mark 2017 in one way or another, presented in alphabetical order.
Chevrolet Equinox
You might tell me that this SUV is not especially impressive, that the tweaking of its esthetics this year is relatively modest, and that it could well have been left off the list of 10 most notable vehicles in 2017. You’d be right all down the line, except for one thing not mentioned: the addition of a diesel engine, available for the first time in this category.
Even Volkswagen, in its diesel heyday, never offered that option in our market for its Tiguan. This 1.6L 4-cylinder produces 136 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque. Mazda has stated it plans on producing a version of its CX-5 with a diesel engine as an option, but the fact is Chevrolet’s Equinox represents a first for a North American manufacturer. It would not be surprising to see some of the company’s domestic competitors follow its lead. A diesel-engine equipped Ford Escape, for example, would be an interesting proposition…
