2002 Editors' Most Wanted Awards

Readers often ask us: What is the "best" car or truck? Our Editors' Most Wanted list is a compilation of our editors' 30 favorite models in a variety of vehicle classes. Find out what the Edmunds' editors would choose if they were spending their own money.

Why We Began the Editors' Most Wanted List

• Our staff members get the same question over and over: What's the "best" car or truck?
• There isn't a single "best" car or truck that will meet everyone's needs.
• When somebody asks us what the "best" of the crop is, we respond by quizzing the inquiring mind about his needs and wants in a vehicle.
• Still, readers want to know which cars and trucks we'd buy given the resources.

How We Selected the Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles

• Our editorial staff gathered to hash over the roster of 2002 models.
• We picked our 30 favorites in a variety of vehicle classes. Unlike last year, where price was not a factor in our choices, this year, in order to give all vehicles a fair shot, we used the $30,000 mark as a dividing line between categories. (Since $30,000 is the point between high- and low-end cars.) Also, we have four categories of $20,000 or under, in order to give lower-priced economy cars a chance to make the list. It should also be noted that no cars over $55,000 were eligible.
The result of our voting is a list of cars and trucks we'd want in our own garages.
• Only 2002 models were eligible and, with the exception of the Exotics category, at least one member of our editorial team had to have driven the vehicle prior to our voting deadline of October 1, 2001.
• Nominations were accepted, and votes were counted. Majority rule determined the winner.