5 of the Most Overlooked Cars of the 2010s – Jalopnik

It can be difficult to define a car as overlooked or underrated. The problem is that virtually every car on the planet has its own dedicated following of enthusiasts, no matter how small that following may be. For them, that model could never be seen as overlooked.

It’s easier to point out cars that aren’t overlooked because they tend to be extremely popular. Examples include the best-selling Toyota RAV4 and Tesla Model Y, or the groundbreaking Nissan GT-R, plus just about anything with a prancing horse on the front. That’s why for this article we’ve highlighted cars that are less obvious for their segment. And for variety we have chosen cars from different segments.

The truth is that overlooked cars are generally overlooked for a reason. They may lack power, be cheaply made, or be behind the times even at launch. While these types of factors detract from the appeal of a new car, it usually means it’s eminently affordable down the road. This is especially true for these 2010s models as most of their depreciation takes place. They also have the right amount of comfort, making them ideal for everyday driving, even in the next decade or so. So, in no particular order, here are our top five overlooked cars from the 2010s.

The They were the new car of the stereotypical old person. But by the 2010s, this approach wasn’t helping Cadillac’s bottom line, so the American automaker made some changes.

A new wave of smart and stylish Cadillac SUVs arrived on the scene, alongside high-performance models like the CTS-V wagon, which is still worth a fortune today. Models like these did a great job of turning Cadillac’s outdated image on its head, but there was another one: the XTS. This was a luxury sedan with V6 power, front-wheel drive, understated styling and a cabin furnished with lots of real wood and leather, available in every shade of beige, cream and brown you could wish for.

In other words, the Prices were generally between $50,000 and $70,000, putting the XTS directly in the firing line of sporty German brands. Sales were nothing to write home about, and the XTS more or less disappeared at the end of the decade. Today, however, she is a lovely ship to cruise around in, and because she has been largely forgotten, prices have fallen; you can buy a smart one in 2025 for around $10,000.

Full-size pickup trucks are as popular in the US as a cheeseburger and fries, so it can be shocking to see one appear on a list of overlooked models. The Nissan Titan At the same time, big names like the F-150, Silverado and Ram trucks were constantly evolving, pushing the Titan XD into the grave with every update and improvement.

Just look at the residual values: AutoEdge says that after just five years on the road, a Titan XD retains just 36% of its original purchase price. It was old-fashioned from the start, as it powered a naturally aspirated V8 engine while its competitors boasted efficient, boosted V6 engines, and it didn’t have the advantage of wearing a big American name on the front. It was undoubtedly doomed from the start, which is why we feel it joins this list of overlooked models despite being in one of the most competitive segments on the market.

Hot hatchbacks are generally very underrated in today’s automotive landscape. Performance SUVs offer loads of speed and loads of space, and the world has adopted this segment as the standard, making the hot hatch an underdog for drivers who still want a little something from their daily commute.

Still, some hot hatchbacks continue to turn heads, such as the revered GR Corolla, and the evergreen Golf GTI and R. The Ford Focus ST, however, tends to fly under the radar. America received the third-generation model, which draws motivation from a beefed-up inline-four and sends power to the front wheels through a smooth six-speed manual transmission. It’s good old Blue Oval fun, and with the recently announced demise of the Focus, there’s probably no better time than now to revisit the iconic hatchback in one of its most compelling guises.

Sure, an RS is faster, but it’s also a lot more “look at me”, and it costs a lot more, too. While a 2017 RS will still cost you around $20,000 (depending on your location), Kelley Blue Book estimates that a 2015 model year smart ST can easily be had for less than $10,000. That’s Corolla money used for 252 horsepower, Recaro bucket seats and an infinite number of smiles per mile.

Just because SUVs are flooding every road in America doesn’t mean you can’t still stand out from the crowd with an overlooked model. For some reason the Touareg fits this bill perfectly, and while some cars deserve to be overlooked, this capable Volkswagen really doesn’t. It uses the same underpinnings as the much more expensive and highly rated Audi Q7, and while it doesn’t have the same high-quality materials inside or impressive presence outside, it’s still a capable option. In 2025, a smart 2015 model year Touareg will be available for just $11,067, which also makes it incredibly affordable.

The Volkswagen offers all-wheel drive, enough space inside for five adults, up to 64 cubic feet of cargo space, German reliability (yes, European cars are more maintenance-intensive, but that doesn’t equate to poor reliability), and some desirable creature comforts, too. Think of a heated steering wheel, navigation, adaptive cruise control and a treat with air suspension.

No, it’s not an all-in-one dancing AI-powered machine like the latest and greatest efforts from today’s automakers, but is that really what anyone wants or needs? Keep your money in the bank and take a chance on that overlooked and easily forgotten Touareg, it will do everything you need it to, and it will still look good in 10 years.

There are some very obvious answers when it comes to buying a cheap and cheerful sports car in 2025, namely Mazda’s MX-5 Miata and the adjacent GR86 and BRZ offerings from Toyota and Subaru. However, there is one overlooked option that has a lot in common with the beloved Mazda, and that is the Fiat 124 Spider.

As standard, the 124 kicked out a modest 160 horses from its beefed-up inline-four, although a fiery Abarth model also became available, with an all-important 4 horsepower advantage. Power was sent via a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic transmission, and exclusively to the rear wheels. The cabin is simple, driver-focused and free from excessive distractions. All the essentials are there, like air conditioning, heated seats and a 7-inch infotainment system, but not much else.

In other words: it’s a real small sports car, solely aimed at providing a lot of fun on sunny days via your favorite back road. Convertibles and sports cars are hardly a common sight, but it’s always nice to choose something different. The Fiat is exactly that, and the great thing is: choosing it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Kelley Blue Book informs us that even top-trim examples from 2020, the last model year, are available for well over $20,000, and mid-teens cars even less. This certainly makes them worth looking at as an alternative to the more obvious choices in this sector.