Every summer has its defining song, and every season has its defining cars. When I see a classic ’80’s Camaro I can smell the Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil that my friends and I constantly slathered on one summer. A convertible Audi? I can still feel the sunburn on my nose from an ill-advised summer of soaking up the sun. The liberating Toyota RAV4 that had Call Me Maybe on infinite replay. And a Jeep Grand Cherokee takes me right back to my first new mom summer of parks and beaches with the baby.
Like the song of summer, the dresses and destinations that define the season, the best cars lend a tone to the memories that come flooding back with a simple reminder.
What Are The Best Cars Of the Summer of 2024?
The past few summers haven’t been the best for new cars; post-pandemic car shopping has led more to compromise than conquest. A lot of us ended up in our second, or third, or fourth choice car. But the pendulum finally swung the other way giving us lots of lovely options and memories. From off-roading thrills to learning to go electric, here are our memory-making best cars for summer 2024.
Switch It Up Like Nintendo: BMW X2
This one makes my pulse quicken with just a single glance. The sporty coupe shape, the angular lines and muscular stance give the BMW X2 it’s charm. With a modern interior, great technology and a throaty growl, this affordable SUV will be a lasting favorite and bring back delightful memories of the day it became yours (even if it wasn’t yet summer).
Video: Here’s the X2 that took the podium at the Rebelle Rally!
Too Bad Your Ex Don’t Do it For Ya: Ford Ranger Raptor
To all the trucks we’ve loved before, thank you. To the trucks in our future, we can’t wait. They keep getting better and better by the year, with more off-road mastery, more comforts, more livability, more thrills. If you’re over your old truck, or ready to try out a truck for the first time, the Ford Ranger Raptor is a great place to start.
Walked In and Dream-Came-True’d-It For Ya: Audi Q4 e-tron
Sweetly filled with luxury. Delightfully fast. Calmingly quiet. Easy to plug in and charge at home, no gas station stops required. An interior that complements every day and every season, especially summer. An exterior that looks good all year, but best in summer. The Audi Q4 e-tron, one of the best cars of the year, is a compact sport back all-electric SUV that left me feeling chic, elegant and my life elevated. And ready to crush summer.
That Morning Coffee Brewed It For Ya: Acura Integra Type S
Is there anything more memorable than living your empowerment every day, mastering the road and the car? That’s the feeling that the Acura Integra Type S leaves you with. This compact 4-door sports car combines a premium feel with luxury features and a sporty drive experience, which can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission. We’re so glad Acura brought this one back. A luxury 5 passenger sports car with a stick shift is a unicorn that’ll fuel you all day long.
Video: Acura Integra first drive—on the track!
Isn’t That Sweet: Toyota Prius
This year the Toyota Prius went from a solidly good ride to a truly sweet one: Toyota has improved every facet of this jewel, giving it its sexiest exterior ever, one that surprised everyone, critics and fans alike. Inside its filled with more tech and conveniences and still delivers that sweet hyper MPG and if you’d like, all electric driving. Anyone who bought this car recently is surely having a summer to remember.
Can’t Relate to Desperation: Lexus GX
If you’re over it, if you’ve moved on and won’t settle for less than you need, this is the one for you. And it’s sure to deliver memories galore. The redesgined (finally!) Lexus GX SUV is one of the best cars on the road and has it all: A modern look and feel, upgraded technology and in the Overtrail edition, all the off-road chops you need to shut out the rest of the world, on the road or off.
This One Will Mountain Dew it For Ya: Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
Mmmm. Just. Mmmm. That’s what’s stirred up when you think about your first Mustang. But rather than the bare-bones antique with stiff seats and patinaed chrome, this one is silently thrilling in its instant power, sporty in its styling and has true room for 4 or 5, so your friends can share the memory making comfortably rather than cramped. The Mustang Mach-E Rally edition adds more features and go-anywhere capability for summer and beyond.
Video: We took the Mustang Mach-E Rally off road. Yes, you read that right.
After the heat is faded and we’re into Fall routines, the song of Summer instantly sparks those feelings again, the adrenaline, the laughter, the people and things that brought so much delight. Shouldn’t your car do the same for you?
