Our nine Beloved Cars Built in the United States

Car News

Independence Day is just around the corner — and since cars are always on our minds here at Autotrader, we couldn’t help but consider the holiday from an automotive perspective. Specifically, we commenced asking one another to choose our beloved cars that are built in the United States — and a fresh list was born. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of our choices. Nine staffers were each tasked with choosing their beloved American-made car — and here’s what they picked.

Plant: Claycomo, Missouri

An American classic: the Ford F-150. It’s one of the best-selling vehicles in America and the most-searched car on Autotrader for a reason. The clean, boxy lines on the exterior make it effortless to spot in any lineup, and the interior is amazingly spacious, with SUV-like room in the back seat of the extended cab. Technology in the cockpit is “like a space ship” if you ask my Pop and effortless to navigate if you ask me. Not to mention it happens to be a family beloved — both my hubby and Dad presently drive black F-150s that have proven their capability to tow boats, uproot trees and lull babies to sleep.

KARL BRAUER, Executive Publisher

Plant: Bowling Green, Kentucky

America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette, has been assembled in the U.S. since 1953. The very first version had a 6-cylinder engine, but by one thousand nine hundred fifty five the Corvette was powered by a V8, which it still features today. As an alternative to more expensive European sports cars, the Corvette always suggested excellent value, tho’ interior quality and seat convenience weren’t its strong suits for much of that history. The current 7th-generation Corvette has addressed these issues and now offers a finish, fault-free high-performance practice at a fraction of the cost of equivalent European exotics. Rumors about a midengine Corvette persist, and a latest, sizable investment in the Bowling Green facility suggests the next Corvette could indeed be an entirely fresh design. The best part of the Bowling Green plant? Diehard fans can tour the facility and even take deliveries there.

BEN CHENEY, Automotive Data Manager

Plant: Marysville, Ohio

Truly designed for the U.S. market, the Honda Accord resumes to be my dearest choice in the midsize sedan segment. It is also unique in that you have so many configuration choices. You can have an Accord as a coupe or sedan, with a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder or even a hybrid engine, and it still offers both automatic and manual transmission choices. My dearest configuration is the V6 coupe with the manual transmission — the ultimate sleeper.

DWIGHT CUNNINGHAM, Sr. Automotive Data Specialist

Plant: Orion, Michigan

As a big believer that electrical vehicles will be a large part of the future, it’s good to have a true electrical vehicle produced by the big American three. The Chevy Bolt is a true game changer in the electric-car market. It’s not only a vehicle that can go 200+ miles on unspoiled electrical, but it’s actually a vehicle you’ll love driving. The interior is very spacious and comfy and doesn’t look like it’s from an electrified vehicle. The Bolt’s also a vehicle you can purchase for under $40,000, especially when the average vehicle price is around $34,000 today. Once you drive it, you’ll love it — and it’s built in Michigan.

DOUG DEMURO, Editor, Autotrader Oversteer

Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

Plant: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Since the Raptor is already taken (see below; it’s the correct reaction to this question), I’ll have to choose a different vehicle. And that vehicle is the Mercedes-AMG GLS sixty three — a 7-seater SUV with a 577-horsepower V8 stuck under the bondage mask. This SUV ticks all my boxes. It’s car-enthusiast cool, since they’ve shoved almost six hundred hp into a family hauler, which is ridiculous by any standards (but very arousing). It’s ultra-rare, which gives it meaty street cred compared to the standard GLS. It’s remarkably subtle for an AMG car. And it can carry around the entire family — and send them from zero to sixty in Four.7 seconds.

TOMMY FLANAGAN, Automotive Data Specialist

The Chevrolet Camaro gets my pick for dearest U.S.-built car. I’ve possessed a 1968, a one thousand nine hundred ninety seven 30 th Anniversary Edition and a two thousand twelve SS and loved every one of them. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when firing up the V8 and hearing the harass growl! The current sixth generation is the best yet, and the upcoming ZL1 1LE is the flawless antidote to the Shelby GT350. Few things in life are as joy as getting behind the wheel of a V8-powered Camaro and hitting the open road. Thanks for the memories!

BRIAN MOODY, Executive Editor

Plant: Arlington, Texas

My beloved car built in the U.S. is the Chevrolet Tahoe. If this car was a person, It would be effortless to convict me of stalking. I read about it, look up used Tahoes, price fresh versions, compare trim levels and generally find any excuse to be in one or drive one. It’s like the world’s flawless car — it does everything. Off-roading, family hauler, towing, cargo van duties, third row, joy to dive, good-looking, retains its value, convenient, good modern tech . Has. It. All. And they last. Look on Autotrader and you can see both fresh and used Tahoes: The used ones have 200,000+ miles and almost no problems. The one bummer is they’re expensive. A fresh Tahoe LTZ (the one I’d want) can be $70,000.

ROB NESTORA, Content Producer

Ford F-150 Raptor

Plant: Dearborn, Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri

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