With the sheer number of products that we consume every year, there is a good chance that each will evolve with time. There is also a good chance that some of those evolutions won’t be as good or as beneficial as in years past.
Whether it be budget cuts, projected needs, or newly engineered technology, the evolution of the products we use will never be accurately evaluated until they are tested and used.
That is because we can see the past and can’t see the future. The best test of how a product will perform in real life is by using it in real life.
Vehicles undergo thousands of hours of development and thousands more in testing. Despite this, the best and worst of any vehicle is truly exposed during its ownership period and throughout its entire lifespan.
Most vehicles do prove to be better than their previous generations because of technological improvements, added features, and better styling. That isn’t always the case, though. And sometimes, even though a vehicle might be technically better than its predecessor, that doesn’t mean the new version is actually better.
Sometimes, much of what makes a car great are its intangible qualities that vanish over time.
Here are our picks for a few vehicles that used to better than they are now.
Nissan Pathfinder:
The Nissan Pathfinder has been one of the longstanding SUVs in America. It’s been around since 1987 and has rivaled the Toyota 4Runner, Ford Explorer, and Chevy Blazer for years. That is… until about 2005.
The first generation Pathfinder was a pretty standard, boxy, 2-door SUV until the second generation rolled around. It was then that Nissan changed the body-on-frame design to a unibody construction, added a fine dose of practicality, and equipped it with their excellent 3.3 liter V6 VG33E engine.
The second generation mid-cycle refresh gave the Pathfinder an even more refined look and an even better engine: the 3.5 liter VQ35DE V6, consistently rated as one of the best engines ever made. Additionally, the second generation Pathfinder is known to be a pretty bulletproof vehicle. You can still find many on the road today, 15 years after the last second generation Pathfinder was produced.
That’s a hard act to follow, and starting in 2005, the newly redesigned Pathfinder lost its way.
It got bigger and more practical, but it was plagued with reliability issues, including some major transmission problems. It even earned Consumer Reports’ least reliable vehicle award for several years, despite the return to its original rugged body-on-frame design.
The fourth generation Pathfinder has followed many other SUVs of today, getting lost in the crowd, and remaining just another choice for three-row SUV buyers. Reliability issues still follow the Pathfinder, especially since it comes equipped with Nissan’s CVT transmission – an unwise choice given the amount of power its engine produces.
Jeep Cherokee:
The XJ Jeep Cherokee is world renown for being one of the greatest vehicles ever made. The current generation Cherokee… is not.
The XJ had a long production run from 1984 to 2001. During that time, nearly 3 million XJ Cherokees were produced along with several trim levels and special editions.
The most well-known and dearly loved XJ Cherokees were fitted with the famous 4.0 liter “high-output” inline six cylinder engine. Known to be virtually indestructible, evidence of this can still be seen today with many XJs being for sale with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer.
Its simplicity is laughable, and as a result, it worked all the time, a trait that can’t be duplicated by the generations that follow.
The XJ was discontinued after the 2001 model year, and the Cherokee name was given a hiatus, even though the Jeep Liberty was technically the replacement vehicle. The iconic name would return for 2014 in the form of a crossover SUV with a four or six cylinder engine choice.
Demand is still high for the current Cherokee because of its capability, size, and heritage. But don’t be fooled by the nameplate. The new Cherokee may be more sophisticated and comfortable, but the XJ’s reliability, simplicity, and cult status will never again be rivaled by any modern Jeep.
It’s hard enough to compete against one of the most beloved vehicles during a generation, but it’s harder to compete with one of the most beloved vehicles in history, not to mention one of the consistently highest rated of all time.
Volkswagen Jetta:
Like most other vehicles on this list, the Jetta has been around for a while, a testament to how good the car has traditionally been.
It debuted for the 1980 year, but it is the second generation Jetta that really cemented its legacy in history. It was produced from 1984 through 1992, offered a wide variety of engines – including a turbodiesel – and proved to be incredibly reliable. Examples have been found to have well over 300,000 miles.
The third generation Jetta proved to be nearly as reliable, albeit with more features, creature comforts, and refinement. It too was a success and was widely attributed to be the reason Volkswagen didn’t pull their brand from the American market by the mid-1990s.
The fourth generation Jetta was easily recognizable as the next logical iteration of the car, but again, it came with an even greater emphasis on features and comfort. Still a zippy vehicle – a trait which was present in all Jettas to this point – it provided a perfect balance of sporty refinement with that touch of Volkswagen build quality that had always been paramount.
The fifth and sixth generation Jettas were the first ones that really lost it for the iconic model. Both still managed to be more engaging to drive than many competitors, but quality started to wane. The bulletproof reputation retained by the previous generation models was finally starting to slip.
In particular, the sixth generation Jetta was seen by most critics as a corner-cutting compact vehicle option, even though its price point was rather competitive. Many thought it had gone too far, with some going as far to call it cheap.
The newest seventh generation Jetta has arrived at dealerships with a reinvention of itself as its top priority. It hasn’t really been out long enough to make a huge impression on the public, but only time will truly tell if the Jetta name will be heightened to its former place of reverence.
BMW M3:
BMW M cars have proven to be some of the best and most iconic performance cars ever made.
The E30 was the very first M3 to come out in 1986. It only featured a four-cylinder engine but quickly proved its prowess at the race track and the rally course. Today, E30 M3s in good shape can fetch quite a price on the market.
The next generation E36 M3 has not been traditionally as revered as its predecessor and successor thus far, but it was still an M3 through and through. Produced from 1992 to 1999, the E36 M3 got an upgraded naturally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engine, a trend that has continued in several M3 models since then.
The E46 M3, produced from 2000-2006, is seen by many as the best generation M3. Again, it was powered by a straight six engine, but its horsepower output was upped to 338, shooting the E46 to a five second 0-60 time.
The E92 M3 signaled both the beginning and the end of an era. It was the first and only M3 in history to house a naturally-aspirated V8 engine – one which is possibly one of the best-sounding engines of all time. Additionally, it was the last M3 to be naturally-aspirated, an integral part of what made the M3 an M3.
The current generation F80 M3 is a good performance car. It is packed with luxury features, safety tech, and all the little things that make any BMW so special. It’s also fast, handles well, comfortable for a daily commute or road trip, and full of programmable settings for the upcoming track day.
Despite all this, most people who knew what the other M3s brought to the table agree that the newest M3 has lost what truly made historical M3s special.
Its twin turbocharged straight six engine makes the M3 fast, but it takes away some of the car’s character. All of the M3’s computer systems are great for hot lap times, but they can also make it feel too artificial.
It is the intangible qualities of the M3 that most can detect but few can truly describe which have been replaced by the need for perfection. But indeed, it is the imperfections that make a vehicle truly perfect. It might be hard to understand, believe, and embrace, but the F80 M3 is just too perfect.
Chevrolet Suburban/Tahoe:
The Chevy Suburban has been around longer than most people think. One of the longest living names in the automotive industry, the first Suburban was introduced in the mid-1930s. It wasn’t until the early 1970’s that the Suburban, as we know it, really existed.
The Tahoe didn’t make an appearance until 1992 as a shorter version of the Suburban. While the Tahoe was in its first generation, the Suburban hit its eighth. Both vehicles have been proven to withstand the test of time, with plenty of examples from this era still functioning well on the roads today.
Both offered true SUV capability, a four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive option, and of course, the space to fit a large family. It is this capability that has truly made the Suburban and Tahoe stand out and become the king of the SUVs.
They are still in extremely high demand, but they have evolved from the raw machines they once were. While it is true that they do have some remaining off-road capability from previous generations, they have become softer, more luxurious, and more family-friendly.
That is definitely not a bad thing, but with that, both the Tahoe and Suburban have become immensely more expensive and less reliable than previous generations.
Everybody can expect to pay a premium for SUVs in today’s market, especially considering how popular they are. But, there are more and more options emerging as viable alternatives to the Suburban and Tahoe at much lower price points. That’s a good thing for you and me, but it could spell trouble for Chevrolet’s two flagship SUVs.
Honda Civic:
Even those who hardly know anything about vehicles have probably still heard of the Honda Civic.
Its legacy has lived strong in the heart of American culture since its debut in the early 1970’s. Its original purpose was to combat the fuel and economic crises of the 1970’s and 1980’s by offering alternative, affordable transportation to the larger American vehicles of the time.
It did its job wonderfully, and as a result, success followed.
Changes were made year after year, ensuring that the Civic did not become stale. Performance improvements continued to be a large part of the change, but Civic versatility also met the needs of different markets as well.
By the third generation, Civic owners could choose between a four-door sedan, two-door hatchback, a five-door hatchback, and even a sporty new Civic CRX model. Four-wheel drive was even added as an option for the five door hatchback variants.
The Civic continued to evolve and offered the same affordable, versatile, and sporty driving experience as in years past, all while improving with each year. It earned a reputation for reliability and as a platform upon which people could improve with modifications or easily fix if something went wrong.
The Civic reached its peak during the 1990’s, still offering the same affordable package to consumers. Even today, the fifth and sixth generation Civics are prized for their simplicity, tuning potential, reliability, and affordability.
Since then, Civics have become tamer. They have become more family-oriented. They are still one of the best used vehicle choices on the market, and the Si models are still readily available as pocket rockets from the factory for those who need a little more pep in their daily commute. Even more importantly, they have remained reliable and affordable for budget-minded individuals.
The latest generation Civic, completely redesigned in 2016, is still affordable, remains versatile, and has remained one of the best-selling vehicles in its class.
Like the M3, the Civic has lost many of its intangible qualities that used to make it great. A turbocharged engine replaced the naturally-aspirated high-revving four-cylinder that everyone traditionally loved. Reliability has yet to be proven as a higher-tech interior and a more sophisticated engine leave room for future problem areas.
All in all, the Civic is better than it ever has been in many ways. But, in many more ways, the Civic has lost much of what made traditional Civics truly great.
Toyota Supra:
I don’t really need to spend too much time on this one, especially since most Supra people will know exactly why this car is here.
For the people who have no idea what I’m talking about, you can CLICK HERE to see a complete rundown as to why the old Mark IV Supra was better than the new.
Regardless of how you feel about the new one – good or bad – there are countless others who will feel exactly the opposite way. It seems that most people who have driven it, like it. But, most are also pretty sure that it is the best a modern Supra can really get given the conditions under which it was built.
Of course, I’m of the belief that the Mark IV Supra is better, not necessarily because I’m a fanboy of the old one, but because it was a true driver’s car with a manual transmission, famous engine, and less technology to help the driver.
To me, taking the reins and actually driving a car will never beat the extra milliseconds any electronic assistance features can take off of track times.
Most vehicles on this list have something that few other vehicles have: tradition and longstanding production runs. They have been around for decades, and for good reason.
Few things can beat a really well-made vehicle, and so it would make sense that some version of that vehicle would need to beat itself to improve. That is something that just doesn’t always happen. And, who knows… maybe successors to all of these vehicles will come along in the next few years and be the best possible versions of themselves. We will just have to wait and see what the future holds, but in any case, we will continue to hold out hope that we will always get the best a manufacturer is able to give.
