40 Coolest Cars Of The 2000s
The year 2000 was the start of a new millennium—and we celebrated the world not ending by introducing massaging seats in some cars, GPS navigation, Bluetooth technology, and a rear-view camera so that you can wave goodbye to the cars of the 1990s.
You may still have been driving your 90s car, but we know you were eyeing up that 2000 model for your vehicle of choice. Here are some of the coolest cars produced between 2000 and 2010.
2000 Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0
The Lamborghini Diablo produced a staggering 575 horsepower from a 6.0L engine. Unfortunately, the Diablo VT 6.0 wasn't sold in North America due to safety and emissions concerns. Still, all 80 of them ever produced before 2001 (the last time Lamborghini produced the Diablo) sold out fairly quickly on the European market.
2001 Plymouth Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler was an interesting car—a unique shape and design—and popular among motoring enthusiasts. It was capable of producing 253 horsepower from a 3.5L V6 engine and had a 0 to 60 time of just six seconds. It was a gorgeous convertible that looked different from the rest of the cars on the road.
2005-2008 Dodge Magnum SRT
Dodge produced some great family vehicles in the 2000s: the Caliber, the ever-reliable Grand Caravan, and the lesser-known Dodge Magnum SRT. The Magnum SRT was a short but powerful vehicle, bringing 425 horsepower to bear with its Hemi 6.1L engine. It even did 0-60 in 5.1 seconds. The Magnum wasn't just powerful but also practical, with 71.6 cubic feet of storage and seating for five.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000 Lincoln LS-V8
The 2000 Lincoln LS-V8 was the 2000 MotorTrend Car Of The Year. It took its V8 engine from Jaguar and produced 252 horsepower without sacrificing handling or ride experience. Unfortunately, Lincoln didn't sell as well as German or Japanese competitors but was still reasonably popular in the United States.
2007 Cadillac XLR-V
The 2007 Cadillac XLR-V was mostly a car for folks in a hurry to be somewhere exotic, like the yacht club or golf course. The Cadillac XLR-V featured a supercharged V8 engine that produced 443 horsepower and went from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds. This meant that Caddy was competing with the likes of a Mercedes SL55 AMG or the Jaguar XKR. The Cadillac XLR-V was all about powerfully riding in style and luxury.
DeeMusil, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000-2003 Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru capitalized on the success of the 1992 Subaru Impreza and took the driving world by storm by releasing an even more impressive WRX model from 2000 to 2003. It was America's first introduction to the Subaru Impreza after the 1990s run of vehicles weren't imported to the United States.
Experiencing the Impreza WRX through Gran Turismo video games was finally a thing of the past. The Impreza even looked cool with its front grille and spoiler.
Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2003-2006 Pontiac GTO
When Pontiac released the 2003 model of the GTO, they gave it a retro look with a split hood and a 6.0L V8 engine, offering a four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. It was nicknamed "The Goat", covering 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and boasting an enormous top speed of 180MPH.
Despite its "cool" front end and interior, the GTO never quite managed to attain the popularity of its namesake.
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000-2006 Honda Insight
The insightful thing about the Honda Insight is that it was fuel-efficient before being fuel-efficient was cool. Boasting 56.33MPG, the Honda Insight was one of the most efficient ways to get around. It was a hybrid system that would achieve a top speed of 111MPH and do 0-60 in 12 seconds. Unfortunately, the Insight never took off and folks had to wait until the Prius to experience the fuel efficiency that Honda was aiming for.
Calreyn88, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2004-2008 Acura TSX
Nicknamed the "Dad sedan", the Acura TSX was a Civic on less-powerful steroids, boasting a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that produced 200 horsepower. The 2004 to 2008 models sold between 30 and 35000 models per year. Hardly record-breaking, but the power of the Acura made it one of the coolest sedans of the 2000s.
Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2002-2005 Lexus SportCross
Produced between 2002 and 2005, the Lexus SportCross model was a long-roofed vehicle with a hatchback design. Lexus unfortunately only offered the SportCross in an automatic model, meaning lovers of manual probably gave this hatchback a miss. Despite this, it was a pretty cool cat.
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
The Pontiac G8 GXP didn't enjoy a long run, as the 2009 model was the final year of sale for the model. Pontiac decided to go out with a bang—boasting a 6.2L V8 engine pulled from the Chevrolet Corvette, the G8 GXP could do 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds and offered 415 horses.
Unfortunately, Americans wanted a crossover during the late 2000s and the G8 didn't exactly fit that bill.
Rian Castillo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish offered 415 horsepower and did 0-60 in just 4.6 seconds, doing 0-100 in 10.4 seconds. Its real innovation was in the transmission. While it had a six-speed manual gearbox, it offered paddle shifting—wherein the gearing is changed automatically by electro-hydraulics, without needing a clutch. The 2000 V12 is now a collector's item.
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000 Ariel Atom
Released in late 1999 for the 2000 calendar year, the Ariel Atom was all about fun— and not much else. This roofless vehicle looked like it belonged on a racetrack. Its 4-cylinder 125 horsepower engine was built in Somerset, England, and it did 0-60 in under 6 seconds with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The Ariel Atom was classified in 37 states as a motorcycle and didn't see much success in the US. Still: a cool car.
Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2002 Dodge Viper GTS
Dodge introduced the first Viper model mid-way through 1996 and it immediately became a head-turning performance car that you'd need a long straight piece of road to enjoy. The 2002 Viper GTS boasted a V10 engine offering 450 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The 2002 Viper GTS sported the classic center stripes of the OG Viper and introduced a new color line: metallic grey with classic white stripes.
Norbert Aepli, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2002 Ferrari Enzo
The "Enzo", named after Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, was a cool cat. It was available in a yellow color that either looked very cool or like it had been applied accidentally and someone just kept going, depending on your perspective. Its V12 engine produced 660 horsepower at 7700RPM. It could reach a top speed of 217MPH and drew its aerodynamics and handling from Ferrari's F1 experience, producing a car that was made from carbon fiber to reduce weight.
While unaffordable for most, those who could afford the '02 Enzo likely absolutely loved it.
Valder137, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2002 BMW M3 GT-R
BMW has always made highly reliable vehicles. In 2002, they introduced the BMW M3 GT-R, drawing upon their Le Mans racing experience. They produced only 10 of the M3 GT-Rs for road use, as per the American Le Mans Racing stipulations.
It used the same V8 engine in its street version as the track version and still produced 380 horsepower, despite tuning the engine down significantly.
Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2003 Pagani Zonda C12 Roadster
My God, does Pagani make exotic vehicles.The C12 was radical in its power and speed along with its revolutionary (never before seen, in fact) carbon fiber removable roof. The Zonda Roadster was powered by a V12 Mercedes engine with 6 cylinders, producing 444 horsepower. Pagani only produced 40 of the C12 Roadsters—unfortunately, they are not road-legal in the United States.
Chelsea Jay, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2003 Porsche 911 GT3
The 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 was one of the most popular upgrades to the Porsche 911 in recent history. It was the first Porsche 911 to be declared road-legal in the United States and produced 381 horsepower and a top speed of 190mph, with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Porsche 911 GT3 went from 0-60 in just 5.6 seconds, and it was available in a gorgeous yellow.
stephenhanafin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2002-2006 Toyota Camry
This everyday driver was one of the most reliable vehicles ever to grace the American road. Simple and practical, this four-door sedan could be seen in silver or beige almost everywhere in the country. Alongside their reliability, they were affordable and American-made (produced in Kentucky). A quintessential car of the 2000s makes it cool in my book.
Matthew Paul Argall, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2003 Ford GT
Unveiled in 2002 at the North American Motor Show, the 2003 Ford GT was the pride and joy of Henry Ford II—who was proud to show off Ford's second attempt at an endurance racer. The GT produced 500 horsepower from a 5.4L V8 engine. The RWD car came with a 6-speed manual transmission and the Viper-inspired color palette of white stripes down the middle. Designed to race, it could get to a top speed of 205MPH.
Winning Automotive Photography, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons 2004 Ferrari F430
The 2004 Ferrari F430 was a thinner offering than Ferrari's prior 2000s cars. A successor to the 2000 Modena, the F430 produced a top speed of 205MPH and went from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, running on either a manual or a paddle shift transmission. It produced 483HP and redlined at 8500RPM.
Ferrari's chosen slender, sleek design over flash and exuberance is what made the F430 a cool car of the 2000s.
Detectandpreserve, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2004 Lotus Exige
After a two-year hiatus from car production, the Lotus Exige marked Lotus's return to the supercar market. The Exige S2 was the second generation of Lotus's attempts to make a race car that could also be road-legal and pleasurable to drive.
The 2004 Exige was an unusual-looking vehicle, but under the hood, it boasted a 1.8L Toyota engine that produced 190 horses. The Exige's looks in the mid-2000s were different enough to be cool.
Calreyn88, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2005 Toyota Prius
One of the most popular first true hybrid vehicles produced, the 2005 Toyota Prius produced 46 combined MPG and could offer upwards of 50 on the highway. The '05 Prius is still one of the most reliable vehicles ever, nearly 20 years later. Its hybrid technology was viewed as near-perfection by owners and enabled them to easily switch between gas and electric. The '05 Prius is still popular today.
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2005 Bugatti Veyron
The fastest supercar on the planet in 2005 was the Bugatti Veyron. Bugatti's 1990s EB-110 received a significant upgrade with the Bugatti 16/4 Veyron and offered 1000 horsepower, with a top speed of 253MPH. The Veyron has a spot on our list generally because of its speed—its 14MPG combined fuel economy isn't worthy of inclusion, but you don't buy a Veyron to save the planet.
Falcon® Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2005 BMW M5
BMW broke new ground in the United States by installing a V10 in a production sedan. Why, you ask? Because they could. The fourth-generation M5 was popular, as it provided the everyday driver with more power than they probably needed, producing 500HP and a modest fuel economy of 14.8MPG.
order_242, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2005 Honda Element LX
If you've never looked at a Honda Element and said, "They're in their element", you will now—you're welcome. While the Honda Element was released in 2003, the 2005 LX model represents one of the first years of major improvements over the original 2003 release.
Maintaining the rectangular shape of 2003 and 2004 models, the LX featured fuel economy upgrades, enabling it to reach 19 (city) and 23 (highway) MPG.
phototram, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2006 Audi R8
It's fair to say that 2006 was the year of the roadster when it came to sedans. The 2006 Audi R8 boasted the Quattro's four-wheel drive and a powerful 420HP V8, 10-cylinder engine under the hood. The R8 could do 0 to 60 in 4.0 seconds. It provided sedan lovers with all the power they could desire while riding in style around town.
eyOne, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2006 Mazda MX-5
This 2-door roadster convertible provided a stylish ride for those who liked to feel the breeze. Its 2-litre 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission topped out at 170MPH. The MX-5 wasn't built for speed but provided a lengthy, stylish upgrade for the beloved 1990s Mazda Miata.
2006 Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice was a long-awaited rear-wheel drive roadster that provided ample legroom and was incredibly top-heavy. It provided an affordable option for those who love a convertible sedan, while its slender lines were very attractive for the roadsters of the era.
MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2006 BMW Z4 Coupe
The 2006 BMW Z4 Coupe represented BMW's commitment to producing stylish coupes with power. It was capable of producing 343HP from a 3.2L 6-cylinder engine. It was a fun, sporty roadster that could easily become a daily driver, or a weekend warrior, capable of hitting the highway and putting your foot down.
2007 Chevrolet Corvette
If you wanted an American sports car in 2007, your first (and best) bet might have been the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. With its 400 horsepower, 6.0L V8 engine, the 6-speed automatic transmission made shifting seamless and driving a breeze. It was difficult to improve upon the success of the 2006 Corvette, but the '07 Vette offered 16-18 combined MPG.
Cjp24, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2007 Honda Accord
The 2007 Honda Accord was one of the most reliable vehicles of the year—possibly one of the most reliable vehicles ever. Its 2.4L V6 engine produced 166HP with its 5-speed automatic transmission. This four-door sedan was everyone's everyday driver. Reliable, reasonably stylish, and providing 14 cubic feet of storage space, you could get the groceries, or run the kids to sports practice.
Benespit, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2007 Honda Fit
The 2007 Honda Fit was the perfect subcompact auto back when it was released. The Fit could only do 109MPH at the top end, but had fantastic fuel economy of 33MPG (city) and 38MPG (highway) and could easily get you around a city or town without breaking a sweat. You'd save in gas and purchase price with the '07 Fit, starting at $15,405. Nearly 18 years later, the Fit is still a reliable, cost-effective motor.
2008 Nissan GT-R
Made famous by the 2008 racing game, Gran Turismo, the '08 Nissan GT-R went from 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and offered 480HP from its 3.8L V6 TT engine. Its automatic transmission meant it could be driven by anyone, not just track racers (despite those specs!). Nissan's GT-R was a car for those who enjoyed speed, but was reasonably successful in the US, selling over 1,500 units.
2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was built as a rival supercar to put the likes of Porsche in its place. The ZR1 was built with a 6.2L V8 engine, producing 638HP and doing 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds. The 2-door sports car featured a modest fuel economy of 14MPG (city) and 20MPG (highway).
For Chevrolet loyalists looking for a sports car upgrade to their Z06, the ZR1 fitted that bill to a tee.
2009 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin is no stranger to producing aesthetically gorgeous and technically brilliant cars. So, when they put a V12 engine in a smaller platform like the '09 Vantage, Aston enthusiasts were intrigued. It carried over the natural aspiration of the engine from older models, offering a 6.0L V12 that packed 510HP.
You could activate its "Sport Mode" that allowed you to switch between two powertrain modes: the "normal" mode, better-suited for everyday driving and the "sport" mode when you wanted to put the hammer down. Its 10.5 cubic feet of luggage capacity surprised those who bought it for its sporty pedigree.
Toffguy, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2000 Saab 9.5 Aero
First released in 2000, the Saab 9.5 Aero offered an alternative to the 9.5 executive sedan that Saab drivers were used to. The Swedish company's 2.3 turbocharged engine brought 250 horses to bear. Produced till 2009 before Saab filed for bankruptcy in 2010, 9.5 Aeros are a rarity in the United States, but were a reliable sedan for those who preferred a European pedigree to more traditional American models.
2007 Jaguar XK
Want to feel like James Bond on a budget? The Jaguar XK from 2007 could give you that. Marketed as a grand tourer, the XK was capable of producing 300HP from its 4.2L V8 engine and offering a combined mileage of 19MPG. The 2007 Jaguar XK was designed for those who liked to ride in style and who wanted the best of both worlds: a daily-driver and a weekend-warrior.
111 Emergency, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2003-2006 Mercedes Benz 55AMG
Mercedes produced the 55AMG as a bridge between its performance models, offering both a sedan and a wagon version. The Benz 55AMG came with a supercharged 5.4L V8 engine that produced 469HP. It was the fastest four-door sedan in the world when brand new in '03, going from 0-100MPH in under 10 seconds.
The versatility and speed of the Benz 55AMG made it one of the coolest cars of the 2000s.
JanST, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
2005 5th Generation Ford Mustang
The 2005 (5th Generation) Ford Mustang was the year that Ford decided they'd better start making Mustangs that actually looked like Mustangs again. Its long, rectangular body did not disappoint under the hood either, as Ford's 4.0L V6 produced 210HP and offered both 5-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
With the 5th Generation Ford, Mustang owners may have felt like the iconic style of the Mustang had returned, making it one of the coolest cars of the 90s.
2000 Ford Explorer
The 2000 Ford Explorer release promised yet another spectacular model that was as capable as a family vehicle as it was an off-road trailblazer. Unfortunately for Ford, the 2000 Ford Explorer was hit with a shocking problem: its Firestone tires began to separate from rims on tens of thousands of units worldwide.
It was enough of a problem that Ford had to recall 13 million tires on its Explorer vehicles by May 2001. By then, 271 people had been killed and 500 had been injured due to accidents from tires separating.
Did you have any of these cool cats in the 2000s? Are you still driving some of these reliable autos today? What was your favorite car from the 2000s? Let us know!
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