Top 10 Hottest Cars of the Year: 2017 Edition

Top 10 Hottest Cars Driven by TFL in 2017

Each year at TFL, the crew puts their collective butts behind the wheels of hundreds of cars and trucks. And each year 10 cars (we’ll leave trucks to TFLtruck) leave us yearning to take them home, live with them, and drive them whenever we need to inject a dose of unbridled joy in our souls. Without further ado, here’s the list of our favorites of the 2017 class. Click on the car’s name below to check out TFL’s video reviews each choice.

#10 – Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

  • The Goods: 707 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds
  • The Gist: This SUV makes no sense, but it sure puts a huge smile on your face.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk [photo:FCA]
#9 – Chevy Bolt

  • The Goods: A relatively affordable EV with 200+ miles range, that’s a hoot to drive
  • The Gist: In a drag race with a VW GTI, the Bolt’s acceleration and results shocked us.

Chevy Bolt EV [photo: GM]
#8 – Hyundai Elantra GT Sport

  • The Goods: At $23,250, this hot hatch from Korea delivers the goods with a 201-hp turbo four, independent rear suspension, and a sweet-shifting 6-speed manual.
  • The Gist: A legit alternative to a Civic Si that is way more fun to drive than you’d think possible at this price.

Hyundai Elantra GT Sport = cheap fun. [Photo: Hyundai]
#7 – Audi TT-RS

  • The Goods: 5-cylinder turbo with 400 horsepower and Quattro AWD
  • The Gist: Pricey at $66K, but sexy and undeniably fun to drive.

Audi TT-RS, tiny car with big power. [Photo: Audi]
#6 – Volvo V90 XC

  • The Goods: Supercharged/Turbocharged four cylinder pumps out 316 horsepower, AWD
  • The Gist: Gorgeous inside, outside, with off-road capability that blew everyone away.

Volvo V90 Cross Country
Wagon + lust = Volvo V90 XC? Yes! [Photo: Volvo]
#5 – Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Roadster

  • The Goods: 4.0-liter biturbo V8, 550 horsepower, $133,395 price tag, convertible
  • The Gist: You may sit behind the engine, but  this Benz qualifies as a mid-engine sports car. We had to drive it to get it.

2018 mercedes amg gt c roadster
2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster. [photo: TFL]
#4 – Dodge Durango SRT

  • The Goods: 475 horsepower from a 6.5-liter Hemi V8, seats for 7 passengers, $64K price
  • The Gist: This SUV pretty much own the badass family hauler segment.

2018 Dodge Durango SRT moves big families fast. [photo: FCA]
#3 – Honda Civic Type-R

  • The Goods: 306 horsepower, manual transmission, killer value at $35K.
  • The Gist: The finest front-wheel-drive sports car around. And somehow it has no torque steer.

Love or hate the looks, the Type-R is all sports car. [photo: Honda]
#2 – Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

  • The Goods: $72K, 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 wth 505 hp, 0-60 in 4.46 seconds at altitude.
  • The Gist: It’s a four-door track car, beautiful exhaust note, a visceral joy on all fronts.
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | LA Auto Show
Now that’s Italian!

#1 – Dodge Challenger Demon

  • The Goods: 840 horsepower. What more needs to be said?
  • The Gist: Dodge took a car that was already bat crazy (the Hellcat) and made it crazier.
Dodge Demon
Warning: Drag racing a Demon may cause tunnel vision. [photo: FCA]