Here Are The Cars You Think Improved The Most From One Generation To The Next

Nissan lets a lot of their products linger on the vine for a long time. But the one vehicle that sorely needed a redesign was the Frontier, which was last redesigned for the 2005 model year. That was 15 years ago. They did give it a new V6 and nine-speed auto last year but it was still old as hell. The new 2022 Frontier is almost shocking in its newness because of how old the previous truck was.

We asked readers what models they thought were the most improved from one generation to the next. These were their answers.

Volvo XC90 from 2014 to the 2016 model year (no 2015MY.) Went from being an incredibly outdated underdog with very little appeal to a strong competitor against the X5, MDX and Q7. Mercedes-levels of materials without the severe price tag.

Suggested by: Matthew Shipanik (Facebook)

I saw a Youtube that highlighted how Ford ownership had diluted the brand's identity by sharing its unique design elements with other marques(Jaguar&Ford). This forced Aston to focus on delivering not just beautiful cars but more powerful, reliable, & more competitive cars as well.

Suggested by: stiggums

It changed the whole concept of what a pickup truck meant. The previous generation D100 had been around since the late Cretaceous period spanning a mind-boggling TWENTY TWO YEARS without significant updates. When the 1994 Ram dropped, everyone took notice. It looked like nothing else. It's fit/finish was light years ahead of Chevy/Ford (for the period).

Suggested by: Scott Pro (Facebook)

It's gotta be the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. I know this because I own one! Even better, it's a 2012 model with the updated V-6, pano sunroof, and ventilated seats.

The glow-up was real when it debuted way back when and produced the only Buick I actually like.

Suggested by: tygermind

Second to third gen Optima. It went from a very ho-hum sedan to something that was very competitive and still looks great, even today. And the turbo variants were quite fast.

Suggested by: The Dood

I'd say the Ford Taurus. In 2008-09 it was a slightly updated Five Hundred. While still a nice car, the entire design dated back to 2004. In 2010 Ford released an all new from the ground up, Ford Taurus. It had great technological options for 2010 and a sleek design. I've had a 2008 and now have a 2012 and people often go "That's a Ford? Looks a little fancier than that."

Suggested by: Harley Beers (Facebook)

If we're going for "boring" cars, I'd nominate the Prius Gen 1 to Gen 2. Went from a horrible econobox to one of the most popular compact cars on the market. Brought hybrids to the masses.

Suggested by: ItsYourBoyHobbes

Consider the 1st to 2nd gen Cadillac Escalade, not really in terms of quality – GMT400 to GMT800 was a step up but not a revolution – but instead in justifying its own existence.

The first-gen might as well not exist. It was produced for something like a year, it looked exactly the same as a Yukon Denali and was an obvious rush job because GM was caught flat-footed by the Lincoln Navigator.

The second-gen, meanwhile, was an icon and would have easily made Cadillac mean something to young people if GM wasn't baffled that the car was a hit in the hip hop community.

Suggested by: Citric

The Chevy Impala went out with a bang when it finally dumped the W-body in its 2014 redesign after what seemed like forever, turning it from an Avis staple to one of the top large sedans on the market. Unfortunately, the Impala hit its 21st-century stride just as increasing numbers of consumers had decided large sedans were a relic of the 20th century.

Suggested by: MKizzy

Keeping it on Hyundai, I'd say the evolution of the Hyundai Genesis into the Genesis G80, especially when you take into account the evolutionary leap in interior design/quality in 7 years.

Suggested by: Lord Whistletown

People criticize the NC 3rd Miata for being too big, too heavy, too blob-ish ( I think it's biggest is a bland engine but that's neither here nor there.) The ND 4th Gen was a revelation coming from one gen to the next and such a snap back to the loved first generation.

Suggested by: Jonathan Chapman and many others