The Ones That Got Away: 10 Cars We Miss

iStock/Thinkstock photo; Cars.com illustration by Paul Dolan

By Michael Hanley

Today’s new cars are better than ever with levels of performance, comfort and efficiency unrivaled in automotive history. Despite the abundance of great new cars, what about the ones that have come and gone, leaving a void in our hearts? Here are the special ones we miss.

In order to keep the list current, all of the cars we considered were available new since 2000. Click on any of the car names to see used-car inventory for that model in your area.

1. Honda Element (2003-2011)
(2008 Honda Element; Cars.com photo by Ian Merritt)

The Element was targeted at hip young buyers, but its versatile interior with a washable floor and rear seats that swung up and out of the way for more cargo room made it appealing to a wide range of car shoppers. Whether loaded up with camping gear or all of the stuff from a first studio apartment, the Element was great for moving stuff.

2. Honda S2000 (2000-2009)
(2004 Honda S2000; Cars.com photo by Joe Wiesenfelder)

Hard as it may be to believe from looking at Honda’s current lineup, the automaker really did build the S2000 roadster, and not that long ago. The two-seat, rear-wheel-drive S2000 was a handling champ with a tail-happy demeanor that could take you from “Oh yeah!” to “Oh no!” in a blink if you didn’t respect it. How you drove mattered in this car, and we look on longingly whenever we see one.

3. Suzuki Kizashi (2010-2013)
(2011 Suzuki Kizashi; Cars.com photo by Ian Merritt)

The Kizashi wasn’t the roomiest of the midsize sedan class, but its handling and interior quality were impressive; available all-wheel drive was an added bonus. The Kizashi couldn’t change the downward course of the Suzuki brand, however, which stopped selling new cars in the U.S. after the 2013 model year.

4. Dodge Magnum (2005-2008)
(2007 Dodge Magnum; Cars.com photo by Chase Agnello-Dean)

The Magnum wasn’t a car Americans were clamoring for, which probably explains why it only lasted four years before Dodge pulled the plug, but it was uniquely cool. With its chopped roofline and muscled-up styling, it was the most sinister wagon around, especially in SRT8 form.