<P> Motor Trend also only considers cars with base MSRPs less than $100,000 in order to avoid expensive luxury and super cars dominating the competition . </P> <P> Vehicles are subjected a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid - pad ratings, acceleration and quarter - mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by Sports Car Club of America - licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy . Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off - road course, to the normal regimen . </P> <Dl> <Dd> 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV </Dd> <Dd> 2016 Chevrolet Camaro </Dd> <Dd> 2015 Volkswagen Golf </Dd> <Dd> 2014 Cadillac CTS </Dd> <Dd> 2013 Tesla Model S </Dd> <Dd> 2012 Volkswagen Passat </Dd> <Dd> 2011 Chevrolet Volt </Dd> <Dd> 2010 Ford Fusion </Dd> <Dd> 2009 Nissan GT - R </Dd> <Dd> 2008 Cadillac CTS </Dd> <Dd> 2007 Toyota Camry </Dd> <Dd> 2006 Honda Civic </Dd> <Dd> 2005 Chrysler 300 </Dd> <Dd> 2004 Toyota Prius </Dd> <Dd> 2003 Infiniti G35 </Dd> <Dd> 2002 Ford Thunderbird </Dd> <Dd> 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser </Dd> <Dd> 2000 Lincoln LS </Dd> <Dd> 1999 Chrysler 300M </Dd> <Dd> 1998 Chevrolet Corvette </Dd> <Dd> 1997 Chevrolet Malibu </Dd> <Dd> 1996 Dodge Caravan </Dd> <Dd> 1995 Chrysler Cirrus </Dd> <Dd> 1994 Ford Mustang </Dd> <Dd> 1993 Ford Probe GT </Dd> <Dd> 1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan </Dd> <Dd> 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ </Dd> <Dd> 1990 Lincoln Town Car </Dd> <Dd> 1989 Ford Thunderbird SC </Dd> <Dd> 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix </Dd> <Dd> 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe </Dd> <Dd> 1986 Ford Taurus LX </Dd> <Dd> 1985 Volkswagen GTI (eligible due to it being built in VW's now - defunct Pennsylvania plant) </Dd> <Dd> 1984 Chevrolet Corvette </Dd> <Dd> 1983 AMC Alliance / Renault Alliance </Dd> <Dd> 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 </Dd> <Dd> 1981 Chrysler K Cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant </Dd> <Dd> 1980 Chevrolet Citation </Dd> <Dd> 1979 Buick Riviera S </Dd> <Dd> 1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon </Dd> <Dd> 1977 Chevrolet Caprice </Dd> <Dd> 1976 Chrysler, Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare </Dd> <Dd> 1975 Chevrolet Monza 2 + 2 </Dd> <Dd> 1974 Ford Mustang II </Dd> <Dd> 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo </Dd> <Dd> 1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year") </Dd> <Dd> 1971 Chevrolet Vega </Dd> <Dd> 1970 Ford Torino </Dd> <Dd> 1969 Plymouth Road Runner </Dd> <Dd> 1968 Pontiac GTO </Dd> <Dd> 1967 Mercury Cougar </Dd> <Dd> 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado </Dd> <Dd> 1965 Pontiac Motor Division </Dd> <Dd> 1964 Ford Motor Company </Dd> <Dd> 1963 American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models: American, Classic, and Ambassador) </Dd> <Dd> 1962 Buick Special </Dd> <Dd> 1961 Pontiac Tempest </Dd> <Dd> 1960 Chevrolet Corvair </Dd> <Dd> 1959 Pontiac Motor Division </Dd> <Dd> 1958 Ford Thunderbird </Dd> <Dd> 1957 Chrysler Corporation (all makes: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial) </Dd> <Dd> 1956 Ford Motor Company </Dd> <Dd> 1955 Chevrolet Motor Division </Dd> <Dd> 1954 No Award </Dd> <Dd> 1953 No Award </Dd> <Dd> 1952 Cadillac Motor Division </Dd> <Dd> 1951 Chrysler Corporation </Dd> <Dd> 1950 No Award </Dd> <Dd> 1949 Cadillac Motor Division </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV </Dd>

Plymouth model named motor trends car of the year 1976