Classless cars: 15 vehicles that fit in anywhere
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Classless cars
© JLRThere are surprisingly few examples of genuinely classless vehicles. The majority of cars would look perfectly at home in one situation but like a fish out of water in another. Like it or not, they also say something about the owner, even if that assumption is incorrect. Here are 15 classless cars that would look good anywhere. As Ronan Keating nearly said, these cars say it best by saying nothing at all.
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Volkswagen Golf GTI
© VWFor five decades, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been the definitive classless car, not to mention one of the world’s greatest hot hatchbacks. Every generation has been relatively affordable for the masses and capable of blending practicality with performance. From the ring road to the Nürburgring, and the school run to the supermarket car park, the Golf GTI simply delivers.
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Land Rover Defender
© JLRIf anyone doubts the existence of a classless car, point them in the direction of the Land Rover Defender. You may have to climb a few mountains and ford a few streams to get there. The classic Defender (along with its Series predecessors) would look perfectly at home parked outside a five-star hotel or Michelin-starred restaurant, even after a long day at work in the countryside. But don’t take our word for it: Her Majesty The Queen was a big fan of the Defender.
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BMW 5 Series Touring
© BMWWe’d argue that a large estate car is classier than an SUV, but can they be classless? In the case of the BMW 5 Series Touring, the answer is a resounding ‘Ja’. BMW’s first proper estate car was created by one of the company’s engineers in a garage and went on sale in 1987 as the 3 Series Touring. There have been Touring versions of every subsequent 3 Series and 5 Series, and they remain utterly classless (which we mean as a compliment).
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Fiat 500
© FiatIt says a lot about the Fiat 500 that the version on sale today is largely the same one that made its debut in 2007. Actually, it says more about the rate of progress at Fiat, but the 500 has undoubtedly stood the test of time. Yes, it’s small, impractical and isn’t as great to drive as it should be, but it’s probably the only small car of the modern era to feel ready for every occasion.
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Mini
© MiniAnd here’s a classless small car from another era. Sir Alec Issigonis didn’t design the Mini to become a celebrity plaything or a sporting hero, but the little car came to define the Swinging Sixties, enjoy incredible success in motorsport and remain in production for a full four decades. Small wonder BMW was so keen to get its hands on the Mini brand when it bought Rover from British Aerospace.
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Subaru Legacy estate
© SubaruThe Subaru Legacy is the ultimate country estate. Permanent four-wheel drive means it’s adept at handling harsh winters and our notoriously rough roads, while the cavernous boot and wipe-clean interior mean it’s perfect for carrying outdoor gear and big dogs. And like a dog, a Subaru is for life, not just for Christmas, which means owners tend to keep their cars forever. This might explain Subaru’s poor sales in the UK.
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Volvo XC70
© VolvoTo be honest, this could have been any Volvo estate, from the 200 series to the V60, or the 700 series to the V90. There’s just something unassuming about a Volvo estate, which isn’t something you can say about many of its premium rivals. In other news, Volvo has just announced a U-turn after dropping a bombshell that it would axe estate cars in favour of SUVs. Common sense has prevailed, so make sure you vote with your wallet.
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A Mercedes-Benz estate
© Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz launched its first factory-built estate car at the 1977 Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the famously robust and reliable W123 saloon, the S123 (or ‘T’ for Touring and Transport) was built in Bremen. Other estate cars followed, including our pick for a classless car: the S124. Like its predecessor, the W124 estate could be ordered with a pair of rear-facing child seats in the boot. As seven-seaters go, this is significantly cooler than any SUV.
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Range Rover L322
© JLRWith prices starting from £104,000, the new Range Rover is anything but classless. Select a few options, and you’re soon looking at £120,000 or more. No, if you’re after a classless Range Rover, take a look at the third-generation model, known as the L322. If you’re a fan of Clarkson’s Farm, you’ll know that it’s Jeremy’s choice of transport. It was also Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite version of the Range Rover.
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Skoda Octavia Scout
© SkodaIn the past, you’d have been laughed at for suggesting a Skoda could be classless. For many years, the company was on the receiving end of misguided jokes about the quality of its cars, even though the people laughing were probably driving much, much worse. On the plus side, this negativity gave Volkswagen something to work with when it bought the Czech company, and it wasn’t long before everyone fancied a Skoda. With the exception of a Superb estate, the Octavia Scout is our pick for a classless car.
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Toyota Land Cruiser
© ToyotaYou know what they say: ‘If you want to drive into a jungle, take a Land Rover. If you want to drive out of a jungle, take a Land Cruiser.’ The big Toyota might lack the brand appeal of Land Rover, but the Japanese company has a far better record for reliability and tends to score higher in customer satisfaction surveys. If the new Defender is a little ‘try hard’ for your liking, pick up an old Land Cruiser.
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Volkswagen Up
© VWRemember what we said about the Fiat 500 being the only classless small car of the modern era? Well, the Volkswagen Up could be another option. It might not have the chic appeal of the Fiat, but the Up – also available as the Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii – is more practical, better on a motorway and nicer to drive. No wonder it sayed in production for so long.
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Audi Cabriolet
© AudiPrincess Diana famously broke with ‘British car’ protocol when she ditched her royal wheels, first for a Mercedes-Benz SL, and then for an Audi Cabriolet. It was all thanks to an enterprising Audi dealer in London, who recognised the value of having the world’s most famous woman behind the wheel of one of its cars. The PR value was huge and it arguably did as much for Audi’s brand as four-wheel drive.
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Saab 900
© SaabNice people drove Saabs. The kind of drivers who would let you out of junctions. Drivers who wouldn’t dream of tailgating you on a motorway. People who’d give you their pay and display parking ticket if there was some time remaining. Things changed when the company collapsed and the cars were fast-tracked into the bargain basement of the classifieds, but a proper 900 (not the General Motors version) remains a wonderfully classless car.
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Any Bristol
© BristolWith the exception of the exception, any Bristol car is classless. They don’t make ’em like what they used to…
