The ‘90s was a time of change. The millennium was soon getting over, and the war between the baby boomers and the millennials was gearing up. It was also the time of automotive change.
Sedans, especially American-made sedans, were losing favor. With rumors of the very first second of 2000 bringing about the Y2K (how gullible were we!), everyone wanted to go out in style, or at least, with a bang.
JLo’s may have crooned “Waiting For Tonight” to billboard perfection way later in 1991, but the hits of the ‘90s were these automotive marvels that dared to be different or toed the same successful line. The sedans were out, the trucks were in and so were the SUVs. And even in the trucks, racing fervor set in, brought about by the likes of the GMC Syclone and many more.
So here are America’s most popular cars in the ‘90s, be they sedans, compacts, trucks, and SUVs, because 2020 is the perfect year to reminisce.
10 Ford Explorer: And The Firestone Controversy
The Ford Explorer along with the Jeep Grand Cherokee is what kickstarted the craze for modern SUVs beginning in the ‘90s. And it did so by replacing the by-now unwanted Ford Bronco II with the Explorer, although a lot of the underpinnings were the same.
It was such a success that Ford completely redesigned the Explorer in 1995, and made two separate models for the two-door and four-door SUVs. The success came at a price when by the late ‘90s, Ford Explorers' propensity to rollover brought in bad publicity, later attributed to Firestone tires.
9 Jeep Cherokee XJ: So Common, They Went Unnoticed
In the ‘90s and during much of the early 2000s, the Jeep Cherokee XJ was so commonly seen, they became part of the American ‘90s halcyon days. The Cherokee XJ was unlike the futuristic SUVs of today in being simple, boxy, and as in your face as it could be.
But it was reliable and cheaper than many of the other cars. It was like a first car, or a first SUV, the kind everyone could afford and have fun in. Sold in droves, the Cherokee XJ was no dream car but it definitely was an attainable one.
8 Dodge Caravan: The Best Minivans Around
In 1984, Dodge and Plymouth released their “magic wagons” onto a waiting public, and the Caravan and Voyager, along with the Chrysler Town & Country basically killed the station wagon and gave rise to the popularity of the minivan.
They were comfortable and handy, a lot nimbler than the station wagon, and yet surprisingly roomy. For all those who wanted a more passenger-oriented workhorse, it was a choice between the Caravan, Voyager, and the Town & Country, depending on budget. Nothing says the ‘90s than a minivan from the house of Chrysler.
7 Ford Mustang: Always In Flavor
Sedans may have gone out of fashion in the ‘90s but the muscle car mania was alive and well, and it still is till today. The beginning of the ‘90s saw the continuation of the Fox-Body Mustang, which was well-loved for its fastback design and decent performance with a 5.0-liter V8.
After 15 of service, it was finally retired to make way for the new Mustang and notably, the Mustang GT, the latter of which was so popular, it created a furor with the competition. The Mustang remained heart-whole and fanciful all through the ‘90s as well.
6 Chevrolet Impala SS: Still A Popular Choice
By the ‘90s, the Impala wasn’t what it once was. The big and boxy dimensions of the car were gone, and in place was a sleek powerhouse that looked more like a Caprice than its own classic self. But it came with a 5.7-liter V8 that made 260 horses and a very impressive 330 ft-lb of torque.
The Impala SS entered its seventh generation from 1994 to 1996 and it still retained the drool factor with youngsters, mostly because it carried a stellar legacy. It looked like a sedan, drove sporty, and revved pure muscle. Perfect for the decade.
5 Ford F-Series: The Birth Of The SVT
The Ford F-Series has seen some good and bad days, but mostly, it has seen some stellar days. In 1995, it surpassed the erstwhile most-car sold record held by the Volkswagen Beetle and became the new most sold car of the world. Isn’t that something?
In 1996, the Ford F-150 debuted its 10th generation with far better aerodynamics than before. And let’s not forget the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning that shook the world in 1993. This made muscle car owners sit up and realize what a “muscle truck” could do!
4 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Pure Driving Experience
The Miata was the coolest thing to have come out of the ‘90s. It wasn’t the most powerful or luxurious roadster around. But it came cheap, had enough power for thrills, and was one of the sunniest cars to drive, enough to put a smile on even the grumpiest of countenances.
It was also one unique design for a sports car and came with Japanese excellence although it no longer carried a rotary engine. It was the simplest form of a sports car, one that enticed you to leave the home and go for long, fun, and fast drives.
3 Chevrolet Camaro Z28: Back To Sheer Muscle
The last most powerful Camaro came in 1971, post which the oil embargo and the subsequent emission control killed its soul and turned it into a caricature of itself. But in 1993 the Camaro Z28 arrived with 275 horses and 325 ft-lb of torque, on manual as well as AT.
The look was now muscly and menacing and the aerodynamics made people flip over this cool, cool car. Suddenly, the Camaro became a top-notch modern muscle car rather than the cumbersome classic it had come to be. In the '90s, the Camaro unsullied its name by selling in droves.
2 Honda Accord: Three Generations In A Decade
The ‘90s Accord spanned its fourth, fifth, and even sixth generation in these 10 years, proving Japanese determination when it came to sales. Reigning from 1976, the Accord was perhaps the only sedan that kept selling in the ‘90s, leaving its competitors far behind.
The fourth-generation replaced the pop-up headlights with fixed ones and now bore a rather airy design, making it one of America’s bestselling cars between 1990-1992. The fifth-generation debuted the 2.2-liter VTEC engine and also added n a V6. What’s not to like?
1 Ford Bronco: The Last Of The Stallion
Before the Mustang, Ford launched the Bronco in 1965, another name for a wild, bucking stallion though this one was more SUV than muscle. By 1977, the Bronco became a full-sized SUV, entering its fourth generation in 1987 and it's fifth in 1992.
In the ‘90s though, nothing was more popular than a white Ford Bronco, the infamy brought on by that O.J. Simpson chase. Flagging sales revived to make the Bronco buck again till the last one rolled off in 1996. Ostensibly to make space for the 2021 revival!
Sources: Hagerty, TheTruthAboutCars