Cars We Want But Can't Have: The Latest Forbidden Fruit We Need In America (2024)

America is the second-largest automotive market in the world, so it makes sense that most of the automakers worldwide would want to sell their entire range of cars over here. Mostly, the vehicles available in other parts of the world aren't worth lusting after. The best-selling models in different parts of the world include the Tata Punch, the Volkswagen Polo, and the Fiat Strada. None of these cars would do well in America, mainly because they're incredibly dull, and there would be little interest.

Unfortunately, there are some highly desirable machines that we don't get in the USA for one reason or another. In almost all of these cases, the car is too small to appeal to American tastes. Despite research showing that average Americans are buying more compact and subcompact SUVs than ever, the top three bestsellers are still full-size pickup trucks that aren't sold in the rest of the world because they wouldn't fit. Still, it feels unfair looking at images and videos of the eight cars we discuss in this list.

9 Toyota GR Yaris - The Real hom*ologation Special

We suppose the GR Corolla is a neat consolation prize, but it's not as special as the GR Yaris because the latter is an actual hom*ologation special (sort of - it was built for hom*ologation before the rules changed and its powertrain was no longer relevant to WRC) built from scratch. Because the WRC's hom*ologation rules stipulated that the racing car had to have the same body shell as the production car, Toyota had to completely redesign the dull mainstream Yaris until it was virtually a brand-new car. The GR Yaris uses the front end of the standard Yaris and the rear of a Corolla. The car also needed a wider track for improved handling and all-wheel drive because it has been the golden standard in the WRC since the infamous Group B days.

The end result is a masterpiece, made even better by the 2024 model year updates. The GR Yaris used to be less powerful than the GR Corolla, but now it has the same power output and weighs significantly less. The 'Rolla is relatively lightweight at 3,249 pounds, but the GR Yaris is stripped down to 2,822 lbs. Christian von Koenigsegg owned one, and that's the ultimate car celebrity endorsem*nt.

We had the pleasure of piloting a pre-facelift GR Yaris during a photoshoot, which was nearly impossible. Taking photos requires a steady pace and multiple runs past an angry photographer always urging you to slow down. In contrast, the GR Yaris always wants to play. It's a naughty car, very much like its spiritual successors, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Subaru WRX STI, and the Toyota Celica GT-Four.

8 Ford Puma ST - The Closest Thing To A Fiesta ST Successor

Like many others, we were disappointed when Ford announced that the Fiesta ST would no longer be sold in the USA. The second-generation Fiesta ST was a sublime car, and it still enjoys a cult following in the USA. That's why the Puma ST didn't go down well at first. Instead of a traditional three-door hatch, Ford's replacement for the Fiesta ST was a subcompact crossover. That meant more weight and an increased ride height, which are not traits you generally want in a hot hatch.

Ford does know how to make a car handle properly, however. Anyone who has ever owned a Focus will know that even base models handle beautifully. Because of that, the Puma ST handled more like a hot hatch and less like the average souped-up compact crossover. It's not the best-looking Ford ever made, but we love the fact that you can get it in a green that wouldn't look out of place on a Lamborghini.

7 Alpine A110 R - The Only Realistic Porsche 718 Alternative

Alpine will eventually come to the USA, but by the time it arrives in 2028, the A110 will be long gone. It's a pity because the A110 was the only realistic alternative to the Porsche Cayman. Many have tried to usurp the mighty Porsche, but this French mid-engine sports car is the only one that got close and, in some cases, actually beat it. The derivative we're interested in is the R, which is the stripped-out, lightweight version. It only weighs 2,385 pounds, which is lighter than a Mazda Miata RF, yet it has twice the power output. Alpine used carbon fiber quite liberally to make it this light. As you can see, even the wheels are made of the stuff.

We also dig the interior, which makes it evident that this model is not made for everyday use. In there, you'll find carbon buckets, racing harnesses, and not much else. In fact, the screen is only there because it's required by law to display the reverse camera.

6 Suzuki Jimny - A Better, Smaller Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

The "want one" factor for the Jimny was already relatively high, but now Suzuki has fixed one of its two major problems. The three-door is tiny, and you can't fit anything bigger than a seven-year-old on the second-row bench. And if that bench is up, the trunk is only big enough for a hand towel. You can put stuff on the roof, but that makes it more unstable, so the only realistic trip you could undertake was to a nudist camp. Now, there's a four-door version with a larger trunk. It's still tiny, but you can at least bring some stuff along.

Suzuki hasn't fixed Jimny's other problem, which is the wheezy naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. It was just shy of adequate in a three-door, so we can only imagine what it must feel like when you load a four-door with four people and their luggage. Over long distances, it will drive you mad unless you accept that the trip must be completed at 65 mph while you admire the scenery. But the Jimny isn't about freeway commutes. It's about scampering over rocks and through narrow trails where a Wrangler would get stuck, and when it comes to traversing the unknown, the Jimny is king.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

Follow On

Google News

See Also

Was the Forbidden Fruit an Apple?

5 Mitsuoka Roadster - A Mazda Miata With '40s Styling

We all enjoy a good restomod, but Mitsuoka is in the retromodding business. Instead of taking an old car and making it more modern, this Japanese tuning firm uses existing (reliable) cars and puts a 1940s body on top. The model you see here is the Roadster, also known as the Himiko in Japan. While it may seem like heresy to some, the Roadster has been enough of a success to warrant a second generation.

The first Roadster was based on the NC Miata, but the model you see here is based on the current ND. The exciting thing about it is that Mitsuoka chose the 1.5-liter naturally aspirated ND, which is not available in the USA. It also stretches the wheelbase, but the rest of the mechanical bits and even the interior remain the same, but the steering wheel is rebadged.

Why do we like it? The idea of driving a car with classic styling is appealing, which is precisely why Morgans are so special. But unlike Morgans, the Roadster is based on one of the most reliable platforms ever, so you can buy it and not worry about breakdowns, parts, servicing, etc. And if you don't like this styling, Mitsuoka sells another MX-5 that looks like a C2 Corvette, called the Rockstar.

4 Lexus LM - Luxury For The Unpretentious

The Lexus LM is the perfect luxury car for a person who wants to fly under the radar. Yes, the grill is a bit on the flash side, but we're basically talking about a car that competes with the S-Class and 7 Series. The LM is certainly more discreet than both those cars.

Why would you buy this? The engines aren't particularly powerful, and large people carriers aren't known for being fun to drive, but this is not a car you want to pilot anyway. The secret is to get the four-seater model, which has two seats up front and two completely isolated first-class seats in the rear. It makes the rear seats of every other luxury car look like a poverty-spec rental. It's not so much the 48-inch screen or the shagpile carpets we find attractive. The real secret is the set of leather-wrapped seats that recline almost flat and the ottoman on which you can rest your feet. The seats can also sense if a person is hot or cold and adjust the temperature accordingly. That's real luxury.

3 BMW M3 Touring - The Ultimate Do Everything Wagon

If you could only choose one car for the rest of your life, this would likely be it. The M3 Touring is the perfect size, as the average American family is only 3.13 people. Those rear seats are more than big enough for one full-size person and 0.13 of a person, and how much luggage does 13% of a person really need? And for those who want an SUV because they might go off-road at some point? Stop lying to yourself. The research shows that 98% of people only ever take their SUV off-road once a year, if that. Nope, the M3 Wagon is all you need to live out the rest of your life in automotive nirvana.

BMW kept things remarkably simple for the M3 Touring. There is only one spec, and it's the Competition with an eight-speed automatic and M xDrive. It will get to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and to 124 mph in 12.9. You can also put it in RWD drive mode with 10 levels of stability to control to keep you safe. As if that's not cool enough, it also holds the record for the fastest wagon to ever do a lap of the Nürburgring. It beat the Mercedes-AMG E63 S by more than 10 seconds despite being down by more than 100 horses.

You might be reading this thinking that it's all good because the M5 Touring is coming to the USA, powered by the same drivetrain as the XM. We like the idea of a performance wagon with an all-electric driving range of 43 miles, but the downside is the additional weight. Leaked figures suggest the incoming M5 will weigh 5,356 pounds, which will make it the fattest M5 ever by a significant margin. While it's true that there has never been a lousy M5 (we ranked every generation), the XM left us cold. It just didn't feel like there was an upside to the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which spoils the rest of the package. BMW will likely knock it out of the park, but for now, the M3 Touring remains at the top of our list of cars we'd be happy to spend the rest of our lives with.

2 Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+

America gets the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, and it's now available in full-fat S guise with 416 hp. But we wish we could get the hatchback version, the A 45 S. Why would we wish for that, especially since they share a platform, powertrain, and almost everything else? Well, we drove the two back to back when the updated versions were first unveiled, and despite all the commonalities, they have different personalities. The A45 S, without a trunk, behaves in a much spikier fashion, more prone to rotation when trail-braking and getting on the power. Considering the drift-inducing rear differential already makes the A45/CLA45 twins prone to sideways antics, the shorter body dials up the fun to 11. Plus, who doesn't love a hot hatch? We know we do, and feel like the segment is dying.

1 Cupra Formentor VZ5

Cupra is officially coming to America, but when it gets here, we probably won't see the Formentor VZ5, which is a shame. The VZ5 is a crossover (boo), but it's one powered by an Audi-sourced 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo from the Audi RS3, with up to 385 hp and 354 lb-ft. It's rapid, claiming the 0-60 sprint in under 4.2 seconds, and it's wickedly cool to look at. The interior is sexy and maintains VW quality standards - Cupra is a spin-off from the VW-owned Seat brand - but also has space for an average-sized family. We don't often support the crossover craze, but when it looks this good and goes this quick, we'd like to see more.