MotorTrend Car, Truck, and SUV Testing: How It’s Changed in 10 Years

We test cars … trucks, SUVs, hatchbacks, vans, and even a few three-wheelers. This is what sets MotorTrend apart from bloggers, Vloggers, and influencers. We do the things others cannot do and have been testing vehicles for nearly 70 years.

As we approach our 70th anniversary, we decided to take a snapshot of how many vehicles we’ve tested over the past 10 model years. In that period, we’ve tested 2,454 vehicles including 391 coupes, 812 sedans, 635 SUVs, and 163 trucks. Interestingly, average curb weight from 2009 to 2019 has increased from 3,909 pounds to 4,060 yet average fuel economy (from 2012 after the EPA revised its testing methods) has increased from 22/29 city/highway mpg to 25/31 mpg.

Coupes

In the past decade, the number of coupes we tested peaked at a high of 48 tested in 2010 to just 11 halfway through 2019. In 2010, it seems like every other print-magazine cover featured some combination of Camaros, Mustangs, and Corvettes.

Coupes Tested by Year

Sedans

Meanwhile, sedan tests peaked in 2012 with 105—and the first appearance of the Tesla Model S. We’ve only tested 42 four-doors so far this year.

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Sedans Tested by Year

SUVs

As expected, the number of SUVs we have tested has been on a steady climb. Last year was huge with nearly 90 going to our test track. It’s no wonder then, that more SUVs than cars compete in their respective “…of the Year” contests these days.

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SUVs tested by year

Trucks