A Guide to 1995 Cars
From shifty Japanese sports cars to brawny American sport utility vehicles, these are the best 1995 cars.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The
Acura Integra
was voted 1995’s best car, but the Mazda RX-7 and the Nissan 300ZX
both gave the Integra a run for its money.The mid-1990s were a time of easy-going fun, which was reflected in some of the year’s best cars. But practicality and efficiency were also key factors in the best cars of 1995.
This guide to 1995 cars has everything you need to know about the year’s best rides, from the sporty to the compact to the rugged—and everything in between.
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The best cars of 1995
From luxury sedans to zippy sports cars, not to mention practical rides and tough-as-nails trucks and SUVs, here are the 10 best cars of 1995.
The best car of 1995: Acura Integra
Edmunds fair market range: $1,105 to $1,729
Powertrain: 1.8L inline 4-cylinder engine with 5-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
The zippy Acura Integra took the cake as 1995’s best car, and it’s no surprise. This practical, affordable, and very fun vehicle is a perfect blend of all a driver could want in a car.
It offers terrific slippery road traction, a well-rounded and composed ride, and responsive handling and steering. The ‘95 Integra also came with a leather interior, bigger tires, and a spoiler.
While quick, the Integra goes from 0 to 60 in a slightly behind-the-pace 8.8 seconds and can travel a quarter-mile in 16.7 seconds.
Coming from the renowned Acura brand, theIntegra is known as a reliable vehicle with respectable yearly maintenance costs. Average annual maintenance costs hover around $500, much less than what’s typical.
The best luxury car of 1995: BMW M3
Edmunds fair market range: $2,146 to $3,244
Powertrain: 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine with 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The small, shifty, sporty, and sexy
BMW M3
has it all—a taut suspension and tires that stick to the road like glue yet still manage to offer a smooth,refined ride. In 1995, the M3 was actually faster, roomier, and cheaper than the other sports sedans in its class. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.2 seconds and complete a quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds.
Despite BMW’s reputation for well-built driving machines, the M3 and other BMWs are pricey to maintain, with an average cost hovering between $1,000 to $1,700 per year—significantly higher than what’s normal.
The best truck of 1995: Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
Edmunds fair market range: $1,207 to $2,056
Powertrain: 5.8L V8 engine with 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The Ford F-150 SVT Lightning may be brawny, but in 1995 it was the belle of the ball! Ford sold690,000 of these pickups that year, making it the most popular vehicle in America.
It shouldn't come as a surprise, with an Eddie Bauer-badged luxury interior, a powerful 5.8L V8 sporting 240 horsepower,limited-slip differential, and blazing speed. That’s right—this pickup goes 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.2 seconds and does the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds,matching the year’s best luxury vehicle (the BMW M3). Not bad.
On average, the F-150 is reliable and cheaper to maintain than other full-size pickups at roughly $900 per year.
The best SUV of 1995: Ford Explorer
Edmunds fair market range: $1,277 to $2,072
Powertrain: 4.0L V6 engine with 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The 1995 Ford Explorer was a big upgrade on the previous year’s version, upping the ante in terms of power, comfort, and luxury. Its 4.0L V6 engine boasts 225 pound-feet of torque, and its Control Trac 4x4 system offers better driveability and handling over rough terrain.
The 1995 Explorer goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 11.6 seconds and can travel a quarter-mile in 18.2 seconds.
The ‘95 Explorer also landed in customers’ good graces in 1995 with a renewed emphasis on comfort and style, with a luxurious leather interior,a six-CD changer in the center console,and separate radio and air conditioning controls for rear passengers. The 60/40 reclining bench seat offers more practicality to drivers hauling bigger payloads, as well.
In terms of maintenance, the Explorer is a bit more costly to maintain than other full-size SUVs, averaging roughly $534 peryear.
The best luxury SUV of 1995: Land Rover Range Rover
Edmunds fair market range: $650 to $1,048
Powertrain: 4.0L V8 engine with 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
Perhaps it's just the regalness of the
Land Rover
badge, but the 1995 Range Rover managed to separate itself from the pack with its unique combination of British design and interior luxury. Its leather seats, wood-trimmed cabin, premium stereo, and 6-CD changer and unassuming-but-very-smooth driving demeanor offer wide appeal.Sporting 190 horsepower and an electronic air suspension system, the Land Rover Range Rover can go 0 to 60 miles per hour in 9.6 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 17.2 seconds. Hardly racecar speed, but in an SUV this nice, you want to drive past people slowly… so they can see you.
Maintaining a Land Rover has never been cheap, as you can expect a yearly maintenance cost of roughly $1,258, higher than average for a luxury, full-size SUV, which costs around $1,127 annually.
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Start earning nowThe best sports car of 1995: Mazda RX-7
Edmunds fair market range: $26,000 to $44,000
Powertrain: 1.3L twin-turbocharged intercooled 2-rotor engine with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special:
The 1995 MazdaRX-7 is a compact yet roaring delight, with light pedals, a tight cockpit, and the attitude of a whirling dervish. It offers crisp steering, strong brakes, a peppy engine, and enough oversteer to put a smile on the face of any expert driver.
The RX-7 goes 0 to 60 in just 6.2 seconds and can travel a quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds. The only problem with the 1995 RX-7? That was the last year the RX-7 was sold in the U.S. due to poor sales! This makes the 1995 RX-7 very rare.
Mazda vehicles are known for their high quality, and the RX-7 is certainly that. According to RepairPal, the average yearly maintenance for a ‘95 RX-7 is just $346—well below the average figure for other cars. Of course, you’ll have to find one first!
The best family car of 1995: Nissan Maxima
Edmunds fair market range: $1,093 to $1,707
Powertrain: 3.0L V6 engine with 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
The 1995
Nissan Maxima
was voted that year’s top family car, not only due to its ease in comfortably transporting five passengers from A to B but also the terrific ride quality that goes along with such practicality. The Maxima sports a rear suspension for better ride quality, not to mention enhanced noise suppression to ensure a quiet cabin. As well, that year’s Maxima offers terrificacceleration, great fuel economy for 1995, and quickness.
It goes 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.6 seconds—quite a feat for a large, family sedan. The Maxima does the quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds.
Nissans are remarkably easy to maintain. According to RepairPal, the Maxima clocks in at about $550 per year, significantly lower than the average car.
What cars came out in 1995?
A slew of new rides was introduced in 1995, from two popular Ford models to highly regarded entrants from Chrysler, Honda, and Lexus.
Model | Vehicle type | Engine | Fair market range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acura Integra | Sedan/hatchback | 1.8L inline-4 or V8 | $1,105 to $1,729 | Debut of the Speed Edition |
BMW M3 | Sports car | 3.0L inline-6 | $2,146 to $3,244 | M3’s return after 3-year hiatus |
Chrysler Cirrus | Midsize sedan | 2.0L inline-4 or 2.5L V6 | $182 to $803 | Amazingly spacious interior for a midsize |
Ford Contour | Midsize sedan | 2.0L inline-6 or 2.5L V6 | $182 to $1,013 | Sporty, euro-inspired look |
Honda Accord | Compact sedan | 2.2L inline-4 or 2.7L V6 | $1,835 to $2,866 | As smooth and refined as ‘94 model |
Honda Prelude | Sedan or coupe | 2.2L inline-4 | $1,587 to $2,481 | Sporty ride even without a V6 |
Lexus SC300 | Luxury coupe | 3.0L inline-6 | $1,867 to $3,028 | Luxury with both comfort and performance |
Mazda RX-7 | Sports car | 1.3L 2-rotor Wankel | $26,000 to $44,000 | ‘95 was last year of production |
Nissan 300ZX | Sports car | 3.0L V6 | $1,425 to $2,154 | Another of 1995’s most popular sports cars |
Nissan Maxima | Full-size sedan | 3.0L V6 | $1,093 to $1,707 | Most popular family car of 1995 |
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FAQ
What was the most popular car in 1995?
That honor goes to the 1995 Ford F-150, which sold more than 690,000 trucks in 1995.
What was the fastest car in 1995?
Back in 1995, the McLaren F1 was the fastest car released, hitting a brain-whopping 230 mph.
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