Help Me Welcome The First Inductees Of The (Hopefully) Annual Pick10 Awards: Part One
These are the models you should take into consideration for 2026.
It’s a new year. With resolutions cropping up on the Metaverse and in hair salons and coffee shops, I’ve decided to make a few of my own. The big one is to propel Sped into stardom.
That’s a big task, and I don’t question it’ll take a lot of time and effort and love, but I know I have the motivation to pull it off and ensure that this blog becomes a mainstay among car platforms with a humane focus. That means no AI, no ‘slop’ (Gen Z word for fluff), no bullshitting that wastes your time and mine—putting an emphasis on topics that matter.
Enough manifesting. Let’s get down to the first big task of 2026, which is to introduce the Pick10 Awards, its purpose, and the first-ever Class of inductees.
In an effort that I hope continues on an annual basis, this group of ragamuffins pass the snuff test in terms of what I consider to be the biggest component of car buying: Longevity. To pound the message of Sped into your veins, the question I will always ask that I want you to ask yourself is this: Do you see yourself with this car in 10 years?
If the answer is yes, then I did my job, both as a car journalism and occasional seller. For the new year, we’re kicking off with a slew of recommendations all but guaranteed to keep you on the road for years to come.
I’m sure I’ll elaborate more in the near future but now, let’s break down the vehicles you should add to your shopping list for 2026.
Pick10 — Dodge Durango
We’re kicking off with an oldie. Fortunately, it’s still a goodie. The Dodge Durango has stuck around in its current form since 2011, and remains a crucial asset in propelling the brand going forward. Its parent conglomerate, Stellantis, is figuring out how to function as a corporation after a series of bad business decisions and half-assed new models has hindered reputation and stalled growth.
Weirdly, the Dodge Durango is immune to such calamities. You can still get V-6 or V-8 power including a 710-horsepower supercharged Hemi to tickle your fancy. Add that to a three-row passenger SUV with room for up to seven people inside a sumptuous cabin, and you have a family wagon that hauls ass.
Pick10 — Ford Expedition
The other big family hauler on this list received a brand new design for 2025 that includes an exterior and interior overhaul, allowing it to grow in space and ego.
Ford’s latest generation of the Expedition doesn’t disappoint, having gained a split-open tailgate and a somewhat radical dashboard that include a square steering wheel. You have to try it out for yourself to understand the truck’s mission, which is to take you anywhere and everywhere in total comfort.
Underneath the skin, things are less radical. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 moves the big truck thanks to a pair of turbochargers and a 10-speed automatic. This setup has remained largely unchanged for the better part of a decade now.
With 400 horsepower on tap, all that’s left to worry about the destination. Beware, with eight people available (seven if you opt for second-row Captains chairs) to join, you may be outvoted.
Pick10 — Lexus LC500
Simply put, the Lexus LC500 is one of the most beautiful cars that will ever come out of this century. A sentiment that’s hard to believe when you learn that it’s been on sale for about a decade with minimal changes—none of which affect the exterior panels.
You can get the LC as a coupe or convertible, complete with a luxurious leather cabin that encompass thoughtful features and details. A variety of colors remain on offer inside and out.
Every LC for 2026 gets the legacy 5.0-liter V-8 mated to a 10-speed automatic and complementary exhaust note. You get 471 horsepower for enough hustle to outrun an ostrich in a pinch. A less-potent hybrid setup used to be available but was dropped after about a handful of people bought it.
That leaves the LC500 left with every beautiful, wonderful thing about it and nary a negative. The only downside will be when the time comes and Lexus chooses to put the fabled sports car out of production. Art aficionados and car enthusiasts alike will weep.
Pick10 — Mazda CX-50
As a brand, Mazda is cut from a different cloth. That’s evident in the company’s first attempt at a pseudo-adventure wagon. A few years after launch, it remains a hit.
The Mazda CX-50 is a compact SUV sold alongside the company bestseller in the CX-5. While the latter continues to win the popularity contest by a country mile, the wagon is gaining ground, posting over 100,000 in annual sales for the first time. So there’s a market to squeeze in both appeals.
For all of the CX-5’s redeeming traits, the CX-50 is a tad more capable, bigger, and luxurious than its urban cousin. It’s also available with the same turbocharged engine and, in a first for Mazda, as a fuel-sipping hybrid.
Couple that to an equipment roster that puts the value of Toyotas to shame and you have a terrific all-rounder.
Pick10 — Mazda MX-5 Miata
Like the Lexus LC500 the Mazda MX-5 Miata, in its current form, only seems to get better with age. That’s aided by updates it received for 2024, which bring only mechanical changes and some visual tweaks to keep the roadster at the top of its game. Leaving the design and powertrain alone speaks volumes to the Miata’s greatness.
2026 is the tenth year that this generation Miata sees production. That’s how good it is. At the same time it’s the superior sports car, it continues to buck market trends of getting bigger and heavier, with Mazda committing to an even lighter convertible for the MX-5 next redesign.
That is still a couple years out, at least. For now though, you have the most refined roadster at an attainable price point that will deliver the driving experience this side of a Porsche. What more can you ask for?
Check back tomorrow for the five remaining Pick10 Winners!
-TA