With the 2010s drawing to a close and the automotive industry in transition, we’re looking back at the 20 most innovative, disruptive and game-changing cars from the last 20 years, each of which we consider to be the automotive icons of the new millennium. Although the following 20 cars are very different, they’ve all affected the status quo of the automotive world in one way or another. Some set new benchmarks in speed, performance and price while others redefined what was possible technologically or changed global car culture for good. They can all be considered as avant-garde in their fields and have inspired others to follow their lead. In this, Classic Driver’s 21st year in the business, we’ve tried to retrace our steps, peer through the wide-angle lens of automotive archaeology and identify the cars that truly changed the game. Of course, this list is as subjective as it is incomplete. So, why don’t you head over to the comments sections on our Instagram and Facebook pages and let us know your opinions on which cars have left the greatest mark on the new millennium so far. We can’t wait to see what you think.

Jan Baedeker
Editor-in-Chief