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Mitsubishi’s family sedan had been around since the late 1960s, but wasn’t imported to North America until 1989. The car was completely restyled for the 1994 and 1999 seasons before an all-new U.S. designed-and-built version was introduced for 2004. Base sedans were equipped with a 160-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, while a 230-horse 3.8-liter V6 was available on premium models. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard with both powerplants, but Mitsubishi added manual shift controls for the V6. That engine was dropped from the lineup after the 2009 model year, leaving just the four-cylinder to soldier on for three more seasons before the Galant disappeared for good.

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To attract more buyers, Porsche launched the more affordable Boxster (the name came from blending the words “boxer” (the term used to describe its horizontally opposed engine layout) and “roadster.” The car’s six-cylinder powerplant was positioned directly behind the passenger compartment but ahead of the rear wheels (a mid-engine layout). For the 2000 model year, the more powerful Boxster S was added. Significantly refreshed models arrived for the 2005 model year with 236 and 276 horsepower, with the bigger number for the Boxster S. Engine output and displacement was increased for 2007 and again for 2010, culminating in 255 horsepower for the Boxster and up to 320 horses for the S. The third-generation Boxster was introduced for 2013.

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Lincoln’s luxury derivative of the mid-size Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan sedan was originally called the Zephyr, but just for the first year of its existence. The brand was changed to MKZ for the 2007 model year. Along with the new name came a new 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 that replaced the initial 221-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. All-wheel-drive was also introduced as an option. The MKZ received a styling update for 2010, while a Ford Fusion-based 191-horsepower gasoline-electric Hybrid model joined the fleet the following year. An all-new second-generation MKZ was introduced for the 2013 model year.

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The original RAV4 ushered in the car-like tall wagons that are currently all the rage. Toyota produced the original version as a short-wheelbase two-door model as well as in a longer-wheelbase four-door size. A single-size second-generation RAV4 arrived for 2001 followed by a significantly larger third-gen unit for the 2006 model year. Its key features included a 166-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an optional 269-horse 3.5-liter V6.

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The R-class was developed for North American buyers and built alongside the M-class sport utility vehicle at the M-B factory in Alabama. The vehicle’s platform was loosely based on that of the M, only it was considerably longer and wider. As a result, the wagon offered two rows of twin bucket seats as well as a split-folding third-row bench and a reasonable amount of cargo space. All-wheel-drive was standard, along with a choice of V6 or optional V8 powerplants connected to seven-speed automatic transmissions.

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For more than 30 years, the Sentra brand has been a stalwart in Nissan’s sedan lineup. With regular content and styling updates, the vehicle has evolved into a size-reduced likeness of its bigger Altima and Maxima siblings. For the 2007 model year, the sixth-generation Sentra came with a bigger body and more thrust from a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder. An optional 177-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder arrived for 2008 in the sporty SE-R (200 horses in the Spec V). The Sentra was completely redesigned for the 2013 model year.

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The five-passenger CX-7 wagon and the larger seven-seat CX-9 were both added for the 2007 model year. The CX-7 arrived with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 244 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It received a styling update for 2010 along with a new base engine in the form of a 161-horsepower non-turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder.