Hagerty Vehicle Rating: Jeep CJ-7 still leads April 2017 Top 25 list
It might be time to check the brakes on your 1976-86 Jeep CJ-7. The compact sport utility isn’t showing any signs of slowing down — not when it comes to the Hagerty Vehicle Rating, at least. The CJ-7 is ranked No. 1 for the third consecutive month, and it even gained two points over the last ranking. The popular 4×4 is one of 11 SUVs or trucks in the top 25.
Affordability is common among the top-ranked vehicles, as entry level cars and trucks continue selling well while the market’s peak remains soft. Only one vehicle in the top 10 has a median No. 3 (“good”) value of more than $18,100, and 20 of the top 25 vehicles are valued under $25,000. The top-ranked CJ-7, for example, has a median No. 3 value of $8,300.
Eight vehicles dropped out of the top 25, including three of four that tied for 10th the last time around (1978-87 Buick Regal, 1947-55 Chevrolet 3100 and 1962-67 Shelby Cobra). The fourth member of that group — the 1994-98 Porsche 911 — tumbled 10 spots to 20th.
But there were plenty of impressive surges, as well. The 1973-91 Chevrolet C/K Blazer vaulted nearly 500 spots from 515th into a tie for 20th. Even more surprising than that giant spike is that it took so long for the Blazer hit the radar. Considering SUVs have been appreciating for some time, Blazers lagged behind. But buyers are beginning to appreciate them as a less-expensive alternative to first-generation Ford Broncos. In fact, the median No. 3 value of a 1973-91 Blazer is less than half that of the first-gen Bronco ($8,400 compared to $18,000).
The 1974-76 Plymouth Valiant / Scamp also took a giant leap, rising from No. 159 to No. 12, a spot it shares with seven other models. And the 1999-2005 Ferrari 360 went from 121st to fifth, tied with the 1949-52 Chevrolet Styleline and 1968-80 Volkswagen Beetle, which climbed up from 45th.
Here’s a full rundown of this month’s top 25:
