10 Vehicles That Were Brand New 15 Years Ago
In 2004, a ton of new models hit the market, many for the first time. That means they have now been around for 15 years!
Here are 10 vehicles that made their debut as new at that time. Some of them have aged well, while others have fallen into oblivion.
Acura TL
Introduced in 2004, the third generation of the Acura TL was powered by a 3.2-litre V6. The sportier Type-S benefited from a 3.5-litre unit.
BMW 5 Series
Launched originally in 1972, the 5 Series from BMW entered its fifth generation in 2004. Available in sedan and wagon body styles, it was followed a year later by the mighty M5, which used a V10 engine to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
Built on the same platform as several other General Motors vehicles like the Saab 9-3, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura, the Malibu Maxx was the hatchback variant of the Malibu sedan. It filled a void created by the departure of the five-door Corsica many years prior.
Chrysler Pacifica
Unveiled at the New York Auto Show back in 2002, the original Pacifica was a midsize crossover designed to meet the needs of American families. It ended in 2008 with no one shedding a tear. The name resurfaced in 2017 with the launch of the Pacifica minivan.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Sold from 2004-2011, the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti was powered by a 5.7-litre V12 engine that could be mated to a manual transmission or an F1-style sequential gearbox. Offering seating for up to four, it was later replaced by the Ferrari FF.
Jeep TJ Unlimited
In 2004, Jeep offered an extended variant of the popular Wrangler, then called TJ in Canada. It went by the name of "Unlimited" and was quickly eliminated when the JK generation debuted in 2007. From that point on, the Wrangler could be had in both two-door and four-door configurations.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 replaced the Protegé, a car notoriously known for its rust issues. More than 42,500 units were sold in 2004 across Canada. Last year, Mazda3 sales reached about half that total.
Nissan 350Z Roadster
In 2004, Nissan expanded its lineup with a convertible variant of the 350Z coupe. A 3.5-litre V6 engine was found under the hood. In 2009, the next-generation 370Z made its debut and it's still being sold today.
Pontiac GTO
Sharing its platform with the Holden Monaro, the fifth-generation GTO was more Australian than American. Pontiac put an end to it in 2006. The potent 5.7-litre V8 grew to 6.0 litres for the final two model years.
Toyota Prius
Produced from 1997, the Prius is the most iconic hybrid car of all time. The second generation debuted in 2004 following its reveal at the New York Auto Show a year before. The rear liftgate was definitely a good asset.