For a vehicle to be considered a classic, it needs to turn 25. The rule is simple and has been in effect for several decades across North America, although its adoption has not been uniform across states and provinces. Some nuances also exist in certain places, but, in general, when a model reaches the quarter-century mark, it’s viewed differently.
Back in 2000, 1975 models were becoming “classics.” The more time passes, the harder it is to imagine that newer, more technologically advanced vehicles are achieving this status. Yet that’s the case.
This year, people will view 2001 models differently when seeking a classic. The question you’re probably asking yourself is whether any are truly of interest.
The answer is yes. You just have to look at things differently.
Here’s a list of 10 models launched for the 2001 model year that are changing status in 2026. Note that we focused on new models and not those already on the market. For example, a 2001 Acura NSX becomes a classic this year, but the 2000 model year was already available.
Here’s our list, which, as a sign of the times, includes a good share of SUVs.
1 — Acura MDX
Acura was only 15 years old at the turn of this millennium, but it had already won over enthusiasts. In 2001, it offered us a new utility vehicle, the MDX. It offered an upscale experience and a seven-passenger configuration. Its level of luxury allowed it to position itself advantageously against the new utility vehicles of the era, the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML. The MDX also guaranteed reliability, with its 3.5-litre, 240-horsepower V6 engine recognized as ultra-durable.
Market price today: between $5,000 CAD and $10,000 CAD in good condition
2 — Chrysler PT Cruiser
Chrysler took quite a gamble at the beginning of the 2000s with the PT Cruiser, a product that adopted a retro 1930s style, which was far from unanimous. In fact, people either loved it or hated it. The boldness paid off, as the company’s order book quickly overflowed. Reliability was somewhat hit-or-miss with this vehicle, but it’s not uncommon today to meet owners who have nothing but good memories of their PT Cruiser. Fun fact: this model, built on the Neon platform, was supposed to be marketed by Plymouth, but the division’s demise forced it to be moved to Chrysler.
Market price today: between $5,000 CAD and $10,000 CAD in good condition
3 — Pontiac Aztek
Rarely has a vehicle generated so much discussion because of its distinctive design. The Pontiac Aztek, the Buick Rendezvous’s sibling, was supposed to revolutionize a genre in the early 2000s, namely, utility vehicles designed for the outdoors, something that has become very fashionable today. The result was catastrophic. Sales were not up to par in the first year, with about 27,000 units claimed, and they only declined thereafter before Pontiac decided to throw in the towel after the 2005 model year. Ironically, this was a harbinger of what would happen with this General Motors division, which would not finish the decade.
What’s amusing about the Aztek is that it has achieved mythical status among collectors, largely thanks to its appearance in the cult series Breaking Bad, where it serves as the main character’s vehicle, Walter White (Bryan Cranston).
Market price today: between $5,000 CAD and $10,000 CAD in good condition.
4 — Ford Escape
At its peak, the Ford Escape was one of the most popular compact SUVs on the market, along with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Its success is partly due to its successful market entry in 2001. Developed jointly with Mazda (Tribute), it benefited from a unibody structure that provided a very civilized behaviour, greatly appreciated by buyers. Its format, extremely spacious and practical, was one of its great strengths. Old units are rare here today, with rust having probably taken care of the most resilient ones.
Market price today: around $5,000 CAD, depending on condition
5 — Lexus IS 300
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, established itself in the market during the 1990s with the launch of targeted models such as the LS 400, ES 250, LX, and RX SUVs. At the turn of the decade, it added more strings to its bow, including the IS 300 sedan, which gave the company its first compact sports sedan. The challenge was significant for the model: to compete with heavyweights such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Equipped with a 3.0-litre inline-six producing 215 horsepower, this car was spirited and proved to us that Lexus could add performance to luxury. This sedan was even available with a manual transmission, a collector’s item today.
Market price today: between $12,000 CAD and $18,000 CAD, depending on condition.
6 — Toyota Prius
Here’s one that needs no introduction. The Prius is the one that introduced the planet to what it was like to drive a hybrid car daily. Although Honda introduced its Insight in Canada a few months earlier, people view Toyota’s model as the genre’s pioneer, with its Japanese debut dating back to 1997. Its atypical style would make it immediately recognizable, for better and worse. What’s incredible to note is that its average fuel consumption then (4.7 L/100 km) was better than what’s offered today (4.8 L/100 km). In full transparency, note that the car is now heavier and that all-wheel drive is standard in Canada. In the United States, the front-wheel-drive version averages 4.2 L/100 km.
Market price today: between $7,000 CAD and $15,000 CAD, depending on condition.
7 — Toyota Highlander
While it’s easy to imagine a Chrysler PT Cruiser or a Lexus IS as a classic vehicle, it’s harder to think of a Toyota Highlander as one. The reason is simple: this vehicle has nothing special other than having been designed to meet a family’s needs. No sporty versions, no eye-catching design, no exhilarating driving pleasure. Rather, behaviour that’s anything but sporty, a design as generic as possible, and behind the wheel, an experience that redefines the meaning of the word “boring.”
But here’s the thing. Since its debut, the Toyota Highlander has continued to meet families’ needs, is reliable as hell, and sells like hotcakes. That’s why it’s still on the menu, 25 years after its first steps on the market.
Interest in this model will remain low in the collector vehicle universe. In fact, what can make a model interesting is one with very low mileage that presents as new.
Believe us, it exists somewhere. You just have to find it.
Market price today: around $5,000 CAD, depending on condition.
8 — Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Here is a model that’s often forgotten. Ford’s idea to transform its Explorer SUV into a pickup truck was simply brilliant. It was strategic, however, as the crew cab version of the Ford Ranger wasn’t sold in the United States, which left Ford with a gap in the midsize pickup segment. The Explorer Sport Trac filled that void. Ford designed a specific bed for this model, but the rest came from the SUV. The decline in Explorer sales toward the end of the decade, accelerated by the financial crisis and rising gas prices, would force Ford to redesign the model, adopting a unibody structure for its 2011 renewal. That’s why the Sport Trac disappeared from the lineup. The return of the Ford Ranger in 2019 replaced the Sport Trac.
Market price today: between $5,000 CAD and $10,000, depending on condition.
9 — Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai has made great strides in quality over the past 25 years. The Santa Fe the company presented in 2001 was not yet up to the competition’s standards, but, as was the case at the time, the company loaded it with equipment often offered as options elsewhere, which meant the model delivered exceptional value. The challenge today is to find an example that hasn’t decomposed due to its contact with salt.
Market price today: between $3,000 CAD and $8,000 CAD, depending on condition.
10 — Volvo S60
Finally, as the last interesting model to become a classic this year, we turn to Volvo, which launched its first performance-oriented compact sedan, the S60, in 2001. Equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, it offered up to 247 horsepower in T5 configuration. In terms of safety, the company’s main calling card, the S60, featured WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), which reduced the risk of whiplash during a collision. Volvo introduced it with the S80 sedan in 1999, and now the S60.
If the model interests you, make sure you know a good mechanic specializing in Volvo products.
Market price today: between $5,000 CAD and $10,000 CAD, depending on condition.
