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Millennial matchmaker: the 10 best new cars for the connected generation

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The automotive industry may be in a scramble to secure engineering talent, but what it really seems to need are people who understand the Millennial generation. Every week there’s a new study claiming Millennials aren’t buying cars, or don’t want to drive, or would rather take Ubers everywhere.

While the data is mostly accurate, the responses and interpretations of the study results are way off base. Some automakers seem to think loading a new car with gadgets will automatically sell more of them. Perhaps worse are those that ignore any obvious differences between Millennial and previous generations, choosing to produce the same conservative models year after year.

Fortunately, some brands have invested in diagnosing the needs and wants of this highly connected, diverse segment. Manufacturers who prioritize intuitive, adaptive in-car technologies packaged in affordable, handsome vehicles will own their respective sales classes. Let’s take a look at which makes and models are leading the charge.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
China’s latest tiny EV costs just $6,735 and somehow squeezes in five doors
The four-seat Bestune Pony joins the cute-car crowd with rear doors and a price that puts its Wuling rival squarely in view
Orange car, front three-quarter

FAW's five-door Bestune Pony has launched in China from 44,900 yuan, roughly $6,735. The tiny EV packs four seats into a cheerful little box just 3.35 meters long.

It looks like something you'd buy in a gift shop, but the layout makes room for everyday chores. There are four passenger doors and a rear hatch, so getting into the back doesn't require folding a front seat out of the way.

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Volkswagen’s smartest EVs are launching in China while the US and Europe wait
China-only models already have the software, charging, and driving technology VW’s Western cars are still waiting to receive
Volkswagen ID UNYX 08

Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.

With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.

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BYD’s $12,000 Qin Plus DM-i shows how much US buyers are overpaying for their cars
A cheap commuter car that could take you from New York to Miami without refueling? Yes, please.
BYD Qin Plus DM-i feature

BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.

What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles. 

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