How Have Cars Changed in the Last 25 Years?

My, how time flies. Cars.com is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we thought we’d commemorate the occasion by taking a look back at five vehicles that are as important and relevant today as they were a quarter century ago. Let’s see how the 2023 versions of these vehicles compare with their 1998 selves.

Related: Chevrolet Corvette Celebrates 70th Birthday With Hybrid, AWD 2024 E-Ray Reveal

Before we do, a few words of note: In the below examples of the vehicles we’ve selected, trims are not strictly equivalent by branding; we’ve chosen vehicles from the 2023 model year that most closely resemble their model-year 1998 equivalents in their respective lineups. Also, “base” figures refer to the trim rather than the nameplate. Read on for how that looks applied to some well-known automotive names.

Chevrolet Corvette

The Bow-Tie brand’s beloved two-seat sports car is also celebrating an anniversary this year — its 70th, to be exact — and of course Chevy whipped up a special-edition commemorative model for the occasion. The 2023 model year is the third for the C8 generation, which ushered in the biggest change in the Corvette’s long history: a switch from a traditional front-engine layout to a mid-engine design, with the powerplant behind the occupant compartment. Additional departures from tradition are on the way with the imminent arrival of the 2024 Corvette E-Ray (the first all-wheel-drive, hybrid Corvette) and a pure-electric Corvette that could arrive for the 2025 model year.

A mid-engined Corvette was not unheard of back in 1998 (Chevrolet designers had toyed with mid-engine Vette concept vehicles since the 1960s), but the idea seemed highly unlikely to ever see the light of day as a production model. The 1998 model year was the sophomore season for the C5-generation Corvette, which launched for 1997 with groundbreaking features including Chevrolet’s all-new, all-aluminum LS1 V-8 engine and a rear-mounted transaxle instead of a traditional transmission (for better weight distribution). Fun fact: The C5 was the last Corvette generation to come with pop-up hidden headlights, ending a tradition that began in 1963.

Tale of the tape: Despite its radical architectural change, the current Corvette’s exterior dimensions are remarkably similar to its 1998 predecessor’s, and its base price is a steal compared to its inflation-adjusted cost in ‘98. Though the EPA fuel-economy numbers are nearly identical between the two, the 2023 outclasses the 1998 by 150 horsepower. Impressive.

Ford F-150

There’s one thing that definitely hasn’t changed about the Ford F-150 pickup truck in the last 25 years: It’s been America’s bestselling vehicle for every one of those years, and it’s showing no signs of relinquishing its title anytime soon. The 2023 F-150 is a continuation of the redesigned 2021 model that brought several innovative available features, such as a full-hybrid powertrain and Ford’s Pro Power Onboard generator system. The 2022 model year saw the introduction of the F-150 Lightning pure-electric pickup, a vehicle that would have been scarcely fathomable in 1998.

Something else that might have been hard to comprehend for the average consumer in 1998 is just how popular full-size half-ton pickup trucks have become as everyday vehicles, and just how luxurious (and expensive) they can be. The F-150 was on this path in 1998, however; it was redesigned for the 1997 model year, gaining smoothly contoured, less “trucklike” styling; a bevy of new comfort and safety features; and better all-around refinement. Another big step toward making the F-150 more palatable to personal-use buyers was still to come: A true four-door crew-cab body with full-size rear doors wouldn’t arrive until the 2001 model year.

Tale of the tape: The 2023 F-150 is significantly longer than its 1998 forebear, but its base curb weight is just 120 pounds heavier; we’ll credit the current F-150’s aluminum-intensive body construction for that feat. Plus, the new F-150’s 5 mpg improvement in all three fuel economy ratings becomes more impressive when you factor in that it’s making 70 hp more than the 1998 model.

Honda Civic

Honda’s stalwart Civic compact car was redesigned for the 2022 model year (inaugurating its 11th generation), and it also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. The Civic rolled into 2023 with no significant changes except for the reintroduction of the high-performance Type R variant. Its 2022 redesign brought the Civic calmer, more conservative exterior styling that made it look like a smaller Accord, along with a classier interior and new technology features, all while maintaining the car’s trademark nimble driving personality.

The Civic’s mission and general layout was much the same in 1998, though it offered two-door hatchback and coupe body styles back then that are no longer on the menu (the current Civic comes only as a four-door sedan and four-door hatchback). In general, however, the Civic has changed little over the last quarter century compared to the other vehicles on this list. Its appeal today is the same as it ever was: It’s a practical, economical everyday commuter that offers more fun behind the wheel than you might expect.

Tale of the tape: If this were a high school reunion, the Civic sedan would be getting all the “You’ve hardly changed at all!” comments. It is noticeably bigger and heavier than it was 25 years ago, but it’s also noticeably more powerful and fuel-efficient — all while managing to undercut its old starting price by almost $100.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee is essentially a carryover of the new-for-2022 model. That long-awaited redesign brought a host of new additions, including an opulent Summit Reserve flagship trim, a 10.25-inch touchscreen display for the front passenger and the Grand Cherokee’s first plug-in-hybrid powertrain. The 2022 model was the second half of a one-two punch — the Grand Cherokee gained its first three-row version for 2021 with the launch of the Grand Cherokee L.

The 1998 model year was the last for the first-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, which debuted for 1993 — just a couple of years after the landmark Ford Explorer. The Explorer and Grand Cherokee were essential in ushering in the contemporary SUV era, a movement that’s going stronger than ever today. Along those same lines, the 1998 Grand Cherokee lineup gained a line-topping 5.9 Limited model that boasted luxurious trimmings and a gutsy 245-hp, 5.9-liter V-8 — features that presaged the spate of high-performance luxury SUVs that followed.

Tale of the tape: By virtue of both its specs and available features, we’ll give the 2023 Grand Cherokee the “most improved” award of this group. Compared to its 1998 predecessor, it’s more than $9,000 cheaper to start, has 108 hp extra, and is significantly bigger and more spacious inside. And on top of all that, it can be equipped six ways from Sunday.

Toyota RAV4

Toyota’s RAV4 compact SUV has been America’s bestselling sport-ute in recent years, maintaining a comfortable lead over the Honda CR-V; in fact, the RAV4 is America’s bestselling vehicle that isn’t a full-size pickup. The 2023 RAV4 is a continuation of the redesigned model that debuted for 2019; the lineup offers a variety of attractive choices, including the rugged TRD Off Road and Woodland Edition trims, the generously equipped Limited, and both regular-hybrid and Prime plug-in-hybrid versions. The RAV4 Prime is pricey, but it’s also a stealthy hot rod: Its 302-hp powertrain propels it from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds.

It would have been difficult to foresee just how important this little utility vehicle would become to Toyota and the industry as a whole back in 1998. The RAV4 (which stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD) was just entering its third year on the market then, having debuted in America for the 1996 model year. It wasn’t as spacious back then: The four-door version was almost a foot and a half shorter in overall length than today’s model, and there was a two-door version that was shorter still. But because it was based on a car platform, the RAV4 had better on-road driving manners and maneuverability than the heftier truck-based SUVs of its day, and it was more fuel-efficient, too. Along with the CR-V (which launched in America for 1997), the RAV4 essentially pioneered the modern compact SUV as we know it today.

Tale of the tape: The RAV4 gets the “most grown up” award compared to its former self. The 1998 model was an exceptionally diminutive vehicle by today’s standards — it’s 11.6 inches shorter in overall length than the 2023 Corolla Cross, the smallest SUV Toyota currently sells on our shores. Whatever the RAV4 lost in cuteness and chirpiness over the years, it’s more than made up for in virtually every other measurement.

More From Cars.com:

• 2023 Honda Civic Type R Review: Fast and Not as Furious-Looking
• 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Review: Good on Gas, Bad on Noise
• Breaking Down the 2023 Ford F-150’s Towing Capacities
• 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Review: Nearly Silent Off-Roading Is Nice

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