QOTD: Would You Buy a Car in Its First Model Year?

There are a large number of major new vehicle introductions happening in the United States in 2017.

The all-new 2018 Toyota Camry is arriving at dealers as we speak. The all-new 2018 Honda Accord is weeks away. Ford’s 2018 F-150 revamp is a thorough mid-cycle update. The Kia Niro, a unique Toyota Prius alternative, arrived early this year. Mazda brought a new bodystyle to the MX-5 Miata in RF trim. The Subaru Crosstrek, quickly becoming a mainstream compact car option, is new for 2018. The Alfa Romeo rebirth continues with the Giulia, still ramping up, and the arriving-now Stelvio. The all-electric Chevrolet Bolt arrived in late December, as did a new version of America’s historic best-selling utility vehicle, the Honda CR-V. The list goes on: Tesla Model 3, Jeep Compass, Ford Expedition, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus LC, Toyota C-HR, Volkswagen Atlas, Volvo XC60.

And, thank our lucky stars, we can’t forget the early summer arrival of Honda’s fifth-generation Odyssey.

New engines, new transmissions, new wiring harnesses, new technology, new roof-folding mechanisms, new Italians. Is it just too much… new everything? Would you buy any of these vehicles in 2017, or is it best to wait until the second model year?

Perhaps the rewards of early adoption cancel out the risks. For example, the 2018 Honda Odyssey’s 10-speed automatic transmission might be of concern — it’s the first-ever implementation of a 10-speed with front-wheel drive. But the same Odyssey is a leap forward from the 2017 model that’s sitting on the dealer lot without the side-to-side sliding second row, Cabin Watch, and intuitive infotainment.

Or what about the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s Italian flair? Although the consistency with which automotive journalists have suffered breakdowns causes a moment’s pause, you’ll be the first in town with a red Quadrifoglio.

Rather than putting faith in the famously reliable outgoing Camry, the 8 percent of July buyers who opted for a 2018 Camry left their Toyota dealers with a more powerful and more efficient car. The Mazda MX-5 RF’s retractable roof panel certainly carries with it a level of complexity not seen in regular softtop Miatas, but it’s a visually stunning car with greater all-weather appeal.

So, is first-off worst-off? Or in 2017, is it time for all of us to get over the fear of the first model year?

[Image: FCA]

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars.