NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Not all "Great American cars" are old classics. Arguably, the best American cars ever are being made right now. We've got five that seem destined to find a place on future "Great American Cars" lists.

We limited our choices to the historic American "Big Three" companies -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- even though DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler's parent company, is based in Germany.

Our picks:

Here's a real Fourth of July car. Take your pick: red, white or Electron Blue. You'll feel patriotic just driving it. Headed for the 50th anniversary next year of its 1953 introduction, Corvette claims the unique distinction of finding a place on both our list of Greatest American Cars of all time and this list of today's Great American Cars.

Unlike most of us, the 'Vette is better than ever at 50. The 350-horsepower V8, standard in the convertible and coupe, will blast you from zero to 60mph in about five seconds. If that isn't quick enough for you, step up to the Z06 model with 405 horsepower.

While raw power has always been a Corvette trademark, over the years Chevy has added real sports-car handling and nice touches like traction control. And unlike many sports cars, the coupe version of the Corvette will haul enough luggage to travel in style. At just under $50,000 for even the Z06, the Corvette costs less than half the price of the Porsche 911 Turbo -- one of the few street machines that can match its acceleration.

After a long absence, the two-seater Thunderbird reappeared last year as a 2002 model with a design that catches the spirit of the original 1955-57 models. Unlike the Corvette, its one-time '50s rival, the new Thunderbird is no sports car. But, like the 'Vette, it is a lot of fun.

T-Bird fun is about cruising and top-down good looks rather than screaming performance. From the front hood scoop to the huge rear tail lights surrounding the silver Thunderbird emblem, it's a show-stopper. Inside, optional two-tone seats and brightly colored steering wheel top and shift knob (red accents for a white T-Bird, for instance) lend a suitable flamboyance.

Though no threat to the 'Vette in performance, the Thunderbird has respectable power. The 3.9-liter, 252 horsepower V8 will take you from zero to 60 mph in about seven seconds. The comfortable seats will suit you for a long trip. (Just don't pack too much luggage.) The convertible T-Bird lists at $35,695, but gotta-have-it buyers are paying dealers a premium of nearly $7,500, or just over $43,000 on average. Even at that, buyers are happy with their purchases. The Thunderbird topped the entry-level luxury category for fewest defects in the recently-released J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study.

As new entries continue to crowd into the mid-size sport utility race, Chevy has fielded a top contender. After years of lagging competitors with its Blazer, Chevrolet's new-last-year TrailBlazer has moved past Jeep Grand Cherokee in sales so far this year and is within striking distance of perennial leader Ford Explorer.

We like the TrailBlazer for its aggressive look even as the redesigned Explorer moved to a blander style. A lower-nose, higher-tail stance and the sculpted lines of the hood help give the TrailBlazer an eye-catching silhouette, as do the triple-cluster tail lights. And unlike many General Motors SUVs, designers here resisted giving the TrailBlazer too much plastic body cladding.

But what really makes the TrailBlazer an SUV for our time is its inline six-cylinder engine that boosts both power and gas mileage. The 4.2-liter engine is rated at 270 horsepower, bettering even the 240 hp of the Ford Explorer V8. And the TrailBlazer mileage rating of 15 mpg in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway for the four-wheel-drive version is good by SUV standards.

Trailblazer now also offers an extended version with a third row of seats, an important choice for parents looking for a kid-hauling alternative to minivans. That back seat is roomier than those in competing models, and with both rear seats folded, the TrailBlazer has 100 cubic feet of cargo space -- tops in the category. The standard four-wheel-drive TrailBlazer lists for $31,945 but the average buyer is getting it for around $29,375. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the extended version is $33,885 and you can probably get it for $31,150. Neither price includes a recently offered $1,000 rebate.

Beneath its great looks, the PT Cruiser is a useful blend of car, minvan and SUV. And though two years after its introduction the Cruiser no longer gathers parking lot gawkers, it appears to have a lot of happy owners out their with their own enthusiast club and Web site.

Modeled after a 1930s delivery van, the PT Cruiser isn't the first recent retro design, but it is by far the biggest seller. Chrysler group sold about 144,000 PT Cruisers last year -- more than twice as many as Volkswagen's New Beetle.

Inside the PT Cruiser, the arrangement of space is a design coup. Based mechanically on the small Dodge Neon, the Cruiser's roofline inclines upward from front to back, adding to its interior room. The rear seats are positioned slightly above the front ones for greater rear seat visibility. And those rear seats fold down (like an SUV) or come out (like a minivan) when you need to haul stuff instead of people.

Behind the wheel, you get some of the "command position" feel of an SUV even though you are not really sitting as high off the road. The PT Cruiser has nimble steering like the little car it derives from.

The Cruiser's one real drawback is that it could use more power than its 150-horsepower, four-cylinder engine provides. If that is a sticking point for you, perhaps you should wait for the PT Cruiser Turbo that will be out this fall as a 2003 model with a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that generates 215 horsepower.

The base-model PT Cruiser lists for $17,815 and is selling on average for about $17,275. The most expensive "Dream Cruiser" model lists at $24,220 and is selling at about $23,300. Neither price counts a $1,000 rebate being offered.

The Vibe has just hit showrooms, and it's already a hit with us. It is another example of a clever mix of car and wagon. Growing out of a small-car joint venture with Toyota, the Vibe is mechanically similar to the Toyota Matrix.

Aiming for a young audience, Pontiac tried to make the Vibe look different from the vans and SUVs today's twenty-somethings grew up with. But the Vibe does have a hint of SUV ruggedness and its rear seats fold flat for maximum hauling. The standard Vibe comes with a four-cylinder, 130-horsepower engine but if you want more zip, opt for the 1.8-liter, 180-horsepower GT model with six-speed manual shifter.

With the GT, you also get sport-tuned suspension that handles the curves and corners with ease. The base model starts at $16,900, including destination charge, the GT version is $19,900 before options. The Vibe also comes in an all-wheel-drive model listing at $20,100. As a brand-new model, Vibe is selling at list price.