These 13 American Cars Released After the Bailout Are the Most Important

For more than a brief moment during the Great Recession, it appeared the fate of the Big Three automakers was in jeopardy.

declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while Chrysler filed its third bankruptcy before its ownership stake was sold to Cerberus Capital Management.

limped along, mortgaging all of their assets to have enough cash on hand to weather the crisis. For better or worse, the auto bailout of 2008 happened, a move that would alter the automobile landscape in the years to come. Cash-strapped consumers turned to alternatives from the golden years past, and automakers responded by introducing new or revamped models, in lockstep with foreign competition. The result has been a flourishing domestic market, with an array of options that hold their own against European and Japanese rivals. Benzinga chose 13 domestic cars released after the bailout that have been an integral part of the changing landscape, prolonging domestic ingenuity while blazing paths of their own in a post-bailout America. MSRP and gas mileage are values for 2013 models.