If Your City Was a Car, What Would It Be?

I spend a lot of time driving around Santa Clara County. Somewhere between showings and school pick-ups, I started thinking: if each city or neighborhood around here were a car, what would it be?

So I made a list.

And honestly, I feel good about it! 

Here’s your South Bay car guide, one city (or neighborhood) at a time:

San Jose is a Toyota Highlander. Big, versatile, and reliable. The SUV that carries a little bit of everything, tech, suburbs, grit, and charm.

Iconic San Jose neighborhoods:

Willow Glen is a Mini Cooper S Convertible. Charming, stylish, and a little old-school in the best way. Think tree-lined streets, cute boutiques, and porch life with a latte.

Berryessa is a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Efficient, family-friendly, and quietly thriving. Parks, diversity, schools, and quick freeway access. Solid and no frills.

Almaden Valley is a Volvo XC90. Safe, spacious, and suburban with a touch of prestige. Great schools, hiking trails, and residents who probably own both a paddleboard and a wine fridge.

Evergreen is an Acura MDX. Versatile, practical, and a little under the radar. Diverse, growing, and full of multi-generational households who know what they’re doing.

Rose Garden is a Jaguar XF. Classic, elegant, and a little vintage. Beautiful architecture, well-kept gardens, and a quiet air of prestige. A museum district with timeless curb appeal.

Palo Alto is a Tesla Model S Plaid. Bold, elite, and ridiculously fast. Big VC energy with Wi-Fi in every corner of the house. Feels like it came with stock options.

Mountain View is a Polestar 2. Quietly cutting-edge. The tech insider’s car, sustainable, stylish, and not trying too hard. Like Google in car form.

Cupertino is a Mercedes-Benz EQS. Luxury with precision. Apple HQ means lots of money, clean lines, and software that just works. Low-key rich.

Sunnyvale is an Audi Q5. Comfortable, modern, and safe. It doesn’t scream, but it’s solid, like a family of engineers who kayak on weekends.

Santa Clara is a Honda Accord. Balanced and dependable. Close to everything, Levi’s Stadium, Nvidia, Mission College, and still feels like a true community.

Rivermark (Santa Clara) is a Tesla Model Y. Sleek, efficient, and exactly what a tech professional orders after their RSUs vest. Walkable, master-planned, and full of young families with strong Wi-Fi.

Milpitas is a Subaru Outback. Techy and rugged, but still grounded. A mix of old-school Bay Area industry and new apartments with EV chargers.

Campbell is a Volkswagen GTI. Youthful, slightly artsy, and lots of fun packed into a small, walkable downtown. Not overly serious, but still gets stuff done.

Los Gatos is a Range Rover Velar. Stylish, woodsy, and upscale without trying too hard. Think boutique yoga studios, wine bars, and trailheads all within five minutes. It’s got wealth and charm, and it knows it.

Saratoga is a Lexus LS. Refined, understated, and well-off. Not trying to prove anything, just quietly winning at life.

Los Altos is a BMW 7 Series. Big money, understated, and ultra-comfortable. No need to show off, it already knows it’s better than you.

Los Altos Hills is a Bentley Bentayga. Massive estates, low population, and mega wealth. This isn’t even a car, it’s a rolling statement.

Morgan Hill is a Ford F-150 Lightning. Country meets innovation. Farms, wineries, and startups. Rugged but evolving fast.

Gilroy is a Chevy Silverado. No-nonsense, agricultural roots. Known for garlic, outlets, and good old-fashioned practicality.

What do you think, did I nail your city or neighborhood? Or miss the mark entirely? Hit reply and let me know what your car match would be! 

And hey, if you’re curious about what your home is worth in this market, whether it’s a Bentley or a Honda, I’d be happy to run the numbers for you.