The Carsales Network team rates its picks of the litter for 2010
Best cars of 2010
No fancy trophies, no big award ceremonies - these ratings are straight from the horse's mouth. Here are the top five picks for Carsales Network staff in 2010.
Mike Sinclair - Editor in Chief
Nissan Dualis
What a difference a facelift can make. In refreshing its hatch-cum-SUV, Nissan took an underwhelming car and turned it into something that was, if not desirable, then certainly worth considering. Offering a great balance of equipment and value at its top levels the Dualis was one car that really surprised in 2010. Now, if we can just get Nissan to deliver a diesel...
Ford Focus RS
Why did it take three years for this car to arrive Down Under? The RS proves that you don't have to go AWD to go... And boy does this fast Ford four go! The fact the boy racers were denied this FWD tour de force isn't the issue. It's more that this is the halo car Ford and Focus needed to help 'teach' Aussies that the Blue Oval brand knows exactly how to build small cars. Shame it's never been able to market or sell them.
Suzuki Kizashi
Polished, accomplished, comfortable and dare I say it classy... Suzuki's new medium car was another of the surprises of 2010. I'm still not completely convinced that the CVT is better than a nice sharp six-speed auto, but the rest of the execution is very convincing. Stepping back into the Kizashi from time to time after driving much more expensive machinery only reinforced my confidence in the car.
BMW F10 5 Series
Launched at the beginning of 2010, the new generation 5 Series is very comprehensively a return to form for BMW. It is by a margin the best car the company builds -- in its simplest six-cylinder form better even than the V8 M3. Styled to look like a BMW, it is possessed of a great balance of comfort and performance. Unlike many I was also a fan of the E60 generation of 5s, but this car is not one generation ahead, it's two or three. All of a sudden the E Class feels old... My personal car of the year.
Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen distilled, not diluted... (I'm sure I've stolen those words. If I have, sorry; if not, who's a clever boy then?) No model defines why VW is making waves Down Under better than the new Polo. With the fit, finish and feel of a big car and the wieldy drivability and frugalness that sits squarely in its Light Car home class, the Polo is so far ahead of its competitors it's almost not fair.
Ken Gratton - News Editor
Honda FCX Clarity
Honda's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle only just makes the cut, technically, as a production car; the large Honda is being built in such small numbers for the US market that it doesn't warrant the description 'mass produced'. There are plenty of arguments against hydrogen as a viable fuel in the short term but when Honda unleashed a bunch of Aussie journalists on two examples of its fuel-cell sedan in the wilds of Germany, the FCX Clarity presented a very positive vision of what the future holds. While Honda hasn't quite worked out the packaging yet, it's attractive and functional as it stands. All it needs is lower-cost production and accessible hydrogen resupply facilities.
Jaguar XJ diesel
Not everyone feels the same way about the Jaguar flagship, but the XJ offers imposing presence and is a very good all-rounder in respect of performance, dynamics, comfort, safety and build quality. It would rate higher, if not for some of the excellent rivals it faces from German companies. However, one thing the Jag has in its favour that its competitors don't is distinction.
Nissan 370Z Roadster
A hard car to look past for the price and its capability. Provided it's not beyond your budget, it's the 370Z to have. It goes as well as the coupe and provides the same stiff-chassis ride, handling and steering plus the same packaging. There's no further sacrifice made squeezing into the Roadster and there's little compromise driving it. Why wouldn't you go for the drop-top version if you can spare the money?
Porsche Cayenne S
My first exposure to Porsche's offroader in the rough was startling. The Cayenne S proved impressively capable at Brisbane's Mount Cotton offroad training centre for the local launch. It's not everyone's idea of a Porsche, but if you can put that aside, the Cayenne delivers a real wallop, offroad and on.
Mazda6 Luxury Touring
Setting aside the exotics and anything else that's financially out of reach for a moment, this is the car I could actually see residing in Gratton driveway. Impressive ride/handling compromise, refined powerplant coupled to a smooth-shifting auto and useful packaging without being blandly styled, the 6 wagon is ideal for this writer's family.
Melissa McCormick - Production Editor
HSV GTS E3 LPI
The LPI-element in the above initialisations is all-but redundant, because the system works seamlessly -- as it should -- to make some economy against the 6.2 V8... It's 'HSV' and 'GTS' and 'E3' that stand for something exciting here. The crew in Clayton continue making special (yes!) Holdens and this is one of its best: attractive interior treatment; comfortable ride; agile handling... And it's FAST, sounds good and looks good. New additions like blind-zone warning and updated media interface have helped to modernise the homegrown hottie but the standout factor is (still) its mighty dose of power and comfort.
Kia Optima
It's a pleasant surprise when an affordable car drives as well as it looks, or even looks as good as it drives. Kia's latest Optima is one of those cars. From its bold frontal styling, through to its resolved profile and tail designed to "resemble a rear-wheel drive car", it's a well-drawn auto and judging by our sample in Seoul, it's also an attractive drive. Kia took expert advice on tuning the sedan for local roads so we're expecting a(nother) winner from Kia early next year.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Not just one of the best cars of 2010 but perhaps one of the drives of my life. Initial impressions (images, show cars) appeared a clash between nostalgia and modernity. Build a 300SL remake if you will, Benz but get on with designing super sportscars! M-B's latest styling trend is another story; happily the SLS is as stunning in the flesh and behind the wheel as it's meant to be. Meanwhile, Benz should build two supercars: one 'true' resurrected Gullwing, replete with the rounded nose and odd doors, and an SLS that's easier to access.
RenaultSport Clio 200
One of the best hot hatches got better this year. We loved the previous 197 model, which helped us look good at a couple rounds of the Australian Tarmac Challenge last year and were equally impressed when we tried the new 200. And living with it for a week proved no problem -- despite its race-rocket personality. RenaultSport has done it again...
Volvo C30 DRIVe
Final favourite was a close split between our two recent long-termers: Suzuki Kizashi and Volvo C30 DRIVe. With reason the EIC went for the Suzi but the C30's style and super comfortable interior meant the key (albeit oversized and odd-shaped) has so far stayed with me (most of the time)... It's a safe bet the Volvo required fewer service station visits, with the C30 using around 5L/100km versus the Kizashi's 8-9L/100km thanks to the DRIVe's smooth auto start/stop function (beneficial while dealing with Melbourne's congested traffic) and trusty diesel combo. Lean and luxurious... Love it.
Feann Torr - Staff Journalist
Audi RS5
There's no disputing the performance or dynamic attributes of this sleek German weapon, yet they are concealed within a package that can almost blend into the crowd. My colleagues would argue this is not a good thing, but I actually quite like this aspect. Packaged with a killer stereo, lavish interior, seven-speed auto as standard and adjustable chassis, it also doubles as a cushy daily driver. An everyday dream car if you will.
Ford Focus RS
Like a Bird of Paradise, the Focus RS is rarely seen, has brightly coloured plumage and makes a lot of noise. Only 300-odd of the ball-tearing hot hatches were imported to Australia and to cut a long story short, they go like stink. From the moment you sit in the form-fitting Recaro buckets, it's clear this Ford is very special. Though front-wheel drive, it's eminently satisfying to wring its neck. Again. And again...
Renault Clio RS200
There's a distinct pattern forming here but I should mention I'm from Generation X and have no kids. Yet... If and when that happens, expect a Subaru Forester or Holden Sportwagon to be on the list. As we stand on the cusp of a new year, hot hatches and high performance cars really pique my interest and this particular Frenchie is, for mine, the best handling hatch. It's not the fastest but on our heavily policed roads you're unlikely to have as much fun (legally) as in the Clio. Sitting low to the ground, you have to rev the tripe out of it to get anywhere, which makes it 'feel' fast. It boasts fearsome stopping power and carves up apexes like an Iron Chef carves up truffle-infused foie gras. That is, with greedy delight.
FPV GT
Heartlessly described as a brilliant engine in need of a decent chassis by a colleague, the new supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine found in the FPV GT is far superior to its 5.4-litre predecessor. And its cross-town rival, for that matter. Not only smooth and refined at lower revs, able to return decent consumption figures, the forced induction ensures it's irrepressibly powerful when you bang the loud pedal. Yes, the chassis could do with a little work but by and large the new GT is a hugely entertaining vehicle to drive.
Kia Sportage
The last-generation Sportage was a bit of a pig (both to look at and drive) but the new model is a class leader in many respects, particularly the quality of the cabin and the way it goes, stops and turns. It's not going to win any offroad accolades, but few soft-roaders will. Where it excels is in quality control and ease of use. It drives like a car, has a high riding position and represents excellent value for money. If I got paid more and had a family, I'd buy one.
Matt Brogan - Staff Journalist
Volkswagen Golf R
While the new R may have lost some of the character found in its V6-powered predecessor, the onroad competence of the new hyper Golf is truly impressive. Mountains of all-wheel drive grip, tonnes of turbocharged torque and conservative good looks, the R is as capable as it is practical. Add to that a tech-savvy cabin with loads of up-to-the-minute mod cons and Golf R is all the hot hatch you'll ever need.
Jaguar XJ Diesel
It's about time the big cat clawed back some credibility, and as the Germans struggle to match each other in every way possible, the XJ makes for an inspirational and impressive change of scene. You have to see the car in the metal to appreciate its sculpture, and similarly, the interior is something to behold. Under the bonnet the 3.0-litre diesel is equally confident and economical, making this Jag a very worthy adversary in the battle for top-shelf supremacy.
MINI Countryman
My opinion on MINI's new Countryman may be a little premature -- the car's not set to land here until late January. But having driven the five-door MINI in Germany earlier this year, I think the brand may be on to yet another winner. In fairness, I only tried one guise, the Countryman Cooper S (manual), but it was a surprisingly good little package. Fun retro looks, sharp handling and terrific turbocharged performance, families can finally have some MINI entertainment without completely sacrificing practicality.
BMW Z4 sDrive23i
I know it's the base model, but the E89 Series Z4 sDrive23i is such a great drive it just had to make my list. Classic proportions and well balanced blend of performance and roadholding equate to a polished performance that made me grin. Inside too that classic roadster pose really helps make you feel an integral part of the machine. Best of all, at around $86K this car is well worth the coin, and offers the flexibility of a retractable hard top for all-weather enjoyment.
Kia Cerato Hatch
The Cerato was a good car from the outset, and as Kia continues to invest in making a good product even better, the new Cerato Hatch has come to typify that sentiment. Adding a refined six-speed automatic transmission and more acoustic deadening to the cabin, Cerato is now as smooth as silk, nearly European in feel. Boasting a zippy 2.0-litre petrol engine (diesel please, Kia?) plus a great blend of ride comfort and handling to boot, this is one small hatch certain to give its Japanese rivals something to worry about in 2011.
Joshua Dowling - Contributing Writer
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
This may seem like an odd inclusion, especially at the top of the list -- and especially from one of the most vocal critics of the original Cayenne. But the second-generation Cayenne, and in particular the flagship Turbo version, shut me up real quick. Its twin turbo V8, combined with an overall weight reduction of 250kg, a lower centre of gravity and a wider stance have helped create possibly the world's broadest range sportscar. It can go where Toyota LandCruisers fear to tread, yet lap a race circuit as quick -- in some cases quicker -- than a Porsche 911. And its acceleration is enough to see off Mercedes AMG and BMW M cars. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention you can carry five adults and their luggage. It gets a 9.5 out of 10 only because it loses half a point for the air suspension, which I still hate as it it's too harsh over expansion joins. Please, Porsche, build a limited edition road-only focussed Cayenne Turbo on regular steel suspension. It would be even more epic.
VW Polo
Apologies for being predictable. I know everyone has awarded the Polo this year. It started in January with a World Car of the Year title and has been collecting gongs ever since. I, too, am drawn by its sharp styling, superb driving dynamics, range of super efficient yet powerful engines, and its perception of quality. I say perception because Volkswagen's quality and reliability record in Australia is patchy at best. Search "Golf V and air-conditioning", or "Golf V and electrical faults" and look up the numerous blogs to see for yourself. While this latest Polo is yet to prove it's doomed to fail at some point, it's also yet to prove that it's bullet proof. So, although I love it, I would only recommend the Polo if you pay for the optional Volkswagen-backed extended warranty. Or sell it before the three-year warranty runs out. Don't want that uncertainty hanging over your head? Buy a Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 or the new Suzuki Swift (on sale in late February) instead.
Volkswagen Golf 1.2
That's not its real name. As with most car makers, they try to disguise the size of their puny engines with lots of letters and sometimes numbers. But the Golf 1.2 is the cheapest Golf money can buy in Australia. Powered by a 1.2 turbo petrol engine normally found in the Polo, it's not exactly quick, but it packs a brilliantly efficient engine in a brilliantly efficient package. The same caveats regarding quality and reliability apply to those mentioned for the Polo above
Honda CR-V
I was tempted to write about my favourite performance cars this year, such as the Renault Megane RS, Volkswagen Golf R, the new HSV GTS E3 (with more computer power than a Nissan GT-R), and also go on to explain how disappointed I was with the new supercharged Ford Falcon GT (a superb engine, the best Australia has ever built, looking for a suspension package to suit it). But that's not much use to people looking to buy real cars. And so I'm sacrificing this so that I may be some assistance to someone with a young family -- or a young family on the way.
The CR-V is not new. It's not pretty. And it's not the cheapest in its class. But it is the best compact SUV pram on sale today. Quality is above average, and the cabin is roomy, cleverly designed and highly functional. And the CR-V's actually nice to drive. Resale values are strong, too. I just wish Honda would hurry up and fit a rear view camera as standard. (Before I go, in case you're wondering why I didn't choose the Hyundai ix35, the Kia Sportage or the Subaru Forester? The Hyundai's cabin is not as roomy, and it doesn't drive as nicely as the Honda. The Kia Sportage came close for me: I would recommend one, but it's not my favourite in this class because the quality is not as good as the Honda's. And the Forester's tyres are iffy in the wet, and the manual gearshift is rubbish. Good thing it has five-star safety. So, just to recap, buy the Honda).
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Well, at least one of us was going to vote for it. You might think I'm just choosing an electric car to offset the gas guzzlers elsewhere in my list. Or you might think this is a set-up given that Carsales has one on its fleet. But, hand on heart, I'm a dead-set fan. I've driven the iMiEV a few times now and, after having one for a weekend, I'm completely converted. I would own one tomorrow -- if it didn't cost $70,000 over three years and then you had to hand it back. And if the range could be extended a little (it says 160km on the packet but really you only get about 100km between recharges). The iMiev is kind of like an oversized scooter. It's easily as zippy as a Yaris or a Mazda2 -- yet doesn't use a drop of fuel. Bring the price down, and I've have one of these in a heartbeat.
Michael Taylor - International Correspondent
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
A fabulous machine and one based on shame, vengeance and embarrassment. Benz insisted the awful SLR wasn't its fault. McLaren insisted it was. Daimler sent the SLS's development outside the normal Benz loops to AMG. The result is a car that might not be the fastest, but is fast enough. More importantly, none of its rivals feels as astonishingly visceral and emotive and makes you as integrated as the inner wishbone bush. It’s just brilliant.
Nissan LEAF
Now here's a surprise... And it works.
Ferrari 599 GTO
Brilliant. It's so good that it's difficult to imagine front-engined sportscars improving from here in any tangible or useful way. It's now the benchmark car in an admittedly very small class.
Jaguar XJ
Now here is another surprise. Hated the rear when I first saw the pics, but I can live with it in the flesh. The interior is fabulous and so is the profile. Just needs more individual character and better engines, but they're relatively easy fixes.
Porsche Cayenne S
If the Cayenne had been this good from the start, I might not have hated it and what it stood for quite so much. It's now balanced, chuckable and genuinely good fun.
Gautam Sharma - International Correspondent
Renaultsport Clio RS200
Confession time: my daily driver is a Clio 182 Cup, so I'm likely to be a little biased here. But anyone who doesn't crack at least the slightest of grins after pedalling the RS200 probably lacks a pulse or needs more fibre in their diet. The little Renault is electrifying, and a bang-for-buck champ in its own right. Undoubtedly deserves a place among the greatest hot-hatches ever.
Nissan Patrol
What Nissan has achieved with the latest-gen Patrol is nothing less than staggering, and it's not hard to see where the $US500m invested in its development went. I first drove the vehicle at the international launch in Oman, where I sampled it on a range of surfaces: some fast freeway stuff, narrow gravel tracks, soft sand and rock-strewn river beds (known as wadis around these parts). The fact that the Patrol was able to cope with all this wasn't in any way surprising, but it's the newfound comfort, refinement and high-speed composure that proved the real eye-opener. The thing drives like a Range Rover -- especially the range-topping version (which comes with a 298kW/560Nm V8 and seven-speed auto) and the cabin ambience/driving position is a huge leap forward.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Okay, it's probably got the odd shortcoming, but the SLS gets the juices flowing in a way that no Merc has managed in donkey's years. A thunderous exhaust note and jaw-dropping styling (maybe not to everyone's tastes, but it sure works for me) are just the entrée. The main course comes in the form of prodigious straight-line grunt, excellent chassis balance (no nose-heaviness here) and crisp responses that one hasn't tended to associate with the three-pointed star. Giving AMG free rein with this car has obviously paid off.
Jaguar XJ
They botched the last one by being way too conservative but haven't made the same mistake. Ian Callum has shattered the mould into a squillion pieces with the radical X351. The interior design is also a masterstroke -- cutting-edge without being gimmicky. It delivers on the road, too, although it's perhaps not quite as cosseting in the rear seat as one might have expected. Top effort, overall, and a genuinely attractive alternative to a 7 Series, S-Class or A8.
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
I'm cheating a little here by nominating a car I haven't even driven. I have had a good long blast in the 'regular' Veyron though, and it's an experience I won't be able to forget. The Veyron is a staggering car. Lambos, Ferraris and Porsches are fast. The Bugatti is bonkers...yet ridiculously easy to drive...and comfortable. The Veyron Super Sport ups the ante from the stocker's 737kW to 884kW, enabling it to pare large chunks out of the former's already stupefying acceleration splits. Yet by all accounts it manages this without sacrificing day-to-day liveability and ease of use. How's this for a stat? In the same time that a McLaren F1 can get from 0-320km/h, the Veyron can bolt from 0-320km/h and back to 0, then do a 0-100km/h dash as well. An amazing piece of engineering.
Jeremy Bass - Green Motoring Writer
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Haven't driven it... But don't need to... Matched only by MINI for deftness of homage to past glories without descending into retro-tack. An extraordinary achievement -- particularly for the way they've stretched its relevance way into the future by engineering an EV powertrain into it from clean sheet.
VW Polo
An exceptional example of product realignment to suit changing times. Substantially raises the bar in its segment on multiple fronts -- performance, economy, practicality, build quality -- without sacrificing affordability. Refreshes those parts other pop-market Light Cars can't reach.
Honda CR-Z
A hybrid married to a six-cog manual transmission and calibrated for a bit of dial-up CRX stuff is a nice idea. If you've driven the Type R cars or the S2000, you know Honda knows how to sugar up a powerplant.
Jaguar XJ
The next step in Jag's resurrection to motoring's upper echelons... Not sure about $350K for that '69 Hemi Pacer posterior, but the V8 Supercharged version I lived in for a week is stunning. Leather bathtub interior is brilliant in its conception and beautifully executed. Bigger and faster than it looks -- and it looks big and fast.
Nissan LEAF
It's just taken out the Euro COTY, albeit from a polarised jury. But it did win. And it probably deserves to, given its undoubted influence in pile-driving zero-emission vehicle prices down to affordability ASAP. I suspect its conventional appearance will work in its favour, too, in allaying buyer suspicion and inertia. Haven't driven it, but having sat in it I can assure you it's very nice inside.
Mike McCarthy - Contributing Writer
VW Polo
Small-car design just grew up. And up... Not only in size, but in maturity, presentation, refinement and sheer all-round drivability. There was plenty of scope for improvement over the previous generation but even glowing overseas test reports couldn't fully prepare us for the extent by which the latest model raises the small-car bar. Impressions of deep-seated quality and professionalism abound throughout the Polo, not least in the splendid driving dynamics. It goes, rides, steers and stops with degrees of confidence and competence that belie its market position and aggressively keen pricing.
Mitsubishi ASX
Just when you may have been thinking there was nothing new, or better, under the softroader sun, along came the Mitsu ASX. And the attraction is? Well, frankly, apart from the good looking body, the ASX's assets mightn't be obvious to tyre-kickers and broad-brush overviewers. However, closer inspection and any telling amount of wheel-time soon reveal the ASX has features enough to get among the class front-runners, and to edge ahead in some respects. Besides being accommodatingly roomy and comfortable, the ASX performs responsively and does so without sounding strained under the bonnet and without engulfing the occupants in road noise or wind-rush. Unlike some of its ilk, the ASX doesn't plead for leniency when hurried along rough dirt/gravel roads. The palpably rigid body seldom flinches (less than the occupants at times) while the suspension has the pliability and travel to soak up forbiddingly harsh ridges, ripples and gaping holes without ill effect.
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Now for something almost completely different... the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The distinctively individual styling fits the fact that the i-MiEV marks the beginning of an 'electric' era that could change the way you commute. Though there have been other electric cars, the i-MiEV is first here from a major maker, first in serious volume production and also first for worldwide distribution. So significant is the little Mitsu that Carsales Network has added one to the company fleet. While there are questions yet to be answered, the over-riding importance is that it's here and it works.
Chev Camaro
The Chev Camaro as one of the year's top cars? In all conscience, that's a stretch. But this ballsy Yank bucks the odds and wheelies onto my list because it adds some much-needed spice and variety to the local muscle car menu, and simply because it's a real hoot to drive. It's no secret that much of the Camaro's chassis engineering and development was undertaken by Holden, and a good job the locals made of it, too. While the logic of US muscle mobiles might escape Euro-tragics, that's their loss.
Skoda Superb station wagon
Skoda's largest model is one of the year's brightest, if under-sung, stars. Superb by name and by nature. Although genetically and mechanically beholden to the VW Passat, the Superb has its own looks and flavour. I'm particularly impressed by the diesel wagon. With its standard six-speed DSG autobox, the diesel performs strongly, is heard only at idle and gives alluringly frugal fuel economy. Moreover, the Skoda cruises fluidly, with pleasing lack of noise and fuss. Throughout, the handling is encouragingly well balanced and responsive, even when cargo's piled long and high. In sum then, great car and great value. Quite superb, really.
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