Compared to the small number of new vehicles that hit showrooms last year, there have been quite a few launches and upgrades this year. Here are the top 10, in no particular order of specs and sales performance.
Squat and sporty: Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen's coolest Golf showed no signs of being fun from the start.
The new version is more powerful and agile than ever, adding all-wheel drive and a drift mode for even more thrills (just in case you suddenly want to take a side road).
Entering and exiting a curve has rarely been so exhilarating, and unlike many of its competitors, you can walk into the car with a baguette and not have to bend the breadstick in two to fit in the cabin.
Read the full review here.
Think Economy: Toyota Yaris
Few doubted that the new Yaris would be a worthy competitor in the subcompact market.
So the manufacturer's arguably accurate claim that the car strikes the right balance between aesthetics and engineering.
The Yaris isn't amazing in any department, but it's comfortable, capable, and easy to get around if you want a ride that's both fun and economical.
Read the full review here.
Sophisticated sedan: Audi S8
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The Audi S8 is a sturdier version of that A8 stable, but if you're looking for a sleek and engaging sedan experience, you can choose either.
These are the brand's workhorses in the four-door sector and offer a lot in the way of both manic and well-maintained cars.
The S8 has all the refinement you'd expect from a manufacturer such as Audi, plus a fair amount of speed.
Read the full review here.
Ultra-premium drive: BMW 7 Series
According to the brand, BMW's latest 7 Series is the most luxurious and advanced vehicle to date, and few people familiar with the manufacturer's products can dispute that assessment.
The new arrival has a radical look and an impressive range of cutting-edge technology that elevates it above rival sunroofs.
The all-around driving experience can be accurately described as ultra-premium, but it's the attention to detail and the slightly cheeky exterior that gives the 7 Series just the right amount of lift.
Read the full review here.
Power Player: Hummer EV
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Those who have expressed doubts about whether there will be much interest in the electric Hummer have been silenced when they hear that the car in question can accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.1 seconds.
It's part of GM's plan to sell 1 million electric cars annually by the middle of this decade, but while the vehicle is a monster, it won't be the manufacturer's biggest seller.
The Hummer EV won't be available until next year, but when we test drove it earlier this year, we found the beast to be remarkable.
Read the full review here.
Everyday SUV: GMC Terrain Denali
GMC Terrain Denali has many advantages. Especially the fact that this top-of-the-line version doesn't suffer from the more basic lower-level problems.
Not only does the car look attractive inside and out, it's fast enough for those who don't need the performance of a Formula 1 safety car, while being reasonably quiet.
There are other more capable SUVs out there, but the Terrain Denali is an excellent choice for those looking for a rugged, spacious ride that can't afford it.
Read the full review here.
Off-road luxury: Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
Luxury SUVs abound these days, but Porsche effectively tapped the market 20 years ago with the Cayenne. The Turbo GT is his one of the best of its kind on offer today.
It seems impossible for a car of this size to reach 100km/h in 3.3 seconds while boasting a top speed of 300km/h, but it is.
It's a simple, but definitely difficult formula to achieve — a 4x4 that handles like a sports car. Porsche's achievements in this regard are still impressive.
Read the full review here.
A Touch of Muscle: Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
The CT4-V Blackwing is a muscle car that chose to kick its baseball cap to the curb, put on a top hat and go to the luxury market.
Like its big brother the CT5-V, this car is a pack of bravery and power, but all wrapped up in a very neat and, most importantly, distinctly restrained package.
There's still a touch of menace, though you can let it roar if you want, but the CT4-V doesn't explode in an attention-grabbing way like a tired, emotional late-night party guest. . Very sophisticated inside and out.
Read the full review here.
High-end grunt: McLaren Artura
McLaren has always made supercars that you tear up the tarmac and take home in a body bag, but Artura takes things to a new level.
The car is clearly endowed with great power, going from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, but unlike the manufacturer's earlier models, the Artura is all about smoothness.
As a name, Artura is of Celtic origin and "she-bear" is one translation. But McLaren apparently juxtaposed 'art' with 'future' to get the moniker. I think the Celtic version is more suitable.
Read the full review here.
Luxurious Products: Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost
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Rolls-Royce introduced the Black Badge series to appeal to a restless younger customer base, describing the Ghost as the brand's "most powerful expression".
Unlike a lot of marketing tales, we have some idea of what that all means: the Black Badge Ghost is nothing like anything Rolls-Royce has produced before.
The ever-present Roller magic carpet ride, of course, has more than enough interiors to please the biggest hoots, but this vehicle has a distinctly cool and different feel, with a little more power than many of its siblings. I have. Expensive, of course, but still attractive.
Read the full review here.
Updated: December 27, 2022, 10:31 AM