We’re car-obsessed here at Man of Many and our list of the Best Cars of the Year proves such. This year we had the chance to get behind the wheel of so many cars we lost count but (somehow) we’ve managed to put together a list of our favourite drives. Just like our round-up of the best watch releases of the year, there are so many notable releases it’s hard to keep up. We’ve narrowed down our list by combining those cars we’ve driven with those that left a lasting impression on the car news cycle. Let’s see who made the cut!
Best Cars of the Year at a Glance
Highlights from our list include:
Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
RELATED: Check out our full list of the best 100 products of this year.
Ferrari Purosangue
We experienced the Ferrari Purosangue (AUD$728,000 plus on-road costs) in New Zealand on a 600km leg of the brand’s Grand Tour, and after a few hundred kilometres of the world’s best driving roads, it cemented itself as the best car we’ve driven this year. We’ll start with the obvious: it’s the most practical, easy-to-use, and comfortable Ferrari ever and it still has a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 upfront shared with the Ferrari 812 Superfast (seen here with a redesigned intake). The resulting power figure of 533kW at 7750rpm and 716Nm at 6250rpm is nothing to scoff at with a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds.
Ferrari doesn’t want to call it an ‘SUV’ and it’s easy to see why. For a four-door, four-wheel-drive vehicle weighing around 2 tonnes, the Purosangue dances with the debut of ‘Ferrari Active Suspension Technology’ that perfectly combines hardware with software to create a true sportscar driving experience. Inside it’s spacious and comfortable, and besides the fiddly digital driver display, it’s perfect.
Tesla Model 3
If you told us the updated Tesla Model 3 would somehow add more tech, remove physical buttons, and become simpler in its design we’d say it’s a recipe for a cheaper product. However, the car has stolen two titles this year as not only is it our favourite electric vehicle but we also think the base model RWD tested here is the best value car on sale at AU$61,900 plus on-road costs.
By the numbers, the updated Model 3 is one of the cheapest cars on the Australian market to offer more than 500km of all-electric range (513km WLTP) – and it still packs a decent punch with a 0-100km/h time of 6.1s – but it’s the build quality that stood out with no misaligned panels, rattles, or creaks that plagued previous models. The redesigned interior also deserves a mention because it’s quieter with thicker glass, spacious, comfortable, and extremely minimalist but not to its detriment with controls that are easy to use thanks to large touch buttons. Our only real complaint is with the indicator buttons on the steering wheel… why?!
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Porsche GT3 RS
There’s a reason the Porsche GT3 RS remains one of the most sought-after vehicles on the planet, and while we haven’t had a chance to get behind the wheel of the new 992 generation vehicle, it deserves a spot on our list because we just know it’ll be great after driving the GT3 last year.
The car uses a modified version of the 4.0-litre flat-six engine and produces 386 kW (525 PS) in this specification thanks to new camshafts, cam profile, and a revised intake system with a single-throttle and rigid valve drives from motorsport. The result is a 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds (down from 3.4 seconds in the GT3) and a top speed of 296 km/h.
Finally, it’s the sheer amount of functional aero that makes the GT3 RS special, especially from a visual perspective. Highlights include: Inlets behind the front wheels to reduce the dynamic pressure in the wheel arches, sideblades behind the intake to ensure air is directed to the side of the vehicle, air from the centrally positioned radiator flows out via large nostrils on the front lid, and fins on the roof direct the air outwards. There’s even a Formula 1-inspired drag reduction system ‘DRS’ that flattens the rear wing on straights. It’s an epic car that deserves a spot on our list of the best and you can find out more about it below.
Lamborghini Revuelto
We’d heard the rumours about a hybrid V12 Lamborghini for years but when the Revuelto was announced to replace the long-standing Aventador it sent the automotive industry into a frenzy. Priced from a gob-smacking $987,000 before on-road costs, what we’re looking at is a 1000HP four-wheel drive, hybrid hypercar.
Even in its most special Aventador SVJ guise, the outgoing car was never the most engaging drive, but the Revuelto is looking to flip that idea on its head with the combination of a revolutionary eight-speed, double-clutch transverse gearbox and triple electric motor configuration featured alongside the naturally aspirated V12 engine. Inside, the car offers a shared driving experience with a 12.3-inch digital cockpit on the driver’s side and a 9.1-inch display installed on the passenger side. Finally, space has been improved with 26mm more headroom than the Aventador Ultimae for fitting helmets on track. We can’t wait to get behind the wheel!
Audi S8
The most surprising car for us this year was the face-lifted Audi S8 super-saloon. Quite frankly, we never expected to like this car as much as we did but it hides all its brute force and technology behind an unassuming design. Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 420kW of power and 800Nm of torque from just 2,000 RPM which helps it complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds (unbelievable for a car weighing 2230kg). However, it’s the suspension that stands out.
Audi calls it ‘predictive active suspension technology’ and it works in combination with multiple sensors throughout the car, including the video camera, to actively control the vehicle body. Most notably, raising the car quickly when you get to speed bumps and as you pull away from traffic lights to keep the car level. It also works wonders in corners where you can hassle the big body down a twisty road in a very naughty way thanks to a Quattro system that can send up to 85 per cent of power to the rear wheels. The Audi S8 is an anomaly in a world filled with giant SUVs and hybrid powertrains, reminding us what a super saloon can be.
Aston Martin DBX707
It might be the most hardcore version of Aston Martin’s global SUV but the DBX707 ($439,000) is one of the best all-around vehicles we drove this year. We first spent time with the car on the track where it surprised us with its playfulness, agility for its size and weight, and the precision at which you could get the car to turn in through fast corners. However, it wasn’t until we got onto the road that it really stood out.
The duality shouldn’t be understated because this edgy super SUV is a pleasure to live with on a day-to-day basis and feels even more special when it’s out on the road amongst ‘normal cars’. You get all the sound from the modified Mercedes-AMG sourced 4.0-litre Twin-Turbo V8 powerplant and plenty of punch with 520kW (707PS) at 6,000rpm and 900Nm of torque at 2,600rpm. This helps the DBX7070 sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.3 seconds which is the same as the Ferrari Purosangue. In many ways it’s a throwback to old-school luxury, brute force, and noise, but also a sharpened sledgehammer when you get it on track.
BMW M3 Touring
The BMW M3 Touring came in a close second for our overall Man of Many ‘Car of the Year’ and it’s easy to see why with a sub-$200k starting price, 375kW (502HP) inline six-cylinder engine, switchable all-wheel-drive, and super wagon looks. It’s the blisteringly quick long roof that BMW should’ve always made, and we’re glad to say that it’s well worth the wait.
As close to a faultless car as we’ve ever tested there’s almost nothing to critique here, honestly. The engine is powerful, but frugal on long journeys. There’s space in the rear seats for people with legs, families even. And you can’t even point a finger at the all-wheel-drive system because if you don’t like it you can hit a switch and put it into two-wheel-drive mode. We struggled to point our finger at anything but if you’re thinking about that Audi RS 6 and you plan on doing longer drives regularly, the Audi edges it out in comfort.
Kia EV9
Kia went ahead and created a real-life concept car with the EV9 and they deserve credit for doing such. It’s the most expensive car the brand has ever made at $97,000 plus on-road costs, but it’s probably the best we’ve ever driven from the Korean automaker. It narrowly edges out the rocket-ship EV6 GT because it’s simply a more practical vehicle with added tech, space, and the convenience of three-row seating.
The pointy end of the model line-up is led by the Kia EV9 GT-Line ($121,000 plus on-road costs) and that would be our pick of the bunch with 505km of all-electric range, plenty of tech, active safety features, and locally-tuned ride and handling for outstanding comfort and driving dynamics suited to Australian roads.
Toyota GR Corolla
The Toyota GR Corolla ($62,300 plus on-road costs) takes the crown as the best value-for-money sports car on our list with capabilities that go beyond any ‘hot hatch’ we’ve ever tested. It’s the ‘people’s car’ on steroids with “221kW of turbo-charged, manual gearbox mated, all-wheel driven, functional madness,” as put by Justin Jackie in his review.
“Toyota could have easily gone for something more powerful, with an automatic gearbox, and ultimately, it probably would have set faster lap times. But instead, we have some far more engaging, far more characterful, and it’s an absolute pleasure to drive. In an era of 0-100 times and PlayStation gear changes, there’s something so refreshingly nostalgic about the GR Corolla, and it’s an oxymoronic formula I hope more manufacturers embrace.”
McLaren 750S
McLaren said “stuff a mid-cycle update” and released the 750S ($585,800 plus on-road costs) to the world with 30 per cent new parts, more power, and subtle additions in the looks department. The end result is a bonkers top-trumps destroyer.
The numbers jump off the page, starting with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 750PS and 800Nm in a car that weighs 200kg less than a Ferrari 296GTB at a feather-light 1,277kg. It’s backed by a 7-speed transmission that gets revised ratios for faster acceleration which results in a 0-100km/h time of 2.8 seconds. Under the skin, new generation linked-hydraulic suspension with lighter springs and dampers while the electro-hydraulic steering set-up gets a faster steering rack. We’re not sure where McLaren is planning to take the next ‘LT’ model but we’re assuming it’s space.
Range Rover Sport SV
We travelled to the UK and the Goodwood Festival of Speed to get behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Sport SV ($360,800 AUD plus on-road costs) and experience its ground-breaking 6D suspension and 23-inch carbon fibre wheels in the flesh. Then it rained and the events team got cold feet about letting a bunch of hooligan journalists out on the track in their prized possession while it’s still in ‘pre-production’ guise.
Instead, we hopped into the passenger seat and went for a ride around the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit with a professional in the 4.4-litre Twin Turbo V8 engined beast. Even from the co-pilot’s seat, you can tell the car means business. It offers a similar experience to our ‘Car of the Year’ Ferrari Purosangue from a chassis and handling perspective only amplified because of the added weight (2560kg). Nonetheless, it’s a very capable vehicle with absurd speed thanks to the new engine that produces 467 kW (635PS) and 750Nm, propelling the car from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.8 seconds using launch mode.
Tesla Cybertruck
It might’ve launched two years behind schedule and up to USD$30,000 more expensive than promised, but the Tesla Cybertruck is here and it’s real. As such, it deserves our ‘Best Use of Technology’ award because this all-electric, stainless steel exoskeleton, future-mobile, has reshaped what the future of ‘trucks’ or utes might look like. Even with all this technology it’s fairly priced at US$60,990 for the rear-wheel-drive single motor model and up to USD$99,990 for the ‘Cyberbeast’ that offers an insane 0-60mp/h time of 2.6 seconds.
Maserati Grecale Trofeo
“Hey, you forgot about me” is what the Maserati Grecale Trofeo ($174,900 plus on-road costs) would say if you lined it up against the Porsche Macan GTS, BMW X3 M Competition, Jaguar F-Pace SVR, and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. It’s the car that Maserati desperately needed and they’ve knocked it out of the park with a fire-breathing twin-turbo V6 engine poached from the MC20 supercar producing 463kW and a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds.
The package as a whole is what stood out in our testing and makes it a true competitor to cars like the Porsche Macan GT. Technology is easy to use, seats are comfortable for long journeys, and the air suspension that’s standard in the Trofeo model is class-leading.
Bentley Continental V8 S
When we flew to New Zealand to join Bentley on one of their ‘Extraordinary Journeys’ we didn’t expect to walk away with a new love for the Continental GT in V8 ‘S’ specification. While the brand is looking ahead and leaning towards extreme luxury with cars like the Bentayga EWB and ‘Odyssean Edition’ it’s nice to get behind the wheel of something that leans into the brand’s motorsport history.
“Given the chance, I kept reaching for the keys to the Bentley Continental GT S. It’s the coupe sibling to the Bentayga S with the same 542 bhp (550 PS) and 770 Nm of torque from the twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 engine, but the sound levels seem to be raised once again in all the right ways,” said our automotive expert, Ben McKimm, in his article below.
Porsche GT4 RS
If you’re looking for the most fun you can have in a new car, don’t look past the Porsche GT4 RS ($311,900 before on-road costs). With the ridiculous 510HP 4.0-litre flat-six from the Porsche GT3 stuffed into the middle of the car and carbon-fibre air intakes feeding noise into the cabin right behind your head it’s as close as you’ll experience to a racecar on the road.
Our automotive expert Ben McKimm says in his review “The 718 Cayman unlocks that old-school feeling enthusiasts lust over. Look closely at the dimensions and they’re closer to a BMW 2 Series Coupe or Subaru BRZ. As such, the GT4 RS offers a lightweight and agile feeling that few brands worry about these days. The chassis is alive, the margin for error is smaller, it twitches and turns with precision, and it’s always fun. Thankfully for us, the greatest sportscar builder on the planet always has the driver in mind.”
Lamborghini Huracan STO
We had a chance to spend a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan STO in the last 12 months. The first time we drove the car was at a launch event at Philip Island where we tested the car on track, then we tested it on the road as part of the Lamborghini Giro in Melbourne, and finally, we spent a few days with the car in Sydney to solidify our thoughts. The result? Well, this is far in a way the best Lamborghini we’ve ever driven.
You’d rightly assume the ultimate track-focused Lamborghini to be a rough car to peddle around city streets, but it shocked us with how easily it racked up nearly 1000km across some of Victoria’s roughest public roads. Of course, you worry about everything that creaks, rattles, and scrapes while you’re driving around, but once you get over the ducts, wings, and splitters you become one with the car. You can drive it straight from the road to Daytona and set a lap time that’s only 2.5 seconds slower than the Huracan GT3 racecar.
In a world of noise emissions regimes and numb driving experiences it’s still great to get behind the wheel of a car that scares you a little, providing all the theatre you expect at any speed.
It helps that it boasts one of the world’s great engines, the best brakes we’ve ever experienced, trick electronics, and more creature comforts than you’d expect from a racecar, and of course, supercar looks. Now who do we speak to at Lamborghini about getting our hands on a Huracan Sterrato?
Rolls-Royce Spectre
After years of creating the best hand-built and bespoke vehicles on the planet, Rolls-Royce revealed its first electric vehicle, Spectre, in Sydney earlier this year. The brand says they’ve created an entirely different sub-category of the motor car – something they’re calling the Ultra-Luxury Electric Super Coupé – and we’re looking forward to driving this one at some point in the new year. Nonetheless, the top luxury automaker going electric is enough to rock the industry and we’ll have to reserve judgment until then.
As it stands at the time of writing, Rolls-Royce has shared preliminary data that shows a ballpark range figure of 520km WLTP range from an all-electric powertrain producing 430kW of power and 900Nm of torque.
Why You Should Trust Our List
For this year, Man of Many has worked on curated lists of products that push boundaries and pioneer new fronts, across the automotive, fashion, lifestyle and technology verticals. Sure, we love getting the latest piece of kit in our hands, but being able to point out benefits and shortfalls objectively is at the heart of what we do.
Our list touches on everything from Lamborghini’s epic Huracan send-off in the STO, all the way to Tesla’s updated Model 3 sedan that’s on track to become one of Australia’s top-selling models of all time. In between, we’ve filtered down a few favourites that appeal because of their technology, driver engagement, and design. Of course, we’ve thrown plenty of electric vehicles into the mix too.
With the exception of those yet to be formally released for media drives in Australia, our first-hand experience in reviewing more than 60 cars both on the track and on road has resulted in this list. We’ve taken into account everything from utes to supercars in our testing and narrowed the list down to a select few vehicles.
Honourable Mentions
While the best cars of the year were detailed in our feature reviews above, we also got behind the wheel of a few gems that didn’t quite make the cut overall. These are our honourable mentions for this year:
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