Opinion

I’ve road-tested 48 cars this year alone and I’ve seen the weird, the wonderful and everything in between. So, out of all of the cars I’ve been fortunate to be in, these were my favourites (in no particular order).

Buying a 4WD is one of the biggest purchases you could ever make in your life, alongside trying to buy your own house.

This year’s top five was a relatively straight-forward selection process. Yes, there were one or two new arrivals on the edge of the cut, but in the end the five below stood out.

The automotive industry is in a period of such rapid change that the definition of what constitutes a ‘good’ car is also quickly shifting.You could carve up the market on value, performance, styling, safety and any other number of ways to determine what is a winner and what is a loser – the possibilities are nearly endless!But this is my list of the top five cars I’ve driven this year and, as a boy racer at heart, these are the handful of vehicles that have sparked the most joy in 2023.Though the Civic Type R might not the fastest, cheapest or most raucous hot hatch available in Australia, the mighty Honda might be the perfect performance pocket rocket.And that’s because it balances all elements of a hot hatch so supremely well.There’s the practicality side of things to consider, and with my week with the Type R, it was the perfect companion to drop off and pick-up the toddler from childcare.The latest generation Civic has also elevated its fit and finish to truly semi-premium levels, and the Type R takes that further thanks to bucket seats, an Alcantara steering wheel and sunroof.Finally, the engine is just so divine, with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain punching out a sizeable 235kW/420Nm that is fed to the front wheels via a slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox.But what clinches it for the Civic is just how poised it is dynamically - especially shocking for a front-drive performance car.The backend feels like it rotates around in a corner, and the feedback and feel from the steering is only matched from something wearing a Porsche badge.Worth $72,600 drive-away asking price? You betcha.Timing is everything, and in my time with the Huracan STO my experience was truly special.And it’s not just because it’s a limited-edition, hardcore, mid-engine supercar designed to be more athletic than its ‘standard’ Huracan peers.The Huracan STO ended up being the first car I reviewed after the birth of my second child, and after four months of sleepless nights, nappy changes and Uber Eats, this Lambo was a hell of a reintroduction into automotive journalism.On paper, the Huracan STO pushes out 470kW/565Nm from its 5.2-litre V10 engine, but in reality, it’s so much more special than that.As a harder-edged version of the long-running Huracan, Lamborghini has dialled in its entry-level mid-engine supercar to razor-sharp precision.And with a gargantuan $596,000 before on-road costs price tag, I might have babied the Huracan STO more than my actual baby, but with its bright orange paintwork and ear-splitting exhaust, there was no escaping the allure of the Huracan STO.While I have driven nearly every other electric car available in Australia before, the Cupra Born was the first that made me seriously consider buying one.For starters, the Born looks futuristic without being ugly like some other EVs available in Australia, while it also blends performance with practicality thanks to its five-door hatchback body style.Don’t believe the marketing though, the Cupra Born is not an electric hot hatch – it’s much more of a warm one, but that’s no bad thing.With 170kW/310Nm from a single electric motor feeding the rear wheels, this tailpipe emissions-free Cupra is a hoot to drive, but certainly doesn’t come close to the thrills of something like a Honda Civic Type R or even a Hyundai i30 N.What seals the deal however, is the massive 82kWh battery pack, which enables a driving range of around 500km, meaning you could genuinely only charge the Born once a week and be fine with commuting - depending where you live.All this for under $60,000 makes the Cupra Born a very appealing package, and an EV that the many people can actually afford.Mazda has made a lot of noise about marching more upmarket, and this move was meant to be shepherded by the CX-60.However, the mid-size SUV based on the new platform with new engines ended up feeling a little underbaked… but the CX-90 large SUV addresses all of those concerns.As Mazda’s new flagship model, you’d expect it to feel premium, polished and poised on the road, and the CX-90 nails all three with panache.The interior, at least in the top-spec Azami with Takumi pack, is not only the best designed at this price point, it also makes German contenders look like drab and dreary.The 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engines, in both petrol and diesel forms, are also fantastic, and paired to the new eight-speed automatic ensure a smooth driving experience.Sure, the ride is a little bit harsh, but the trade-off for that is taught, tight and engaging dynamics – characteristics seldom seen in any SUV, let alone a large one with three-rows of seating.The big caveat here however, is that the CX-90 is expensive – the test car I had was $100,000 – so this new Mazda might not be for everyone.What’s this? Another Honda on the list? You better believe it!The Japanese car manufacturer has been on an absolute hot steak recently with the new-generation Civic and HR-V both impressing in terms of quality and comfort, and the all-new ZR-V is no different.As a mid-size SUV (albeit a smaller one), the ZR-V has to stack up against the likes of the popular Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, and boy howdy, does it!With confident styling on the outside and a quality, well-built interior on the inside, the ZR-V impresses from the get go.However, it’s the driving dynamics that are a welcome surprise, because the ZR-V actually feels… dare I say… fun behind the wheel?There’s a level of engagement and feedback that feels just right for an everyday grocery getter, making trips into the city office less dull.And I didn’t even drive the hybrid version, which by all accounts, feels even better!Do yourself a favour if you are looking for a family SUV, don’t sleep on the Honda ZR-V.

Australia's crash test body ANCAP has probably saved your life without you ever knowing and it ensures that safety is a standard feature and not an optional extra. Here's who's behind ANCAP and how the safety benchmarks are getting stricter on car companies.

Here are five cars that, while fine as they are, could benefit from a little 'more'.

It’s a lively campfire debate – nay a blood feud – as old as time itself: which company makes the best four-wheel drive – Nissan or Toyota? It’s a rivalry even more bitter than that of Ford vs Holden.

We all think we’re The World’s Greatest Driver. Of course, we do. It’s human nature.But the reality is we all have ingrained habits – good and bad – that affect our ability to drive safely.Here are a few reasons why you might not be as good a driver as you think you are.This ties in with human nature, in that everyone tends to overestimate their ability to do pretty much anything. Yes, you do. Admit it.You think you have definite Formula One potential – you’re so polished an on-road performer – when in fact you’re more at the ‘still drinking baby formula’ end of the driving skills spectrum.You believe you can drive really well at speed, your reflexes are finely tuned, your steering is laser-precise, your acceleration and braking techniques are smooth as butter, and you simply can't be bettered on the blacktop.In fact, in terms of skills and experience, you’re likely somewhere comfortably near the middle of the road – not literally the middle of the road, mind you.Again, this is a little bit of human nature, a little bit of amateur psychology and a lot to do with insecurities.People who actually become upset at real or even perceived injustices on the road – incidents that don’t involve injuries to humans or serious damage to vehicles – are likely to become enraged at anything or anyone that doesn’t fit in with their idea of what constitutes perfect day-to-day life.Another driver cuts you off in traffic – you must catch up and pass them!Another driver indicates to turn only after they’ve pulled up in front of you at the intersection. You must blast your horn angrily at them!Another driver doesn’t give you a wave when you let them in – no, now you really must crush them!Letting yourself get so worked up about such minor things is a fast way to stress out your family and friends and to give yourself a cardiac arrest. Take a chill pill!The world is generally a chaotic place so the more Zen-like calm you can bring to everyone’s daily commute the better.Be kind, be patient, take your time and… let people in. Don’t get involved in any of those petty on-road confrontations that, in the grand scheme of things, mean bugger all.Think of all the cars around you as people pushing shopping trolleys; if someone pushing a shopping trolley cut you off in a supermarket aisle would you shout and gesticulate wildly at them?Circumstances and conditions are always changing on a road: at any moment you have to contend with different drivers, different vehicles, different weather, as well as motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrians, domesticated animals and wildlife. It can all end up becoming an obstacle on the road at any given moment.The problem is, people don’t look ahead, don’t observe what’s happening around them and they certainly don’t anticipate what other drivers/motorcyclists/cyclists/pedestrians are going to do.Here’s a tip: look around and use your rearview mirror and wing mirrors to constantly check on what’s happening all around you. Remember: if your head’s on a swivel you’ll be right to see or even anticipate changes in traffic or the road surface or the weather with plenty of time to spare.Check your speed: make sure you’re travelling safely and comfortably within the legal speed limit for the stretch of road on which you’re driving.Keep your distance from the vehicle in front, to give yourself ample braking distance in case an emergency stop is needed.And drive to the conditions. Too many times I see people tailgating perilously close in the rain as if they really want to smash into the back of the car in front of them.The road is definitely not the place for emotions – those will cause nothing but trouble when you’re driving.When you’re steering a vehicle that’s upwards of two tonnes along the road, you need to be in control at all times, not distracted, not angry, not tired.If you want to drive fast and aggressively, head to your nearest race track.It’s not difficult to be a considerate and safe driver – be kind, be patient, stay alert, don’t rush and … let people in.It’s not rocket science after all, it’s driving.

McLaren’s new global boss Michael Leiters loves SUVs - no seriously, I’m not making that up he actually said “I love SUVs” in an interview with Autocar last year. He also made a heart shape with his fingers when he said it. OK, I made that last part up, but I like to imagine he did. What’s true is he very much wants McLaren to build an SUV and that raises the question: do SUVs break luxury sportsc

The world of towing is intimidating, and the prospect of having to understand and adhere to a comprehensive set of rules, as well as having to control heavy vehicle-and-load combinations and forced to contend with ever-changing traffic conditions, road surfaces and weather, is daunting, to say the very least.