- BMW iX
- Ford Fiesta ST
- Ford Ranger / Volkswagen Amarok V6
- Hyundai Santa Fe Elite Hybrid
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class S580 L
- Honourable mentions:
We all know the past few years have been akin to a dumpster fire, thanks to that rotten pandemic, and a bunch of natural disasters. Oh and a war.
While we could all dwell on this, let’s look past the devastating negatives and focus on the positives shall we?
In 2022, there have been some very solid new vehicle launches. It hasn’t been a watershed year, but undoubtedly the needle has shifted when it comes to the overall quality of vehicles, and the sheer number of EVs hitting our shores. There are, of course, more on the way in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, some of my colleagues and I agree on some of these picks, but there have been healthy debates (or hair pulling in the case of Byron Mathioudakis) about a few of them.
Without further adieu, here are the five best cars I drove in 2022 – in alphabetical order.
BMW iX
Wow. I uttered that word a number of times during my week reviewing the BMW iX. Whether it was referring to the striking exertion design (yes, I know a lot of people HATE it), the jaw-dropping interior execution, or the on-road manners, ‘wow’ was used a lot.
The iX is a standalone model and it arrived around the same time as the similarly sized iX3, which is, unsurprisingly, based on the X3 SUV.
I know I’m not the only one of my esteemed CarsGuide colleagues to be blown away by the iX, but the positives are hard to ignore.
I spent the most time with the mid-range xDrive50 Sport, which retails for $174,900 before on-road costs – not an insignificant amount.
But what you get for the money is impressive: a 112kWh battery, a whopping 630km driving range, and a tidy 0-100km/h dash time of 4.6 seconds.
It also has a silky smooth ride, edgy and luxurious interior and road presence for days. This electric stunner from BMW was hard to beat in 2022.
Ford Fiesta ST
This one is bittersweet. One of the most exciting cars I drove in 2022 also turned out to be one of the shortest lived.
Just months after Ford had announced the arrival of the facelifted Fiesta ST hot hatch, it pulled the car – along with its larger Focus ST sibling – from its dwindling line-up, leaving the Mustang as its sole passenger car.
But let’s remember the good times we shared, shall we?
Granted, not much had changed from the pre-facelift Fiesta ST that landed in 2020. Just a tweaked front-end design, 30Nm more torque, a new 12.3-inch multimedia system, and some other tech updates. But none of that changed the car.
It retained the smile-inducing dynamics of the 2020 ST, as well as the slick six-speed manual gearbox, and endless front-end grip.
As well as the previous-generation Fiesta ST, the now-departed version will go down as a modern classic. An affordable pocket rocket that offers one of the most rewarding drive experiences I’ve had in years. Goodbye lover.
Ford Ranger / Volkswagen Amarok V6
Look, I’m not a ute guy. Far from it in fact. Give me a hot hatch (see above) any day.
But I was so impressed with the new-gen Ford Ranger that I had to include it on this list. The improvements that Ford has made to its best-selling model are impactful to say the least.
The Ranger has the most car-like cabin of any ute ever, and somehow, the Blue Oval engineers (go Aussie!) have managed an impressive feat by blocking out a good deal of road and engine noise.
Speaking of, the new 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 is a winner, delivering quick acceleration and fewer rattles than the old 3.2-litre five pot.
I also tested the Ranger’s twin – the Volkswagen Amarok – in South Africa a few weeks back, and given the additional refinement from VW, and what is, in my opinion, the more appealing design, I had to include it here as well.
Hyundai Santa Fe Elite Hybrid
I think the current-gen Santa Fe is a solid, reliable, even good family seven-seat SUV. Does it get my pulse racing? No. Which is why I was definitely not expecting this.
I had the Santa Fe Elite Hybrid (from $63,000 before on-roads) for a week and took it to a music festival where I was forced (against my will) to camp. Not something I enjoy. Somehow, two men camping for two nights, not that far from Melbourne, filled the car almost to the roofliner with the second and third rows folded. I like to have options, ok?
And the Santa Fe Hybrid was the perfect car for the trip. The roads to the festival were badly damaged due to recent rains and that’s when I discovered the best thing about the Hybrid. It has one of the best rides of any SUV I’ve driven in a long time. I would happily drive this car around Australia because it would be SO COMFORTABLE!
Sharp steering, hushed cabin, surprisingly engaging dynamics, loads of equipment, and the fact that the fuel gauge barely moved, cemented this car’s place in my top five.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class S580 L
Let’s just get this out of the way shall we? The Mercedes-Benz S580 L 4 Matic costs $334,291 before on-road costs. So I am not expecting to put down a deposit anytime soon.
But this car HAD to be on my best cars list for 2022, because it’s one of the best cars I have ever driven.
With Benz shifting rapidly to electric powertrains, this is likely the last S-Class to be powered by a V8 engine. In this case, a 4.0-litre V8 pumping out 370kW/700Nm. Wowser!
The silky smooth delivery of all that power and torque is something to behold. What’s also incredible is that the cabin is so well insulated, you can barely hear it. Although you can still detect a slight V8 rumble from behind the wheel.
That a vehicle of this size and heft can power into and out of a corner as well as it can, is sheer engineering genius.
Of course, the cabin felt like a luxury hotel. Even down to the confusing light switches! Some of the interior tech can overwhelm, but when you plant the foot, all of that is forgotten.
The S-Class is the pinnacle of the Benz range for a reason.
Most improved: Nissan X-Trail
The X-Trail might not be all new (carryover engine), but Nissan has addressed all of the issues with the old model and then some. An excellent ride quality, improved dynamics, better interior and a hushed cabin elevate the X-Trail. Don’t buy a medium family SUV until you’ve sampled the new Nissan.
Honourable mentions:
BYD Atto 3 – If you can ignore the interior that looks like it was designed by an easily distracted child, the Atto 3 is one of the most complete models ever offered by a Chinese brand, and an excellent entry in the EV segment.
Kia Niro EV – It is way more expensive than an Atto 3, and about the same size, but there is something so likeable about the Niro Electric in base S guise, that I did not want to hand it back!
Subaru WRX – Rex is back baby! And this time, it’s a perfect everyday sports car, thanks to a much improved ride. You no longer need a physio visit after every drive. Add that to the smile-inducing performance and Subie is on to a winner.
Keyword: Tim Nicholson's top 5 cars of 2022: From the Ford Ranger to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class