Posted on
09 January 2012, under
Car / Travel; More Car / Travel articles...
1. Nissan Juke
2. Jeep Grand Cherokee
3. Peugeot 508
ANOTHER DRIVING YEAR
This time of year is a tough one in one respect, trying to decide what were among my best drives of the year. Yeah, tough. There are legions out there would love to have this kind of tough. Still, I'm the one who has, so let's see what I can do.
I have probably put close to 70 different cars under my accelerator pedal through 2011, and they have varied from the smallest of city cars to the largest and most expensive of luxury ones. When somebody asks me 'what's the best car', I really can never answer, because it all depends on what you want in a car in the first place.
Among those that stick in my memory is Nissan's Juke, the Continental Irish Car of the Year 2011, and one which I enjoyed for its highly individual looks as much as for its fun to drive capability. A mini Qashqai it may be, but it won me over for having true personality.
Skoda's Fabia vRS also triggered positive thoughts, as a marvellous and price accessible 'hot hatch' in the original meaning of the genre. What we used to call a Q car in the real old days, a real wolf in sheep's clothing.
At a different level, Kia's Sportage exemplified where that Korean brand has been heading over the past couple of years, switching in this nameplate from a dumpy SUV to a very elegant looking crossover. And where they went was with a new Rio that was to earn the brand a Continental Irish Car of the Year 2012 gong. Deserved it too.
Though I'm still not convinced of the hybrid business case in Europe, where diesels provide similar, and arguably better economy in real world driving, I liked very much the Lexus CT200h. A tidy entry car to Toyota's luxury brand, it drives well without offering thrills. And I would so dearly love to see it powered by a 1.6 diesel from Peugeot-Citroen.
At another level altogether, I thoroughly enjoyed the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, both in its home country with some long distance driving through New England, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, and back home in its diesel version. It's my kind of big guy car.
Ford's Focus has, of course, to figure in this reminisce. Now a true global vehicle for Ford, there are those among us who suggest it has lost its dynamic edge to make it suitable for US buyers. Really, it is just a little more comfortable, and seriously good looking, especially in its saloon form. The wagon is a fine family car too.
Standouts in the real luxury end are two. First the new Range Rover Evoque, opening up a new segment for Land Rover's top end cars. Stylistically a tour de force of individuality, and in performance terms being able to do everything that any LR vehicle must do when off the safety of tarmac. The other was Mercedes-Benz's CLS, second generation. Better looking while keeping the original's sleek coupe sense, it showed me its capabilities particularly well in the hills above Florence.
A surprise in the premium level compact hatch game was the new Chrysler Delta. Really a rebadged Lancia in the Irish/UK market, it isn't only a real head-turning good looker with a seriously well-designed interior, it proved a very capable drive—and I actually preferred the 1.6 version to the 2.0, both diesels, of course.
Another surprise was Toyota's new generation Yaris in its 1.0 3-pot version. Much sharper in style and with a more conventional instrumentation than had the previous two variants, it gradually engaged me over my time with it, to the point that I left it back with a warm feeling.
Two Mini offerings left me with similar warmth. The SD Hatch provides close to GTI fun with the frugality of diesel, while the throughly individual new Coupe 2-seat broke new ground, and entertained me highly.
BMW also played a new card late in the year. The second generation 1 Series smartened up an already accomplished nameplate significantly, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming variants beyond the hatchback which is the only version so far.
And then there's Hyundai and its new i40 family/executive saloon and estate. They launched the wagon version first, and may well be responsible for changing Irish attitudes to the format as family car options. A sweet drive, beautifully finished, and arguably a gamechanger.
Finally, but not leastly, Peugeot's 508 gained a crown as the Continental Irish Family Car of the Year 2012. Deserved it too. Style. Substance. Satisfaction. In automotive terms, beats location, location, location any time.
These are just a few of my best drives of 2011. Blame space, and a very cluttered automotive memory, for those left out? And here's to 2012.
Back to top
For a full range of MOTORING articles please visit our archive here...
Brian Byrne of Car and Travel - The Irish Car and Travel News Portal, visit here...
Back to top ^