THREE CAR GARAGE

OUR FAVOURITE CARS OF 2018 IN THE SAME GARAGE, IF WE WERE USING OUR MONEY.

A VOLVO XC40

>> Narrowly beaten out by the impressive M5 for the overall title, the baby Volvo is everything we love about the XC90 distilled into a visually striking package – well, everything except the sensible pricing, because loading all the tech trinkets on to this vehicle is a very expensive exercise. This model drops the finish quality, with Harman Kardon speakers instead of B&W and a less accurate touchscreen than the rest of the Volvo SUV line-up. That said, XC40 is first in line for the built-in Android Auto upgrades and will easily cocoon four adults and their luggage in class-leading safety. It’s also the most visually impressive of the family, so there’s that.

B PORSCHE CARRERA T

>> Is this the fastest Carrera? No. Is it the most exclusive? Not by a long shot, and that’s kind of the point. At the local launch, there was the story of this car paying homage to the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally-winning original. That’s a bit of a stretch, but this stripped-down Carrera is possibly the most engaging sports car on offer right now. Less sound deadening, no rear seat or infotainment system (no-cost options, though), a mechanical limited-slip diff and the excellent PASM suspension as standard equipment makes this car a purist’s dream. We love the seemingly endless grip levels and how easy it is to drive it fast.

B FORD RANGER WILDTRAK

>> The new facelift brings this amazing bakkie neatly in line with the revved-up Raptor version that’s hitting our shores later this year, but it still carries a few trump cards over its highly anticipated off-roading sibling. The Wildtrak can tow more than the Raptor (solid axle and leaf springs versus independent suspension) and you also get adaptive cruise control and forward collision detection, both puzzlingly absent from the Raptor spec sheet. There are now more luxurious and more performance-focused bakkies on the market, but Ford’s Ranger is still the technology champion, which makes it a must-have in our fantasy garage.

B

C

A