THE HB EDIT
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT FUNCTIONAL OR STYLISH, HERE’S OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S COOLEST CARS
CUTTING EDGE
Winner: BMW i3 WHO IS IT FOR: Minimalist-loving, tech-savvy early adopters; those with an eco sensibility. WHY WE LOVE IT: If Apple has taught the world anything, it’s that we’re all in love with technology that makes our life easier – but it has to be beautiful, too. BMW’s designers knew this when they created the i3, a vehicle that looks like it’s just driven here from the year 2035: from an interior that feels like a high-end Scandinavian furniture shop, to the electric motor that produces no nasty carbon dioxide at all – while still providing seamless and silent acceleration. The electric motors will provide you with (up to) an amazing 200km of range between charges. To reduce power-shortage- panic you can purchase a Range Extender, which is basically a small motorcycle engine that runs on petrol and can kick in to recharge your batteries when they’re getting low, effectively doubling your car’s driving range. All i3s sold in Australia also have a built-in SIM card so the car can talk to BMW and provide bespoke advice about battery range, based on current traffic conditions and the weather. If you’re getting low on juice it can guide you to your nearest electric vehicle charging station. The most advanced small car on the road starts at $63,900. FUN FACT: Interestingly, the i3 is available with an entirely vegan interior, made from specially chosen eco-fibres instead of cow hide.
URBAN CHIC
Winner: MAZDA CX-5 WHO IS IT FOR: Families; weekend adventurers. WHY WE LOVE IT: SUVs are the avocado toast of the car world – everyone wants one. And what’s not to love? The high view, OTT safety features and ample space are hard to beat. As the vehicle of choice for Australian families, the selection available is overwhelming. The best SUVs are like a reverse Tardis – looks large from the outside, but shrinks when you’re behind the wheel (no-one wants to feel like they’re driving a bus) and Mazda has perfected this formula. The CX-5 (from $28,690) takes out top honours for the way it deftly handles both urban duties and the demands of an active family. Happily, it’s also lovely to look at, appearing far sportier than anything else in its category, and it’s so easy to drive. OTT EXTRAS: The safety features are truly impressive, like the car’s ability to ‘sense’ an impending accident and stop by itself.
CITY SLICKER
Winner: FIAT 500 WHO IS IT FOR: Style mavens and lovers of Italian cool. WHY WE LOVE IT: Fiat’s funky two-door 500 first rolled into the hearts of fashion-focused motorists in 1957. Relaunched in 2007, it washed into Australia from the catwalks of Milan riding a wave of nostalgia – and it wasn’t alone. Mini’s equally old-school Mini Cooper was again prowling the streets, while the VW Beetle had also returned from the dead. But only the Fiat 500 (from $18,000) stayed true to its retro style. However, the 500’s classic Euro design can’t hide the hightech gadgetry of this makeover, with touch screens and buttonfestooned steering wheels peppering the entire range. Yes, it’s uncomfortable for any adult forced to sit in the back seat, but it’s stunning to look at, a dream to park and will inject la dolce vita into the most dull commutes. FASHION CRED: With special collaborations already rolled out with Gucci, Paco Rabanne and Diesel, this ride has some serious style credentials.
SMALL PACKAGES
Winner: HYUNDAI i30 WHO IS IT FOR: Coin-saving couples; young families. WHY WE LOVE IT: While some of Hyundai’s old cars looked like crumpled chip packets (hi, Excel) a recent design revolution – led by former Audi style chief Peter Schreyer – has injected some cool into Hyundai’s look. As a result, the Korean brand now produces some of the best-looking cars on the road, and that formula has been tinkered with – and improved – for the i30 hatch. Its street appeal joins a technologypacked offering, with a larger and more practical interior, and a bigger boot that will swallow all a family can throw at it: car seats, groceries, sports gear. As Australians downsize from Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons, an i30-sized vehicle is the obvious car choice for new families. It’s one of the country’s most popular cars and also one of its best valued (from $21,450). TECH ALERT: Check out the massive touch screen in the centre console, which can cleverly mirror your iPhone screen.
DREAM CAR
FERRARI CALIFORNIA T WHO IS IT FOR: Extroverts. WHY WE LOVE IT: Ferrari’s goal for this convertible was to have 50 per cent female buyers (compared to 10 per cent or fewer for its other models). What they achieved is a car that appeals to anyone with a pulse. The California T is so lushly leathered it feels like you’re sitting on a bespoke sofa, but it can also raise your pulse when its V8 engine hurls you from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds. And it’s still a Ferrari, which means it will make you feel special (and ludicrously wealthy) every time you open its vault-like doors. You will, of course, have to be ludicrously wealthy to own it – the price starts from $409,888. FAST MOVER: Flip the sexy manettino dial from “Comfort” to “Sport” and you will feel like a race driver as you effortlessly glide through any series of bends you throw at it.
ECO LOVERS
Winner: NISSAN LEAF WHO IS IT FOR: Mums who are environmentally conscious – with one eye on their children and the other on keeping the planet alive. WHY WE LOVE IT: There was a time when opting for an electric ride meant sacrificing style, performance and the ability to drive further than your longest extension cord, but continuing innovations have significantly overhauled this market. Nissan’s Leaf has been doing the all-electric thing
SEXY IN THE CITY
Winner: PORSCHE MACAN WHO IS IT FOR: Urban thrill seekers; design aficionados. WHY WE LOVE IT: The problem with sports cars is they can be painfully impractical. Think two seats sitting so close to the ground they require Cirque Du Soleil skills to climb in and out of, plus they have the luggage space of a coin purse. The stunning Macan (from $76,610) sees Porsche take the heart of the world’s best sports cars and wrap it in the practical body of a Goldilocks-sized SUV. While more than 85 per cent of Porsche owners are male, the German brand has made no secret of the fact that this car has been created with female sensibilities in mind. since 2012, and the Japanese brand’s tech-heavy five-seater (it’s the size of a larger hatchback) is one of the more economical entry points into the segment. Sure, its $46,990 price is expensive, but you’ll never have to pay for fuel again. And don’t forget it has zero emissions. The Leaf’s battery can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes, provided you have the right kind of charger, or it can be slowly recharged overnight. Once full, you’ll get somewhere in the vicinity of 150km of driving range (for some that’s a week’s worth of driving with one charge). OTT EXTRAS: The awesome tech that can pre-cool your car on hot days, by using your smartphone to remotely start the air conditioning. The interior is a thing of beauty, with its seats and dash awash with leather and suede. It’s perfect for navigating cramped inner-city streets, but its high-riding position and a boot that can store enough gear for a weekend away make it a standout proposition. LOOK OUT FOR: The fastest version, the Macan Turbo ($143,500), will leave competitors in a SUV-shaped cloud of dust.