Ten of the best: our top rides that hit the tar in 2019
BEST OF THE BEST/ Motoring editor Denis Droppa of the best vehicles launched in SA this year gives a rundown
SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT
A fitting example for the aphorism: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” With its punchy new 1.4l turbo engine, the Swift Sport accelerates like a Jack Russell chasing a ball, and combined with its slick handling it can’t fail to paint a smile on your face.
It has great fuel economy to boot, and the relatively affordable R315,900 price tag comes with features such as six airbags, stability control, reversing camera and touchscreen infotainment.
BMW 8 SERIES COUPE
With its two doors and restricted rear seating space, the new 8 Series Coupe is a car that shuns practicality in favour of glamour. But what glamour! It is probably BMW’s most beautiful car, styled to slot effortlessly into millionaire’s playgrounds like Clifton or Monaco.
It’s no slouch either, with the M850i xDrive version capable of 0-100km/h in just 3.7 seconds. Rear-biased all-wheel drive, adaptive M Suspension, an electronically controlled rear diff lock, and rear-wheel steering make the big coupe hug curves very proficiently too.
JAGUAR I-PACE PORSCHE 911
The new eighth generation of Porsche’s rear-engined icon is better than ever at blending civilised commuting with pulseracing performance.
It is that perfect everyman’s sports car with a wide set of talents, which have been further extended at both ends of the comfort and sports scale. It cruises over unkempt tar as smooth as chilled Amarula, but show it an open road — preferably a twisty one — and it comes alive in all kinds of adrenaline-surging ways.
New technology includes a Wet Mode that makes the car almost foolproof to drive in the rain.
We are constantly reminded that the future of cars is electric, and the Jaguar I-Pace brings that future a little closer with its useable range of 400km-plus; if you commute less than 80km a day you’ll need to charge the car only once a week.
But this battery-powered luxury SUV is about much more than tackling dreaded range anxiety. Its power delivery is addictive; it accelerates like a sports car with no lag or pauses.
Combined with its luxury and high tech, its competence in the corners and even off-road makes it a worthy 2019 World Car of the Year.
There are still compelling reasons not to be an EV early adopter, including the high entry price and the lack of a stirring engine sound, but we didn’t expect to enjoy the drive so much.