Our favourite drives of 2019

If there’s one thing all of our team would do for nothing – it’s drive cars. The passion for four (and in some cases, two) wheels is something that runs deep across the carsales editorial team.

So, while we drive cars to help you make better choices, there’s at least a small part of the process that remains a pleasure, bordering a little on the selfish.

Each year carsales team members drive hundreds of new cars. In some cases they are in multiple variants by multiple team members. From this we produce reviews, advice and the odd roadtrip feature…

There are always favourites. Of the cars we drove this year, here’s a list of the ones our road testers found the most memorable – in a good way!

Mike Sinclair – Porsche Taycan

It’s electric performance done right… And what else would you expect from the brand that makes the world’s most storied sports car?

With stunning straight-line performance, handling prowess never before exhibited in a production battery electric vehicle, proper fit and finish and concept car looks, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S has re-written at least some of the rules on EVs.

It’s not cheap but this car was my drive of the year because it’s very much a Porsche first and an EV second. It showed me and many others that EVs need not be ‘fragile’ – unlike Tesla’s fastest, the Taycan will not cry enough after one hard launch or lap.

Underpinned by an all-new electro-mechanical and chassis package that absolutely maximises the benefits that electric car architectures offer, the Taycan’s ace in the hole is the robust nature of its performance and overall execution.

Marton Pettendy – BMW 3 Series

I drove a lot of fancy cars this year but one of them stood out from the rest – and it wasn’t the ground-breaking Mercedes-Benz EQC; nor was it the hard-core McLaren 600LT Spider.

No, my favourite ride of 2019 is the new BMW 3 Series, because it asks no concessions; it handles as well as it rides and it does both better than anything in its class.

Clearly my colleagues agree, since we named the 330i our 2019 carsales Car of the Year after the most one-sided vote in the award’s history. Indeed, it beat two formidable SUVs to become the first sedan to win the gong in the past four years.

Since then I’ve spent time in the base 320i and 320d, which only reinforced our decision, and I can’t wait to drive the 340i and the upcoming M3, which should be among the best of its breed.

Designed and engineered better than any other car this year, the latest 3 Series marks a return to BMW’s roots. If it doesn’t tempt buyers back from SUVs no car ever will.

Ken Gratton – Honda Civic Type R

I could tell you about blasting around the Portimao racetrack in a BMW M8 Coupe, but it is the reasonably humble Honda Civic Type R that topped the list of cars I enjoyed driving most this year.

On roads I know really well, the Type R shone. Not the cheapest hot hatch around, it is stupidly capable nonetheless.

The seats are amazing and both the gear shift and steering raise driving enjoyment to a new level. I'm now a Type R fan for sure, and I even forgive its looks.

Matt Brogan – Alpine A110

Meeting your heroes – or in this case driving a remake of one of my all-time favourite cars – is an occasion fraught with conflict.

Would it be everything the original was? Of course not. But more aptly, would it be as good as a modern recreation of a famed classic can possible be?

It was. It is!

In fact, the Alpine A110 is an absolutely wonderful driving machine. Like the Alfa Romeo 4C, the Lotus Elise and the Mazda MX-5 had some bizarre mechanical three-way and produced the perfect road car.

It’s a hand-in-glove fit for anyone who really enjoys the thrill of driving. For me, the easiest pick for our annual ‘fave drive’ yet.

Feann Torr – Porsche Cayman GT4

Choosing a favourite drive of 2019 is like asking which child you love the most… Painful and not without post-choice guilt.

The Jaguar I-PACE EV race car was an absolute thrill and driving the Jeep Wrangler with surf god Filipe Toledo is something I'll never forget.

But, the Porsche Cayman GT4 is my top drive. Not only does the mid-engine Porsche borrow a bunch of chassis components from the Porsche 911 GT3, ensuring the car-to-driver connection is almost telepathic, but it gets a new 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated 309kW, 8000rpm six-cylinder boxer engine that is infectious..

Luscious, linear power and approachable handling dynamics that won't beat you around like a 911 GT3? Sign me up.

Sam Charlwood – Porsche 911

Go on, give it to me. Clichéd, obvious, an uninspired choice; it would be easy to strike the new Porsche 911 from any end-of-year list, simply on the basis of predictability.

But for me, this was the unashamed highlight of 2019 – a car that stays true to its past while adhering to expectations of the future, achieving the next level of voodoo engineering, safety and emissions compliance.

Adding an empty Tailem Bend circuit, top-level Porsche instructors and one M Webber simply cemented the impression.

Bruce Newton – Ford Falcon Holy Grail

We drove more significant cars in 2019, but none meant more to me than the Holy Grail. This was more than just another aftermarket kit; this was the people who loved the locally-built Falcon going all-out to prove what could have been.

It was a poignant reminder of the immensely talented people our now-shattered Australian automotive industry turned out. Thankfully, in small pockets such as Premcar, they continue to do their thing.

And my purely gratuitous runner-up -- chasing racer Richard Muscat around Phillip Island in a Lamborghini Huracan Evo. It was a dawdle for him, but eye-opening for me. What a car!

Michael Taylor – Volkswagen Golf 8

The Mk8 Volkswagen Golf is easily my favourite new car drive of 2019… But I’d rather write about the car that still has me scratching my head.

The McLaren GT is a nice enough thing in its own way. It’s light for a grand touring car, but the carbon tub lets a sharp crack through every time there’s a big bump. It has more interior space than any other McLaren and even has luggage space -- if you have thin, wobble-shaped suitcases that needs to be cooked for hours on end.

The engine sounds a bit blerrghh, but it goes. And it stops – far too well, actually, with a brake pedal that has nearly no modulation in it. And it eases through corners effortlessly.

But I still have no real idea who’d buy it. Or why. Or what they’d do with it after they bought it. And thus, when the subject of this car comes up on social media it starts me scratching my head all over again.

Alexandra Lawrence – Toyota Supra

More than one car stole my heart this year. The Mercedes-AMG E 63, Audi RS 6, BMW M2 and the all-new Suzuki Jimny – all go into my top 10.

But few cars had me smiling ear-to-ear like the new Toyota Supra GTS.

A rear-drive sports coupe that’ll leave tingles down your spine (in the best possible way) with its speed, agile dynamics and all-round deliciousness. It’s a big YES from me.

I know our best drives are supposed to involve a new car on an empty road or track somewhere exotic but this year my favourite motoring moment will be closer to home.

You see, it hasn't happened yet but it will next week on a cold muddy and probably icy stretch of road near my folks' home in Bath. Far from ideal, but necessary because after 53 years of impeccable driving, my old man is being forced to surrender his licence prematurely for health reasons.

So, after a vigorous set of pre-flight checks, we'll hit the road in his beloved mid-1990s Porsche 911 for the very last time. Of course, he'll criticise my gearchanges, braking and harsh acceleration but I wouldn't have it any other way.

We'll miss the Porsche but I fear old dad is about to lose much more. So this Christmas break I urge you to take a drive – doesn't matter where – and try to recapture that feeling of freedom driving brings because it's all too easy to take for granted.