Top Five new car releases of 2017
Performance and utility proved the big winners in the year’s major releasesIf it had a big engine, could carry a heap of gear or trod a new path in the market, then motoring.com.au readers generally wanted to know about it.
That’s the general observation on the five biggest releases of 2017, as decided by the motoring.com.au team.
In no particular order, here are the new models that piqued our interest in a serious way.
The most anticipated new vehicle release of the year, a Korean sports sedan touted as the natural replacement for the Commodore and Falcon, the Stinger required little introduction with readers.
The performance offering piqued our interest at its initial debut in Detroit, before going onto attract serious eyeballs at its international and local debuts. Not surprisingly, a recent safety sting attracted the thoughts of dozens of commenters.
Curiously, the Stinger hasn’t sold in the bulk numbers its pre-release hype may have predicted, but regardless, it clearly scores well in the pub test.
The very last of our homegrown muscle cars and also the most powerful, the W1 quickly struck a chord with readers following its reveal in January.
From first drive reviews to inflated used market values, the Clayton-produced juggernaut created a storm.
The hype and limited production run was instantly vindicated when the W1 stormed home to victory in our annual Australia’s Best Driver’s car.
Australians already love utilities and more people are buying vehicles with luxury badges, so it was only a matter of time before the two combined.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class promises to take the humble hay hauler to new heights, though the jury is still out on whether the Navara-based German offering succeeds.
While not strictly a 2017 release, the X-Class has already been extensively reviewed overseas and lands in our showrooms from April 2018. Here’s hoping it lives up to the hype.
Toyota Prado
Want to know some of our highest-rating stories of 2017? A clue: anything with the words Toyota and Prado in the title was always up there.
The undisputed sales king of its class, the Prado unequivocally demonstrates the value of reliability and longevity within the Australian market.
While it doesn’t exactly move the badge into a new paradigm, the 2018 model year off-roader pushes the game forward with new technology, increased towing and convenience features. Clearly, readers agree.
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai’s first city-sized SUV is designed to raise eyebrows. A polarising design, a commendable level of standard equipment and decent driving traits have thrusted the newcomer into the spotlight.
Along with treading a new path for Hyundai, the Kona has already struck a chord with readers and buyers alike. Plenty of you read and watched our initial Australian drive and initial sales bode strongly.
Looking back, the Kona was one of the most significant releases of 2017.
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