“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” Dickens wrote, and although it was first written all the way back in 1859, we can’t help but feel it’s a phrase that sums up this year pretty perfectly.
It started with the death of David Bowie, followed through with the outbreak of the Zika virus and has repeatedly kicked us while we’re down with things like the Brexit vote, the US presidential race and Teletubbies coming back on air.
But it’s also been one of the best years for new cars in decades, with amazing new products from everyone from Fiat to Ferrari, Mazda to McLaren. But after a hard year’s driving, which new cars have stood out the most for the Car Keys team?
Stephen Goldasz - Fiat 124 Spider
Nearly 50 years since it was last on sale, the Fiat 124 Spider is back. Named and styled in homage to the original 124 roadster of the 1960s, it’s also Fiat’s first proper convertible sports car since the Barchetta went out of production in 2004.
Of course, the headline news about the 124 Spider is that it shares a platform with none other than the Mazda MX-5, the world’s most successful two-seater roadster. It’s definitely got its own character though, with its engine, suspension and appearance all tweaked by the Italians.
Stephen spent a week with the 124 Spider earlier this year. He said: “What we have here is a highly-rated sports car platform combined with Italian flair and styling. That’s a beautiful combo, but is the latest Spider better than the MX-5? That’s not such an easy question to answer.
“Some may prefer the MX-5’s naturally-aspirated, rawer-feeling engines and its slightly sharper drive over the Spider’s, but some may actually find the Fiat’s softer characteristics and turbocharged engine more to their taste.
“While the MX-5 is well-suited for tearing up twisty countryside roads, the 124 Spider feels perfect for a relaxing Sunday drive near the coast on a sunny summer’s day. Even if you think the Mazda has the edge, there’s still a lot to like about the Spider. Most of all, you can still have an awful lot of fun driving this car.”
Richard Bush - Skoda Kodiaq
Forget supercars, hot hatches or anything of that ilk: unquestionably one of 2016’s most hotly-awaited cars was the Skoda Kodiaq, the first-ever full sized SUV from the Czech manufacturer.
With seven-seat capacity, loads of cutting-edge technology packed inside and capable engine options, the versatile Kodiaq makes for a capable and cost-effective family car and so it’s no surprise Rich chose this as his car of the year.
“It feels like we are drowning in SUVs nowadays,” he said. “But it’s rare that one comes along and woos you in every department - and that’s what the Skoda Kodiaq did for me.
“After already being impressed with the new Skoda Superb, I was hoping that Skoda would have kept that Superb’s personality and jacked it up to SUV stature, and that’s essentially what the Czech brand did.
“The Kodiaq offers distinctive, yet subtle styling, impressive driving dynamics, oodles of practicality, off-road capabilities and loads of cool tech. It may not be the most obvious choice for those after a luxury SUV, but it is one of the most rounded SUVs currently on sale.”
Ryan McElroy - Ford Focus RS
Unquestionably the hottest hatch of the moment, the new third-generation Ford Focus RS has set the bar high for affordable performance cars with 345bhp, four-wheel drive and that retina-bursting Nitrous Blue paintwork.
Need further proof of its ability? Well, how about the fact that waiting lists for the car are stretching back more than 18 months, and that it’s gotten a five-star rating from virtually every car publication worth its salt, ours included.
“It’s been one of the most talked-about cars of recent years and also one of the most universally praised, deservedly so of course,” Ryan said. “It looks great with just the right amount of in-your-faceness without going the full ASBO. It sounds great too, and of course the way it drives is jaw-dropping.
“Thanks to that unique four-wheel drive system, the RS feels more like a rear-wheel drive car, and the sheer grip and tenacity available is terrifying. The fact that this £30,000 hatchback is being compared to cars like the Nissan GT-R - an assessment I’d have to agree with - pretty much says it all.
“The youth of yesteryear grew up coveting the Ford Cosworths, and the new RS is that type of car for the current generation with the same delightfully offensive looks, rowdy performance and have-to-have-one desirability. A worthy successor to the likes of the Sierra Cossie? Absolutely.”
