As the year draws to a close, Cars.co.za’s editor David Taylor looks back on 2013.

2013 was a terrific year in terms of car launches and announcements, and the team at Cars.co.za got behind the wheel of some fantastic machinery. You can read Cars.co.za contributor Ciro De Siena’s Motoring Year here, and see what he drove in 2013.

McLaren Mp4-12C

The McLaren MP4-12C was the highlight of 2013 for me. This simply stellar machine defies belief when it comes to outright performance and sheer grin-inducing ability. CAR Magazine put the McLaren Mp4-12C against the Lamborghini Gallardo in a drag race and the supercar from Woking, Surrey annihilated its Santa’Agata counterpart. Coupled to the fact it can be driven reasonably well by the average Joe indicates what a complete package it is. Ferraris and Lamborghinis have become a little too common, especially where I live and the McLaren is refreshingly different.

Range Rover Evoque

It may have been around for a while now (it was shown off at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show), but a test unit was only made available to me in 2013. It was worth the wait. The diesel Range Rover Evoque coupé is quite possibly one of the most eye-catching vehicles around. There are splashes of luxury both inside and out, and the Evoque is a simply brilliant package.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3 Sportback

Many would suggest Mercedes-Benz’s A-Class was the launch of the year, and to some extent I agree. Compared to the old version, the 2013 A-Class was a vast improvement and it offers decent performance in one attractive package. The Mercedes-Benz A180 is a great exercise in combining stylish and fashionable looks with German class and while I enjoyed it, the Audi A3 Sportback I reviewed a few months later trumped it in many aspects. It’s just a pity the Audi’s looks are far too understated. Imagine if you could combine the Merc’s looks with the ride quality of the Audi? The Merc is a hit with the fairer sex, with my girlfriend falling in love with our Merc A180 test unit.

Ford Fiesta ST

Forget the Volkswagen Golf GTI being the people’s hot hatchback. They’ve become a little pricey and the market has been crying out for a budget pocket rocket. Ford stepped up to the plate and unleashed this little monster for very little money. It’s an absolute hoot to drive, is well specced and looks the business. The Ford Fiesta ST gets a big thumbs up from me.

Hyundai i20 CRD Glide and Honda Brio

You could accuse all motoring writers of being extremely fortunate people, as all we seem to do is travel and drive expensive sports cars. You’d be half right. Personally I love the idea of trying to find a bang-for-buck vehicle which I can happily recommend to cash-strapped family and friends. This year I came across the Hyundai i20 CRD Glide and the Honda Brio – two lovely little city cars which are jammed with kit and don’t cost a lot to own. The Hyundai offers incredible fuel economy too.

Subaru BRZ

There’ll always be a car which you can realistically see yourself owning. For me the Subaru BRZ ticks most of the boxes. It’s fun to drive, light on fuel, looks sporty and has just enough space to earn itself a practicality star. It has a little bit more prestige than its Toyota 86 sibling, which adds to the exclusivity factor. I waited a long time to get behind the wheel of this and it was worth the wait.

Other cars worth an honourable mention

It was a fairly busy year and many cars were driven. Due to space constraints, I can’t go into that much detail but I can tell you the following cars are also worth a look:

Aston Martin Vantage

OpelAstra OPC

Lexus GS350

Renault Clio 4

Subaru XV

Volvo V40 D2

Citroen DS3 Cabrio

Honda CR-V

Suzuki Jimny

Hyundai Santa Fe

Suzuki Swift Sport

Citroen DS5 THP 200

Conclusion

You’ll notice there are no products from BMW, Kia, Volkswagen, or Alfa/Fiat/Jeep/ on this list. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those cars, but it would be nice to have an opportunity to drive some of them. Roll on 2014. Get in touch – hit me up on Twitter @DaveTheCarGuy or leave a comment on the Cars.co.za Facebook page here. I wish you a happy and safe break over the festive season.