Ten Best Cars of 2019

Just like last week, I'm doing multiple top ten articles this week, and again similarly they share a common theme. On Saturday I'll focus on the cars I can't wait for in 2020, and next week we'll look at 2021 and beyond, but for now we'll look back on the year that was 2019 and see what cars were among it's highlights.

Honorable Mention: BMW 850i Convertible

While this car isn't particularily a top 10 cars of 2019 car, nor even a 2019 car, it's a special car of 2019 for me because it's what I wrote my first ever article about. Thank you all for your support.

10. Land Rover Defender

One of two SUV's on this list, it was impossible not to mention such an iconic model as the Defender. It's possibly the most important in the marque's history and is a radical departure from previous Defenders. Given the car has been off sale for two years, it should be popular, particularily in Australia as it is expected to dodge the Luxury Car Tax thanks to Brexit.

9. Ferrari Roma

Probably a car many of you are surprised to see this far down my list, the Ferrari Roma is the latest sports car from the Ferrari, fitting in just near the Portofino in price but a sports coupe rather than a grand cabrio. It's only this low because there were several cars I barely preferred to it.

8. Audi RSQ8

The RSQ8 was hands down the performance SUV of the year, being fortunate enough to land on one side of the Urus and the other of the DBX and potentially the Urus Performante and Ferrari Purosangue. Regardless, it is a brilliant SUV available in some eye-catching colours and will no doubt contend at the top end of the performance SUV market.

7. Porsche Taycan

One of the more critical cars, like the Cayenne, in Porsche's history, the first electric car from Weissach seems to have the goods. It's a brilliant sports car/sedan and in my mind is a clear cut and paste replacement for the Panamera in shape and ethos. It's a lot faster in the straights too, which is a bonus. If only for either track use or for scaring children.

6. Mercedes-AMG A35

The A35 AMG is the year's most exciting hot hatch and it isn't all Mercedes has in its locker, with the A45 yet to be released. The A35 has 225 kilowatts of power from it's 2.0 liter turbocharged four, but over 300 should be available in the A45.

5. De Tomaso P72

It's always excellent news when an old manufacturer comes back from the dead but it's even more exciting when it's with a vehicle such as the P72. It looks extremely futuristic but this look is complemented by an old-school Ford Coyote engine under the hood. It also features parts from the Apollo IE.

4. Porsche 911 992

One of the big launches of early 2019 was the 992 generation of the 911. The car features the model's general thesis of 'evolution over revolution' and still features a F6 engine. It's replacing one of the best cars of its generation and the new model already seems to be one of the best cars of its generation.

3. Toyota Supra A90

If we are going by hype alone, the Supra either is the most hyped car of 2019 or it's close behind the 992 911. If we're going objectively... it's still one of the best cars of 2019. It combines good handling, power and design with a name that, while controversial, I feel is deserved.

2. Koenigsegg Jesko

The Jesko was the hypercar of 2019. Really it's only competition was the McLaren Speedtail as all of the other big names (Aston Valkyrie, Mercedes Project 1 and Ferrari SF90) have not been released in production spec. However, that's not distracting from the car. It's a thoroughly excellent track-focused machine and should be noted as something very special.

1. Ferrari F8 Tributo

The 488 replacement certainly has big shoes to fill and I'd say it will fill them excellently. It's another car fulfilling 'evolution, not revolution' but is better for it. Overall it is quite potnentially the top car of 2019.