TestDriven Cars of the Year 2006
27 December 2006
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Now we've made it past the turkey and the family feuds, it's time for us to take a look back at our favourite cars of 2006. It's been an interesting year for us: while many of our categories have clear winners, there have been some real disappointments this year. Where we feel these losers deserve a special mention, we've included them here.
Supermini
Winner: Fiat Panda 100HP
We really like what Fiat are up to with the Panda. The original Panda always suffered from a slightly comedic image here in the UK, but the new model is just, well, cool. And now Fiat have launched the new Panda 100HP sporty version, the coolness factor has just edged up a notch or two. We like.
Most Disappointing: The new New Mini
The new New Mini was one of our biggest disappointments for 2006, and for several reasons. Chief among those are the way BMW have resorted to turning the Mini almost into a pastiche of itself - there are way too many 'cutesy' styling cues for it to be taken seriously and, while the new engine might be more refined than the old Brazilian unit, we mourn the loss of the characterful supercharger of the Cooper S. Step away, folks - nothing new to see here.
Family Car
Joint winner: Ford S-Max
No-one really expected this one. Sure, they showed us a concept car, but we all expected the production Ford S-MAX to be so watered-down as to be all but unrecognisable. So, good on ya' to Ford for producing family transport that Dads will want to drive.
Joint winner: Citroen C4 Picasso
Big up to Citroen and their new-found design confidence. The C4 isn't as sharp to drive as the Ford, and probably not as well-built, either, but its interior design is the cleverest on the planet. Somebody somewhere had to fight a few battles to get this car into production in this form, and they deserve a healthy bonus and a big promotion. Both the Ford and the Citroen are equally worthy winners in this category.
Estate Car
Winner: Honda Accord Tourer
Sorry. We know the Honda Accord Tourer won this category last year, but there still isn't anything to touch it. Good job, Honda. Bad job everyone else.
4x4
Winner: Land Rover Freelander
The new Land Rover Freelander wins the 4x4 category this year. Unfortunately, we can't say that's because it's an outstanding product; it's more a result of the drought of new models in this sector. We're deeply sceptical about the quality, and need to be convinced. We'll report back.
Ugly Stick Award: Honda CR-V
Special mention this year goes to the new Honda CR-V. The old model ticked so many boxes we feel guilty for not listing it as a winner earlier - safe, reliable, practical, economical (yes, and it's a 4x4) - but its replacement has been beaten with the ugly stick so many times we feel it may have been designed by the same blind person as the SsangYong Rodius, mankind's ugliest creation.
Executive Car
Winner: Mercedes-Benz CLS
We remain bored with the BMW 3-Series, and not even the arrival of the new Coupe model was enough to excite us. What we do like, however, and is continuing to grow on us, is the Mercedes-Benz CLS. It's up-turned banana styling confused us all at first, but it's softened over time and evolved into one of the most striking executive expresses on the roads today. With the right wheels and a dark colour, there's no point arguing with one in the fast lane.
Sports Car
Winner: Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe
We love the canvas-roofed Mazda MX-5 - light, agile, involving and just quick enough. Now they've gone and added a folding metal hard-top, the little '5 becomes an even more compelling package. Mazda's engineers deserve special recognition for achieving what every other manufacturer has so far failed to do: to fit a folding metal roof without ruining the styling.
Most Disappointing: Honda Civic Type-R, Audi TT
A number of disappointments in this year's sporting category. Firstly, the Honda Civic Type-R. We were dying to get our hands on one while Honda were teasing us with tiny snapshots. However, once we found out it was powered by the same overly-peaky 2.0-litre lump as the old model, and had put on weight, we lost interest. The new Audi TT also failed to excite us. We like the engineering under the skin, but there's something oh-so-forgettable about the styling. Nothing too exciting about the engines, either. Could try harder.
Luxury Car
Winner: Lexus LS 600h
The Mercedes S-Class has always been the car to move automotive technology forward. However, the Germans have been well and truly blown out of the water this year by the Japs: the new Lexus LS is an astonishing piece of kit. What's even more amazing, however, is that it's all usable. No horrible COMAND or iDrive systems here: simple touch screen menus and tech toys that silently get on with their job. Plus, there's a hybrid power-train choice available if you want to pretend to have a conscience. As if that wasn't amazing enough, the new big Lexus is also a bit of a looker.
Supercar
Winner: Jaguar XK
So let's clear this up: the new Jaguar XK isn't really in the Supercar class. It's far too cheap, for a start. However, anyone spending upwards of £100,000 on a Ferrari or Lamborghini may find a test drive in Jaguar's latest XK raises a few questions about what, exactly, the highly-strung Italians give you for your extra cash. Everything about this car works together: the suspension, the engine, the styling. We even like the traditional British 'man in shed' unfinished details around the car, like the horrible after-thought of an aerial in the rear wing. It adds to the character of the car, and at a time when Lambos are being sanitised by Audi influences and Ferrari is busy making ugly cars, we feel that's exactly what the market needs.
Most anticipated car of 2007
Volvo C30
We can't wait for Volvo's daring new C30 to arrive on these shores in 2007. Over 24,000 people have registered their interest in the new small Volvo, so if you're not in the queue by now, you're already too late.
