The 5 Most Important Cars of 2020

Starting with a British icon. Finally, the new Defender hit the showrooms this year and while it may have taken a bit of getting used to, we’re confident most people have warmed to the military-grade styling and features of Britains most-loved 4x4. The Defender has managed to retain it’s rugged, agricultural appeal despite the fact it is a rather luxurious SUV. It goes without saying that the Defender is still omnipotent when it comes to tackling tricky terrain and still by far the market leader if this is your kettle of fish. Interestingly the Defender also appears to have hijacked a slice of the demand for military-looking vehicles among footballers and Cheshire-folk who you’d typically expect to see in a G Wagon, but that’s merely an observation…

 The new Defender is on sale right now and prices start from a very reasonable £42,920. If this is the type of car that you’re looking for then it’s an extremely safe bet and you’re unlikely to find an alternative that even comes close.

The new Cupra Formentor (which is definitely not a SEAT) could arguably one of the most important cars of 2020. Why? Because it’s cool. Simple. Hybrid vehicles are going to have to start being a bit cooler if we’re going to get the mass adoption required to stop sea levels rising and drowning the likes of Blackpool Pleasure Beach - which might not be the end of the world, on reflection. The Formentor is not only a cool looking SUV, it’s a cool looking Hybrid too. The Formentor is a riot to drive thanks to the Golf-R/ Audi S3 sourced 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder engine which throws out a staggering 306 horsepower. That’s not the hybrid though, to be clear. The hybrid uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce a not-too-shabby 245 horsepower, which is still plenty. 

 As Cupra’s first exclusive model, the Formentor has some huge challenges ahead, but if the brand is to succeed then this car is of real importance and we think they’ve nailed it. Finally, a genuinely exciting SUV/ Crossover thing - all for less than £30,000...

Back in August Audi announced the launch of one of their most exciting models, the S3 Sportback. Of course, there are RS models and R8s within their lineup but as far as we’re concerned, the S3 is a more realistic target for a lot of people to work towards, and it’s one hell of a car. A hot-hatch capable of going from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds is, frankly, absurd. Audi also claims their S3 will now be able to return just shy of 40mpg when driven to WLTP standards, which is acceptable, we suppose. Inside, of course, it’s an absolute delight. S3 buyers will demand an upmarket interior, sure, but they’ll be more than happy with the level of technology that comes factory fitted in the S3 now. 

 The S3 is on sale from the not-so-ridiculous price of £38,475 - which is a reasonable figure considering you’re looking at sports car performance with hatchback versatility. Very nice...

Finally, the long-awaited deliveries of the Ford Mustang Mach E have begun in recent weeks. It’s a car that had us scratching our heads at first - (an electric Mustang?) but it’s an EV that makes a lot of sense. The Mustang badge adds a certain level of desirability to potential buyers and the Mach-E backs up its namesake with a heck of a lot of performance. This sustainably powered beast will launch itself from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds while emitting a total of zero CO2s into the environment. It’s also good for an all-electric range of 379 miles, which is bordering on Tesla territory. Speaking of which, we’ve all seen what a success the Tesla Model X SUV has been, could the Mustang Mach-E be a more accessible SUV which offers similar benefits? We think so, that’s why we think it’s one of the most important cars of 2020 and there’s a strong case it could be a huge seller in 2021...

Sticking with EVs, the iD.3 has been another huge car for 2020. This is Volkswagens serious contender for the soon-to-be dominant electric hatchback market. We heard the news that as of 2030 all petrol and diesel new car sales will be banned, so it’s about time that people started taking EVs seriously, and this is a very serious EV indeed. Think of this as Volkswagens answer to the Nissan Leaf or the BMW i3, only it is more impressive than the former and more accessible than the latter. Oh, and it’ll almost cover more electric miles than both of those cars combined. Volkswagen you can achieve a staggering 340 miles on one charge which, let’s be honest, is more than 99% of us need from our hatchbacks - so please give the hold fire on the common retort of ‘oh I just do too many miles for an electric car’.

We look back at cars like the Golf and the Polo as benchmarks of the hatchback market. In 30 years, there’s a strong chance that we’ll look back at the ID.3 as a pioneer for the EV-hatch market too. The ID.3 is on sale right now from £32,990, which will be more than tempting for a lot of people looking for a market-leading EV.

So, which models have stood out for you in 2020? It’s been a tricky year for the industry but we’re pleased to see that new cars have still been coming thick and fast and we’d like to know which cars impressed you the most. Let us know in the comments section and also be sure to tell us which cars you’re looking forward to seeing in 2021...