Top 12 Cars That Have Impressed in 2017

Porsche’s first ever estate car to make it into production, the Panamera Sport Turismo, is now on sale. The car remains the same length and maintains the same wheelbase, but a revised rear-end completes the aggressive profile. The Sport Turismo range starts from £73,000 and goes all the way up to £117,000 for the Turbo model. Hope you’ve been saving…

The UK’s best-loved crossover is back with an overdue facelift. Interior improvements are largely sensual, with a brilliant new leather steering wheel, new padding through the interior and a more responsive touch screen system. On the exterior, there’s revised suspension and a refreshed front-end. We took the new Qashqai out on the roads of Austria and enjoyed every minute.

Read our full review here

It only took Toyota the best part of 10 years to realise there’s a big chunk of people who want a Nissan Juke rival from Toyota. Their answer is finally here with the incredibly stylish new C-HR. Available as a petrol or a hybrid, this smaller crossover is perfect for buyers in the hatchback market who want something with a bit more substance and a lot more… panache.

We were lucky enough to test the C-HR late last year, before its release. Read our full review here.

A new Volkswagen Golf is always going to be something to get excited about. Ok, this isn’t a whole new car, this is the mark 7.5 - halfway between the 7 and the inevitable 8. What’s new? Well a few things, but in short… There are now new engines, new technology, new infotainment, and best of all, a smaller price tag. The new Golf is more affordable than the model it replaces, and although there are still cheaper options on the market, this is still a very good package. 

The first 4 seat Ferrari with a V8 engine. Bragging a healthy 602 horsepower, it’s got plenty of grunt from under the bonnet and room for 4 adults to travel in comfort - even though this ‘T’ version of the GTC4 Lusso is missing 4 cylinders next to it’s non-T sibling. All for just under £200,000 - but well over once you’ve added an optional extra or two...

The Micra has been gifted all sorts of connotations over the last 10 years, some more welcome than others. It’s a reliable, economical, affordable and manageable hatchback which now looks the part. The new Micra is a genuinely good looking car that puts the old model to shame. Nissan may have missed a trick by keeping the Micra nametag, as this is a whole new creation, but it will be a sales success regardless.

Read our full review of the Nissan Micra here.

Filling a void between the Evoque and the Sport, a void that we never knew existed, is the new Range Rover Velar. It’s almost like a 4x4 estate car, except it’s far too attractive for something that sounds that dull. The new Velar will provide a refined, luxurious and potent driving experience thanks to the pedigree of the Range Rover brand, but also a capable, versatile and rugged off-roader thanks to the technology shared with the Land Rover Discovery. OK, it’s a bit flashy and a bit superfluous, but it’s beauty is in its excess.

The old Civic didn’t seem to be out for that long, especially the Type R which was only in production for 2 full years, but as quickly as that Honda have improved and replaced it. Introducing, the new Civic. Now with a sloped roofline and saloon-like silhouette, this Civic is up on style, substance and space. The cabin is bigger, the engines are cleaner and the overall design is even more modern.

Read our full review of the Honda Civic here.

SEAT come back with another premium, solid and well designed small-hatchback to fend off competition from the Fiesta, Polo, Fabia and a raft others. 1.0litre petrol engines dominate the engine lineup, which is no bad thing as these units are cable of returning around 60mpg with low CO2 emissions. A new diesel engine will be released at the end of the year and a 1.5litre petrol will come to fruition when the FR model is released.

Read our full review of the new SEAT Ibiza here.

The goal of the new Nissan X-Trail was to create the ‘ultimate family adventure vehicle.’ This means 7 seats, a big boot, a solid four wheel drive system and an eagerness to explore. The new X-Trail ticks all of these boxes and much more. We tested the car on and off road through the hills of Austria and were impressed time and time again.

Read our full review of the new X-Trail here.

Time and time again, Land Rover have consistently produced some of the most capable off-road cars on the market and it looks as though this latest Discovery might just be the best yet. Ok, it’s a bit luxurious and you won’t want to scratch the paintwork, but the capabilities of this Discovery cannot be questioned.

Read our full review of the new Discovery here.

Starting at a healthy £253,000, Ferrari’s latest V12 Supercar has arrived in the form of the 812 Superfast. It carries an identity through from the F12 that it supersedes, but with more accurate lines, an even more incredible interior and even more power. A staggering 789 horsepower is now nestling under your right foot - bonkers.