RAC's Best Drives of 2022

By: Alex Forrest

We road tested more than 60 new cars available in Australia in 2022. Here are the 10 we judged as being among the best on Australian roads.

If 2021 was the year of aftershocks following the COVID-driven car factory shutdowns of 2020, then 2022 was the year the car industry took its first few steps down the lengthy road to recovery.

As 2022 drew to a close, Western Australian vehicle sales were slightly down on 2021, with supply constraints across many popular models continuing to starve a market still hankering for new product.

Car makers nonetheless continued to launch new models into the Australian market, though those launches were often followed by restricted supply, extended wait times and limited model choices. All of which kept the prices of many used cars inflated.

More choices in 2022

Still, 2022 saw some exciting new arrivals into the Australian market, such as the new Ford Ranger and Everest, the Subaru BRZ and WRX, Lexus NX450h+, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the new Nissan Z, the Toyota GR86 and the GR Supra with a long-awaited manual gearbox.

The choice of electric cars increased in 2022. We saw the arrival of the BYD Atto 3 small SUV, the Volvo C40, the upgraded MG ZS EV, new Kia Niro, Polestar 2, Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Kia Sorento Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Toyota RAV4 Edge Hybrid were among the array of new hybrid SUVs to hit the market, with the new Mazda CX-60 set to launch this year. Also joining the hybrid SUV ranks were the Toyota Corolla Cross, Kia Niro Hybrid, Honda HR-V hybrid, and the Genesis Electrified GV70 to name but a few.

New EV brands

Getting behind the wheel of almost every popular new electric and hybrid vehicle to be launched in Australia over the past year provided us with a unique overview of the increasing breadth of EV and hybrid choices consumers have.

New brands to enter the Australian market included the Volkswagen sub-brand Cupra, Chinese EV manufacturers BYD and GWM’s EV brand Ora. Volvo, which is now Chinese-owned, also launched its EV sub-brand, Polestar.

All these bring more competition to the local market, which will be good news for consumers seeking keen pricing and more choice. But it’s also more cars to weigh up against each other.

We’ve already done some of that weighing up for you. Here are just some of the best new cars we drove in 2022.

Small Car - Kia Cerato GT

While the Cerato is in the small car category, you could mount an argument for this GT model to be competing amongst the sports cars. As the top-of-the-range GT model, this Cerato costs $37,990 – more than $10,000 above the cost of the entry level car. But if you choose to regard the GT as a very affordable and practical sporty car rather than an expensive small one, it makes more sense. With a huge boot, 5-star ANCAP safety rating, 150kW and great handling, the Cerato GT stands to keep more people happy than most small cars.

Small SUV - Kia Nero Hybrid

The Kia Niro isn’t the cheapest small SUV hybrid in the market (that’d be the Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid at $33,300 drive away), but it does have some of the most innovative infotainment tech. The Niro Hybrid has the latest safety gear and it’s also bigger than many of its small SUV rivals. It drives better than the Subaru XV Hybrid and is markedly more fuel efficient. Other rivals include the similarly priced Honda HR-V e:HEV L Hybrid, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which is a plug-in hybrid.

Medium SUV - Mazda CX-5

Handling improvements, reduced interior noise and harshness levels, and a new variant added to the line-up called the Touring Active were all part of an update applied to the CX-5 in March 2022. Then in November, the Japanese brand announced infotainment system upgrades for 2023 that will include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s 5-star ANCAP safety rating from 2017 is getting old, but its suite of safety features remains comprehensive.

Large SUV - Kia Sorrento Hybrid S

Only a few years ago, hysterical laughter would have ensued if you’d told people that a large, seven-seater SUV used only 5.3 litres of petrol per 100km in the ADR test. They might still laugh, but now you could point them to the Sorento Hybrid S. The interior is well finished and it’s easy to move and fold seats to where you need them. It’ll fit into a busy family’s life without fuss and stretch out those petrol station stops. Curtin airbags for the third row would be good though.

Luxury AWD SUV - Lexus NX450H+

It took them a while, but Lexus now finally has a plug-in hybrid: the NX450h+. It arrived in 2022, about 17 years after the first Lexus regular hybrid hit the market. Like all other plug-in hybrids, the NX450h+ plug-in gives drivers the opportunity to cover more distance on electricity only, provided they charge the battery regularly. As you’d expect of any new Lexus, it’s extremely refined inside. But remember – if you don’t charge the battery, that impressive-sounding 1.3L/100km consumption number will go up quickly.

All-Terrain SUV - Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Though the Pajero Sport has been around since 2015, Mitsubishi introduced a rear-wheel drive only version for the first time in early 2022. That brought the entry level price for the Pajero Sport down by around $5000 to $47,240. It offers a high driving position and the looks of an all-terrain vehicle but at a lower cost, which may fit the bill for urban drivers who want those features but don’t need ultimate off-road ability. A smart addition to the all-terrain category, even though it’s really only for some-terrain.

4x4 Twin Cab Ute - Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior

After its launch in 2021, we finally drove the Pro-4X Warrior in early 2022. It’s a Navara that’s had some extra beefing up done by the Australian engineering firm, Premcar. Additions include a huge bull bar, white letter all-terrain tyres, increased ground clearance to 260mm (up 40mm), protective bash plates underneath and some tough-looking fender flares. It’s far from cheap, but you won’t need to spend as much at the 4x4 accessories shops.

Sports Car - Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ

The long-awaited launches of the heavily revised new Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ sports cars (which are twins under the skin) did not disappoint. The biggest news surrounding the GT86 and BRZ was its larger 2.4-litre (up from 2.0 litres) engine, which brought a welcome power increase from 147kW to 174kW. It’s a better car in many more ways. It handles more sharply, it’s exhaust sound is deeper and its body shell is stiffer, which assists handling. All of which makes the GR86/BRZ a four-wheeled smile factory.

Electric Car - Kia EV6

Following its Australian launch in February 2022, the EV6 was lumbered with supply issues amidst overwhelming demand, and for good reason – it’s an excellent EV. The EV6 is a large, futuristic and fully-featured yet sporty large hatch/SUV where the cheapest model actually has the longest range. The EV6’s suspension has been tuned specifically for Australian roads and drivers, so even the rear drive only version (AWD is also available) is very rewarding to drive.

People Mover - Hyundai Staria

When the Staria people mover arrived in Australia in 2021, it wasn’t a moment too soon given the iMax it was replacing had been on sale since 2008. A big positive for Hyundai’s new people mover – apart from being much more passenger focused than its predecessor – is that it’s based on the Santa Fe platform, meaning the diesel versions of the Staria have all-wheel drive. Its safety credentials are good, there’s vast space inside and it’s even okay to drive given its size.