The cars we have grown to love in 2012

It is that time of the year to look back at the best cars we have tasted over the past 12 months. The sgCarMart Editorial Team has been lucky enough to drive countless new cars. When you drive that many electrifying road machines, a lot of them tend to blend together in your mind. But there are always a few that make a lasting impression.

We could have done a lot more than just 10. But hey, where's the fun in that?

Audi A6 Avant

Nobody does wagons quite like Audi. The cult RS2 Avant brought life to the wagon segment which was otherwise, plain and dull. While the A6 Avant is not blessed with the same kind of tarmac scorching ability like the RS2, it stays true to the Avant design - clean and elegant yet more functional than its sedan brethrens.

To us, having an Avant is not all about needing the extra utility - one look, and the purposeful stance immediately sets it apart from the usual bread and butter sedans. The handsome looks are just part of the package - potent powerplants (the 3.0-litre TFSI coupled with quattro drivetrain in this case) takes on any local commutes with a pinch of salt. And of course, it comes with the flexibility of carrying an extra load anytime. Who says family men need to be boring?

BMW 3 Series

Pure driving joy - a phrase seemingly far fetched for an ordinary four-door sedan, which probably does more errand running than aspirated driving. Not so after a go at the helm of the latest BMW 3 Series.

Bimmers has been well known for being 'drivers' cars'. And that is not to say the F30 needs to be driven enthusiastically to be fully appreciated - the sweet handling is apparent even in city driving, which makes it a perfect tool for our landscape. The meaty steering feedback is one of the attributes which makes the 3 Series so desirable, more if you consider the practicality to seat five and a proper boot.

The range leading 335i packs impressive power, a creamy smooth six-cylinder and a sporty exhaust note to top it off. But we reckon the 328i has all you will ever need on our constrained roads.

Ford Focus ST

More often than not, it's all about the performance the car can give, especially when you're looking at a sports car. It doesn't matter the car lost a cylinder or "sounds less exciting than its previous five-pot" bull. In this case, the hot hatch from Ford may have lost one cylinder but it's faster, more powerful and greener than the car it replaces.

The Ford Focus ST doesn't fail to deliver the raw performance expected from a fast Ford. With a maximum of 250 horses and 345Nm of torque sent to the front wheels, the 2.0-litre car is a peachy powerplant. The meaty clutch, super slick gearbox and its steering response are the exact reasons why the ST should be here. They go hand in hand in such a seamless and mechanical manner that we are convinced they are the defining characteristics of the car. If we had to drive one car for the day, we'd pick a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. But if we had to drive one car for the rest of our lives, we'd pick the Ford Focus ST.

Infiniti FX50

We have always been sceptical of SUVs, no thanks to their sizeable proportions that make them hard to manoeuvre and handle. But the Infiniti FX50 obviously proved us wrong. Very wrong. Firstly, to say that the FX50 stands out from the herd is an understatement. The SUV looks good and intimidating all at the same time, which helps to create a wavy and sculpted appearance instead of a flat and monotonous one.

Secondly, this V8 model (there's also the FX37 which is a V6) has plenty of power, with a sonorous soundtrack that will remind you just how sporty this SUV actually is. Despite weighing over two tonnes, the FX50 will still complete the century dash in a whopping 5.8 seconds. Most of us in the team don't smoke, but after one long drive around the city with countless twists and turns and empty stretches of straights, we suddenly understood why people reach for a cigarette after sex.

Lexus GS Hybrid

Lexus and its parent company Toyota have been at the forefront of hybrid technology. It is no surprise then, that its offerings - the GS hybrid in particular - sets the benchmark for its segment. The seamless petrol / electric drivetrain integration and real world frugality demonstrate the carmaker's technological prowess.

Boring tech stuff aside, the GS Hybrid is a very remarkable step forward for the marque - one that evokes a more characterful drive. There is so much more soul going into this car than we can possibly imagine - the soundtrack, the handling, and not forgetting the revamped looks. Lexus bought us over with the GS Hybrid. Totally.


Mercedes SL-Class

There are times when we get more adrenaline pumping in our blood. Take for instance getting to a meeting through the rush hour traffic or being frantically late for a date. Then, there are times when we let our hair down and enjoy the simple pleasures of travelling.

For the latter, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is the perfect tool.

Even in its base form (SL350), the roadster packs commensurate performance, with 306 horses and 370Nm of torque on tap. That said, the SL does not urge to be driven enthusiastically. Instead, it is the lushness and refinement, evident throughout the drive, that puts the SL to shine. We have never experienced drop top motoring quite like the one in the SL - and with that alone, the SL earns its spot in this exclusive list.

Porsche 911 Carrera S

Any A-lists will look out of place without the mention of a Porsche. A tall hat indeed, but no other carmaker has been able to outdo what the Stuttgart marque did with the 911. And that is just part of the reason why it is here.

Sublime handling has always been a trademark of 911s - the everyday sportscar feels right at home on roads as it does on tracks. The latest generation (codenamed 991) also boasts more performance than before - more notably without having to increase the engine's capacity. Highly regarded as the benchmark of its segment, the 991 adopts new technologies, yet staying true to its origins - a flat-six engine at the rump.

Six decades, seven generations - and counting: the 911 is truly the motoring icon indeed.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Although the Swift Sport sporting the manual transmission is currently close to $123,000 (as of 21st Dec 2012), it's worth every cent. It is such a lively machine that you can easily enjoy the car when behind the wheel. While there are ample cars out there that have excited us more than the Swift Sport, it's the feel-good quotient the hatchback exudes that got us sold.

Chuck the car about and the car will carve corners with precision and confidence, with high levels of grip and low levels of body roll. The body feels tight and rigid regardless of the quick inputs from the well weighted steering. It has more than enough vim and vigour to put a smile on your face. In short, this fine warm hatch is anything but dull.

Toyota 86

The looks of this car is enough to send an overwhelming tingling sensation through your body. In addition to its visual impact, the Toyota 86 has such a sporty and evocative presence that you'll have to squint and rub your eyes at least twice. Needless to say, having a free spinning 2.0-litre unit that begs to be wrung hard on the road makes it that much easier for us to fall head over heels for this sports car.

While it's no sprint champion, the Toyota 86 will still clock the century sprint timing of 7.6 seconds and 8.2 seconds for its manual and automatic variant respectively - reputable for a car in its segment. More importantly, the 86's well engineered and balanced chassis will give you a very rewarding drive. The sharp handling and crisp responses are undoubtedly the main factors that make the 86 such an enjoyable and fun car to pilot.

Volkswagen CrossPolo

Volkswagen cars, in general, have the ability to satisfy most drivers - all thanks to its DSG gearbox and dynamically sound engineering. While some may argue that there can be other good choices from Volkswagen that should be on this special list of known heroes, we beg to differ. The CrossPolo sports such eye-catching looks that it just lets you rub off its charm and cheekiness without even you realising how cool you actually look when driving it. And in today's context where almost every car has something to boast about and are becoming more reliable and better built, that's important.

When carmakers replace big engines with small ones, loyalists usually go into a snit about it. But when Volkswagen made small to be the new big, fans cheered and critiques went silent. With an efficient 1.2-litre powerplant under its bonnet, you can afford to door-handle the car like a mad man and still get 14km/L - not far off from its claimed figures of 18.1km/L.