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It’s a year that will likely go down as an historical turning point for the Aussie new car market. With local manufacturing now a tiny spec in the rear view mirror, the long-predicted new wave of Chinese challenger brands built into an automotive tsunami in 2024.
Despite the rapidly changing landscape this top five list consists of new models from established brands only. That’s partly because while many of the newcomers announced their intention to hit our market this year, their shiny new products won’t be rolling on local roads until early 2025.
The new Corvette news for 2024 was the E-Ray; a hybrid but not as we normally know it. Let’s just say improved fuel efficiency is not its single-minded focus.
Like the ‘standard’ Stingray it’s powered by a mid-mounted 6.2-litre ‘LT2’ V8, but this time a front electric motor comes along for the ride, the combination delivering an Everest-size mountain of grunt and all-wheel drive capability.
How much muscle, exactly? Only 480kW (644hp) and 806Nm, which is enough for an official 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds. Mind you, we saw an instrument verified 2.4 seconds run at the car’s local launch at Sandown Raceway.
The E-Ray shares the track-focused Z06’s wider body (+92mm) and sits on outrageous rims and rubber - 275/30 on 20s at the front and 345/25 on 21s at the rear! And did I mention monster carbon-ceramic brakes are standard?
At $275K (before on-road costs) the E-Ray delivers supercar dynamics and hypercar performance while retaining enough muscle car personality to connect with its front-engine/rear-drive ancestors. So much fun.
Read more about the Chevrolet Corvette here
You might think there’s a US V8 theme emerging here. And you’d be right.
The seventh-generation Ford Mustang offers the choice of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four or the latest iteration of the blue oval’s 5.0-litre DOHC ‘Coyote’ V8 to drive the rear wheels. And it’s the latter I had the chance to steer towards the end of the year, with the bonus of a Getrag-sourced six-speed manual gearbox connected to the back of it.
Outputs of 345kW (463hp) and 550Nm are one thing, but it’s the way the latter is so easily accessed that makes the Mustang GT such a pleasure to drive.
That peak pulling power may arrive at a relatively lofty 4850rpm (typical of a naturally aspirated engine) but there’s still plenty of thrust available well below that and throttle response is clean and quick.
Shifting through the manual ‘box is as easy as breathing in and out, while the clutch is perfectly weighted. And despite the auto rev-matching function I found myself going into old-school heel and toe mode for braking down changes anyway.
The steering is great, the leather trimmed sports seats are grippy, the new twin-screen digital media and instrument array works beautifully and the exhaust adds an addictive end note to the all-alloy wind instrument under the bonnet. Love it.
Read more about the Ford Mustang here
At times Toyota’s sky-high hybrid sales makes it feel like it’s the only mainstream maker in the petrol-electric propulsion game. But everyone from Hyundai and Nissan to MG and Kia are aiming up at the market leader. And Honda’s e:HEV package, be it in the Civic, Accord, ZR-V, CR-V or as here in the HR-V, is a cracker.
The HR-V hybrid is not a new model (it arrived here in 2022) but it’s been upgraded for 2024 and although I’d experienced other Honda e:HEV variants, this year was my first time in the compact SUV version.
Able to drive the front wheels purely via its 1.5-litre (96kW/253Nm) four-cylinder petrol engine, twin electric motors, or all of the above, the HR-V hybrid is smooth and impressively refined. There’s just something about its quiet, fuss-free personality.
It steers nicely and, despite a relatively rudimentary torsion beam rear suspension, rides well. Even its CVT auto is one of the better ones.
Inside, the dash layout is super functional, if a little dated, and Honda has kept things simple with a conventional dashtop media screen and manual controls for commonly used audio and ventilation functions. It’s all nicely put together, too.
‘Magic Seats’ that fold up and away for extra storage are still an impressive Honda party trick, while 5.3L/100km fuel economy (the claimed number is 4.3L) and top-shelf safety round out an impressive (under $43K, drive-away) package.
Read more about the Honda HR-V here
This was one of the first cars I drove in 2024 and was easily the most surprising. That’s because in an automotive world where big EV power is increasingly available it takes something extra to make an electric sports car stand out.
Sure, getting on the gas… err, throttle… umm, accelerator and watching the surroundings blur into the rearview mirror is thrilling, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s ‘something extra’ is its ‘e-shift’ transmission.
The system’s software creates a powertrain backing track of your choice then manages power, torque and regen braking to create a pulse between virtual up-changes that feels for all the world like the momentary pause and subsequent push in the back a mechanical dual-clutch delivers.
On the way down the audio function matches ‘revs’ as slight retardation changes the car’s balance and overall attitude.
This brings greater physical engagement. You feel like you’re driving the car rather than going along for the ride. And it makes exploiting its 448kW/740 Nm all the more enjoyable.
Hit the ‘N Grin Boost’ button (I cringe writing that but grinned when pressing it) and a 10-second boost of 478kW (641hp) and 770Nm opens up.
Add in 21-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels shod with fat Pirelli P-Zero rubber, racy seats, more track maps and go-fast gizmos that you could poke a stick at and it’s clear electric performance cars can be enjoyable after all.
Read more about the Hyunai Ioniq 5 N here
The EX30 is a key marker for Volvo as, after close to 100 years as a carmaker, it (largely) leaves internal combustion behind.
Underpinned by parent company Geely’s ‘SEA’ (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform - shared with the Zeekr X and Polestar 4 - it’s a compact EV combining impressive refinement and athletic performance with good value-for-money, outstanding safety and a solid ownership proposition.
But over and above all that it’s super Scandi cool. For me, it has a similar vibe to BMW’s now sadly departed i3. A chunky, playful exterior design combined with a relaxed, uber-contemporary interior treatment.
Long before I was aware of V2L I wanted a version of the i3 you could attach to your house, Lego-style, as it would make a comfortable reading room. And I feel the same way about the EX30.
The fact that it’s an efficient, well-equipped five-seat EV with a claimed range (in single-motor form) knocking on the door of 500km is almost a bonus.
With three models spanning the $60-70K bracket, it, like many other EVs, will feel the pressure of multiple new competitors, including its Zeekr X twin under the skin. But the EX30 has that special something. Definitely a 2024 highlight.
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