It’s that time of the year where you get to hear me complain about Motor Trend’s choice for the Driver’s Car of the Year.
This year, I will try not to do it as much. I still hold to the position that every year, there is some injustice done to one of the models they choose to represent one of their most prestigious awards.
That’s almost always going to be the case with just about every award ever.
Since last year, I’ve learned a lot, re-examined my own opinions, and have come to the conclusion that the Best Driver’s Car isn’t always as deserving of my disapproval as I have given it in the past.
I said last year that the Motor Trend team has one of the hardest jobs in the industry. That is picking the best driver’s car of the year. They really do a good job of it.
I’ve also come to realize that a driver’s car is really a car that most people aren’t going to drive. Most people don’t really drive cars anymore. They simply ride in a vehicle which needs a little input and guidance to get them where they need to be.
A driver’s car needs to be driven by its own definition. Each contender this year, regardless of the amount of each vehicle’s safety and level of autonomy, still needs and begs to be driven.
And the Winner is…
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
It’s a Lamborghini, so it has to be good. To a certain extent yes, but the Huracan Performante is on the next level. Bordering on automotive perfection, the Huracan Performante has brought the Lamborghini name back to the forefront.
Well-deserving of first place, it brings back what Lamborghini used to be and ties it together with a reinvigorated modern identity. The resulting creation is a truly awesome and unique driving experience… One that’s been lost recently to its German-engineered self.
The Contenders are…
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
We’ve seen the Corvette evolve from, “the best America has to offer,” to a legitimate, world-class supercar that can stand up to almost anyone. The ZR1 is the most powerful Corvette yet. It isn’t unbalanced though, which is something that’s hard to do with that much grunt.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrofoglio
The best driver’s SUV in a best driver’s car competition… that must mean it’s pretty good. Yes, it is pretty good. Its sibling, the Giulia Quadrofoglio, won the Motor Trend car of the year for 2018. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the slightly taller version of that car can keep up with the best of them.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
Oh, the MX-5 Miata. Back again… back every year. Still, no trophies to take home. It’s my dream to see this car take home the prize one year. I have faith that it will… eventually. Mazda has never had any reason to be saddened by the fact that the MX-5 has never been chosen. It’s almost always a contender.
Going up against cars like the Huracan Performante, McLaren 720S, and Aston Martin Vantage and almost beating them is an incredible testament to just how good the Mazda MX-5 actually is. At its price point, there isn’t much any other car here can do to defeat it. This year, it even has 30 more horsepower to give!
Honda Civic Type R
We knew the Type R would be good. Like the MX-5, being in this competition adds legitimacy to our assumptions. Also like the MX-5 Miata, the Type R is seemingly quite outclassed. Don’t let the front wheel drive setup and its underpowered (comparably) engine fool you into thinking its anything but outstanding.
BMW M5
Photo: Courtesy of Business Insider
A lot of people, including us, have had our gripes about BMW’s M cars losing a little M tradition the past few years. The majority of that comes from a purist bias. Truth be told, the M5 is still an M car all the way to the bone. The ultimate driving machine describes this beefy and immensely powerful sports sedan perfectly.
Audi TT RS
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
A 5 cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, and that glorious “RS-ness” is what got the TT RS here. It’s underrated and a car that not everybody would think could hold its own. Think of it as a German Nissan GT-R of sorts without the perceived “driving a computer instead of a car” feeling.
McLaren 720S
I thought the 720S would be taking home the prize, but I was wrong. It’s the new supercar that has blown up the internet as of late. It fits perfectly within the supercar mold and is certainly a joy to drive. Really, the only reason it didn’t win is because of something called the Huracan Performante.
Ford Mustang GT
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
Admittedly, the Mustang really never had a chance to win this competition. The Camaro is ultimately a better driver’s car even according to some Mustang owners. Still, that doesn’t mean the Mustang isn’t fantastic. With this year’s redesign, it’s the best one to date.
It’s always great to see something a little out of the ordinary get into the competition. The legend made its mark. The best part about the Mustang being in contention is that you can simply go to your local Ford dealer and pick up one of the best driver’s cars for a rather affordable price.
Kia Stinger GT
Speaking of out of the ordinary, the Stinger GT definitely fits that bill. I was elated to see this car here. It’s a milestone for a company like Kia, and the Stinger GT isn’t here for no reason. It’s a genuinely awesome car.
We knew it didn’t really have a chance to win, but you better believe we hoped that it did all the way till the end. Even so, the Kia is the one everybody wanted to win, and this car works really well for everyday driving too.
Aston Martin Vantage
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
I said last year that no Aston Martin could ever really win the Best Driver’s Car competition. They are grand touring cars, all just a little too squishy and proper. I have been proven wrong with the latest Vantage. It didn’t win, but the new Vantage is the real deal. It also has the looks to remind me just how serious it is about that.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Photo: Courtesy of Car and Driver
Another 911 makes the cut and just about turns the world upside down with a new lap record. Another 911… Such a cliché thing to say. Facts are facts, and every single year, a “new” 911 manages to outdo itself. It remains one of the best cars ever, but the track is where it should stay, which is why it didn’t quite edge out the Huracan this year.
Every single car here showed why it belonged. They’re the cream of the crop when it comes to driver focus, thrills, and pure automotive delight.
That’s their point. Not all are meant to be affordable and few are. They are meant to be cars that put a smile on anybody’s face without really having to try too hard.
That’s why the competition is called the Best Driver’s Car.
