ANOTHER year has come to an end, and the editorial team has picked the cars that dilated our pupils, weakened our knees and set our hearts a-flutter.
ANOTHER year has come to an end, and the editorial team has picked the cars that dilated our pupils, weakened our knees and set our hearts a-flutter.
The newcomers of 2018 had to earn our points, too, in our robust ballot system. Our panel of judges uses it to rate the shortlisted contenders against typical rivals and weigh their attributes against those of their peers.
Said rivals would include other ST-Torque Awards finalists where applicable, such as having similar prices or competing in the same, specific market segment.
On the scoresheets are the nine criteria which would be the most important to any reviewer/driver/ consumer in the wonderful world of cars – performance, handling, ride, build quality, economy/efficiency, ergonomics, styling, value for money and the X factor.
The qualifying period for the new cars in town and tested/ rated here was from November 2017 till November 2018. Only official Singapore-spec cars brought in by authorised agents were considered, and there was a $750,000 price cap.
Our panel of judges continues to be headed by Straits Times Senior Correspondent Christopher Tan, the foremost motoring journalist in Singapore for the past 30 years.
Best Sedan
SKODA SUPERB
“The Superb is superb. For less than Toyota Camry money, you get Skoda’s flagship with Teutonic build quality. It may look like a stately sedan, but it is actually a more practical fastback with a humongous boot. And with a zero to 100km/h time of seven seconds, it is relatively fast, too.”
- Sarjeet Singh
“Shoehorn the VW Golf GTI’s engine into anything and it should be great. The proof of this is the Skoda Superb. The turbocharged 245hp motor gives the car very satisfying levels of performance, despite the large and heavy body. Skoda engineers have given it an excellent ride without compromising too much on handling. This is a well-sorted car offering great value for money.”
- Dr Andre Lam
“Talk about having a name to live up to. But the Superb does, with a blend of space, refinement and equipment you’d normally only find in luxury cars.”
- Jeremy Chua
Best Luxury Sedan
LEXUS ES
TOP SCORER IN RIDE AND BUILD QUALITY
“Finally, a Lexus ES that handles. This front-wheel-drive, mid-size sedan’s sharp handling should give the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes- Benz E-Class a run for their money. It is also a bargain compared to the two Germans. Lexus, however, missed the opportunity to turbocharge the 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder engine in the ES250. It’s the petrol-electric hybrid ES300h that offers a more satisfying drive.”
- Sarjeet Singh
“Instead of dishing out clever infotainment sets, Lexus has put its decades of know-how into making the ES one of the most refined driving machines ever. Nothing under $250,000 comes close to matching it.”
- Christopher Tan
“Impressively, its roominess and luxuriousness are nearly on a par with the far more expensive LS flagship limo. Lexus really should have equipped the ES with a turbocharged powertrain, though.”
- Jeremy Chua
Best Performance Sedan
BMW M5
TOP SCORER IN PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
“The BMW M5 is like a beast in a suit. Go easy on the throttle and it feels completely civilised and restrained like a regular 5 Series. Rip the suit off and you unleash the animal beneath the lapels and cuffs. Rather than take away the fun of rear-wheel-drive, the all-wheel-drive system actually makes the car feel more balanced and gives it more traction so that you can power off without reservation. But no amount of grip in the world is going to save you from being charmed off your feet and falling head over heels in love with it.”
- Lynn Tan
“The king of the super saloons is back and better than before. With all-wheel-drive instead of rear-wheel- drive, it is a better car in both wet and dry conditions. The M5 can be very civilised around town, but it can also easily turn into a monster in a flash when the mood strikes.”
- Dr Andre Lam
“This is the perfect all-rounder of the year. Grandpa can potter in this midsize luxury sedan with grandma to East Coast Park as if it was a 520i. The enthusiast in you, on the other hand, will want to awaken the 600hp beast that actually lies beneath.”
- Sarjeet Singh
Best Performance Wagon
AUDI RS4 AVANT
“Anyone who does not like this car is either from a rival manufacturer or from another planet. I absolutely love its uncanny alacrity at speed in the dry or wet that gives any driver an extreme sense of confidence. Not many station wagons can even come close.”
- Shreejit Changaroth
Best Hot Hatch
RENAULT MEGANE RS
TOP SCORERS FOR X-FACTOR
“I’ve never felt this way about a hot hatch before. I want to hurt the Megane RS and hear it scream as I drive it harder, hotter and faster. I imagine the pistons slamming forcefully and ever more urgently against the cylinder walls, as the combustion process culminates in an explosive high-octane climax. But instead of crying out in pain, the car would emit moans of pleasure. What has the Megane RS done to me?”
- Jeremy Chua
“Boasting a chassis with class-first rear- wheel steer, the RS is incredible agile, darting into turns at absurd speeds with perceptible turn-in assistance from the back axle. The acoustically-enhanced engine is mighty and sounds great, and the car just looks so right – wide, squat and intensely purposeful without resorting to over- wrought wings and spoilers like some of its more desperately styled rivals.”
- Edric Pan
Best Five-Seater SUV
VOLVO XC40
“Stylish, spacious and very safe. It will definitely appeal to suburbanites searching for a premium SUV.”
- Jeremy Chua
“You can say Volvo has found its mojo again, but it isn’t about making safe, boxy and comfy saloons any more. Instead, it is about making chic SUVs. The XC40 is the “baby”, but it is quite masterfully designed. Living with it is no hardship at all, although its performance might be just adequate. Nevertheless, the XC40’s unique and appealing styling sets it apart from the hordes of SUVs today.”
- Dr Andre Lam
“Available in bright colours and funky two-tone shades, the XC40 defines urban chic. Its cabin exudes a Scandinavian flair and a modern vibe. This model is certainly the most vibrant one in Volvo’s SUV range.”
- Lionel Seah
“The XC40 brings a fresh, unique identity to a segment erstwhile struggling for definition. This SUV can change the minds of cynics.”
- Dr Kong Yongyao
Best Seven-Seater SUV
SKODA KODIAQ
TOP SCORER IN ERGONOMICS
“Handsome, well-built and practical are just some of the superlatives we can throw at it.”
- Sarjeet Singh
“In the burgeoning world of SUVs, the Kodiaq is a revelation. Seven seats at this size and quality used cost upwards of a quarter of a million bucks, but you can now have it for $100k less! Moreover, the drive experience is not diluted in any way, and its ride comfort is even better than what you get in most other SUVs.”
- Dr Andre Lam
“Sometimes you have to take your head out of the clouds and make a decision with good sense. Since it was launched in Singapore, the Kodiaq has been my default recommendation to anyone shopping for a family hauler. That just about sums up how unassumingly accomplished the whole package is.”
- Dr Kong Yongyao
“The Kodiaq ‘Czechs’ all the right boxes with the little human touches that make a big difference. Umbrella holders integrated into the sides of the two front doors in a car within this price range are a big plus. If the designers can also figure out a dedicated compartment in the cabin for stashing handbags, it deserves to be named Car of the Century. Being quick on its feet and handling like something only half its size makes the Kodiaq all the more endearing.”
- Lynn Tan
Best Compact Fastback
HYUNDAI IONIQ ELECTRIC
TOP SCORER IN ECONOMY/EFFICIENCY
“Truly the first affordable electric car that is well- built, looks good inside and out, and comes with plenty of standard kit. Best of all, it has proven its ability to deliver the promised range on a full charge, which at around 240km, makes it a real sensible proposition for Singapore drivers.”
- Shreejit Changaroth
“Delivering more than 200km per charge means that the average motorist will only need to charge the battery once every three days.”
- Sarjeet Singh
“Everything about the car shouts quality. It has excellent fit and finish, and good ergonomics to boot. It almost feels Teutonic! I can’t find a better electric vehicle in the market right now.”
- Tony Tan
Best Compact Hatchback
SUZUKI SWIFT
TOP SCORER IN VALUE FOR MONEY
“Remember when these were everywhere? Cheap, exceptionally cheerful and with a large garnishing of spunk, they might just proliferate like rabbits all over again.”
- Dr Kong Yongyao
“Driving this diminutive hatch always brings a smile to my face. It offers fun, fuss-free driving and reliability. Its best feature is its kart-like handling. It just seems so eager to go wherever the steering is pointed, unlike many other cars.”
- Dr Andre Lam
“Build quality is good and it should continue to sell in numbers like its predecessors.”
- Sarjeet Singh
“Light and punchy, this supermini is perfect for the suburbanite in a perpetual hurry. The fact that it is priced attractively is a bonus.”
- Jeremy Chua
Straits Times
Car of the year 2018
Unlike last year’s very close finish, which saw the first- and second-place contenders separated by just two points, this year’s ST-Torque Awards was more decisive.
The sizzling Kia Stinger emerged as the ST Car of the Year (COTY) 2018, with a score of 315 points. The next closest contender, the muscular Audi RS4 Avant, had 294 points to its name. The even mightier BMW M5, which was just a single point behind, finished in third.
This is the first time in the history of the ST-Torque Awards that a Korean car has claimed the top spot.
Of the past eight winners, four are German (Porsche in 2011, Volkswagen in 2013, BMWs in 2014 and 2015), two are British (Jaguar in 2010 and Land Rover in 2011), one is Swedish (Volvo in 2016) and one is Japanese (Lexus in 2017). The 5-litre Lexus LC500 is also the first 8-cylinder winner since 2010’s Jaguar XJ, which came with a V8 engine option.
The ST-Torque Awards panel of 11 judges congratulates Kia and Cycle & Carriage on the Stinger being Straits Times Car of the Year 2018 – please enjoy the trophy.
“IN JUST A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS, KIA HAS GONE FROM CHEAP, AUSTERE AND SOMETIMES NASTY TO HIGH-VALUE AND HIGH-DESIRABILITY. THE STINGER IS THE PINNACLE OF THAT ASTOUNDING ACHIEVEMENT. GREATER THINGS WILL COME FROM THIS BRAND.”
- CHRISTOPHER TAN
“KIA HAS EXECUTED THIS FABULOUS FASTBACK WITH ABSOLUTE FLOURISH. THE DESIGN IS RIGHT, THE DRIVING POSITION IS SPOT ON, AND THAT TAIL- HAPPY HANDLING – THEY HAVE UNQUESTIONABLY NAILED THIS ONE. UTTERLY COMPELLING.”
- JEREMY CHUA
“AS ENIGMATIC AS A KOREAN DRAMA. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT KIA, KNOWN FOR MASS MARKET BREAD-AND-BUTTER CARS, CAN MAKE A CAR LIKE THAT? BUT IT DID.”
- TOH YONG CHUAN
“THE KIA STINGER POSSESSES THE BEAUTIFUL PROPORTIONS OF A GRAN TURISMO AND PERFORMANCE THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME. COMPARED TO CONTINENTAL RIVALS WITH SIMILAR SPECIFICATIONS, IT WILL LEAVE A SMALLER STING ON YOUR WALLET. THE ONLY THING THAT THE KIA STINGER HAS GOING AGAINST IT IS BRAND SNOBBERY.”
- LYNN TAN
“WHAT AN ENTICING PROPOSITION THE KIA STINGER IS. GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT INSIDE AND OUT, DYNAMICALLY BLESSED WITH STONKING PERFORMANCE AND AN AGILE, INTERACTIVE REAR-DRIVE CHASSIS, IT SERIOUSLY CHALLENGES THE (MAINLY GERMAN) SPORTSSALOON ESTABLISHMENT. AND, PRICED A HUGE CHUNK BELOW THOSE CARS, AND WITH MORE CABIN ROOM AND EQUIPMENT TO BOOT, IT ABSOLUTELY DESERVES TO SUCCEED.”
- EDRIC PAN
“KIA HAS RATTLED THE GERMAN ORDER. THE STINGER HAS DELICIOUS NUANCE AND A GENUINELY DELIGHTFUL DRIVING EXPERIENCE. YOU’D BE SILLY NOT TO BUY ONE.”
- DR KONG YONGYAO
