Drive Car of the Year 2024 – Winners announced

The Volkswagen Polo leans toward the “premium” level in terms of interior feel and finish, while its driving experience is as polished as they come.

The Volkswagen Golf is the most successful nameplate in Drive Car of the Year history, with 11 awards to its name, and the current car is the best version yet. If you don’t know what all the fuss is about, maybe now is the time you took up Golf?

The Kona takes the Small SUV genre to new heights and proves that great things do come in small packages.

When you factor in the premium aspiration of the intended buyer, as well as the expectation of safety, quality and practicality, the Volvo XC40 is the undisputed winner of this tightly contested award.

The new Honda CR-V brings a trusted brand back to the peak of family practicality, functionality and quality. It’s a car that ticks all the right boxes for Australian families in 2024, and proves that Honda is well and truly back in the game.

The Lexus NX is a capable, practical family car that still allows its owner to feel special, from its elevated interior to Lexus’ numerous ownership perks. This is what family prestige is all about.

The hybrid powertrain is its trump card, further cementing the Kluger’s status as a standout choice in the competitive family truckster field.

Kia’s Carnival has set the benchmark for ultimate family motoring once again in 2024.

Against undeniably high quality, high-tech, fully electric competition, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class lays down a marker as the most competent luxury car under $100,000.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC exudes every aspect that buyers demand from a prestige car purchase – cabin technology, sophisticated looks, high-end materials, and a cracking powertrain.

The win boils down to Everest’s ability to be a comfortable and practical family hauler – with plenty of nice touches for everyday use – while also being a confident and capable off-roader.

The inherent engineering brilliance of the Defender is evident through the driving experience, ride quality, interior design, and off-road capability.

The SsangYong Musso is proof that ute buyers looking for value don’t need to miss out on equipment, space, comfort or refinement.

This win is testament to the high level of engineering and development that went into this generation of Ford Ranger – most of which was carried out in Australia.

The MG 4 is a capable, comfortable and compelling electric car. In a market where buyers have been waiting for affordable electric cars, MG has delivered.

The Tesla Model 3 all but defined the world of electric vehicles we know today, and with a sharper new look and impressive updates, it just shifted the benchmark again.

That the Kia EV9 delivers full electric motoring for tomorrow’s Australian family, today is one thing, that it turns heads everywhere it goes is another. The future has arrived.

With a cabin that that pampers occupants with a plush and quiet environment, the BMW iX experience is only enhanced by excellent, and highly capable, road manners.