Five favorite vehicles from 2016

As soon as someone finds out that I write about cars, they ask the question that all auto writers expect – and dread: What’s your favorite car?

Keeping in mind that I drive more than 100 cars a year, which means I’ve driven thousands of cars in my 13-year career, that’s a really tough question to answer, as it’s very subjective. So, I always ask a follow-up question: In terms of what? Drivability? Passenger comfort? Sheer fun?

Depending on their answer, my answer could go several different ways. There are so many amazing vehicles out there – from sports cars to trucks – it’s hard to choose just one. So, for our year in review, here are five of my favorites from the 2016.

Mazda CX-9 (Pricing: $32,420 - $44,915)

I have loved this crossover since it first debuted as a 2007 model. It holds seven passengers, has decent cargo space and still manages to drive like a car. It was looking a little tired heading into 2015, so I was relieved to see the redesign for 2016. The exterior is stunning, and the inside is just as beautiful – especially at the top-tier Signature trim. CX-9 is also chockfull of technology, including all the latest and greatest safety features. This crossover is comfy for long periods of time behind the wheel, and the third row is usable for average-sized adults and children. CX-9 is available in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and it remains the first vehicle I recommend to anyone who is looking for a 7-passenger vehicle.

Chevrolet Volt (Pricing: $33,995 - $38,345)

I know there are stats that say the average American drives less than 30 miles a day, so most electric cars (which have about 80 miles of range) are sufficient for the daily drive. But what if you want to take a road trip or get stuck in traffic? What if you’re not an average American? The EV lifestyle might seem like it’s out of reach. That’s why I think the 2017 Volt plug-in hybrid is the perfect compromise. It has 50 miles of electric-only range, but can drive up to 400 miles with its range-extending engine. Completely redesigned for the 2016 model year, Volt is modern and sleek – inside and out. Plus, with the instantaneous electric torque, it is fun to drive. Quiet, efficient and affordable, Volt is a great place to start in the electric-car world.

Chrysler Pacifica (Pricing: $29,590 - $46,090 )

Yeah, I’m putting a minivan on this list. And that’s from someone who doesn’t even have kids. Chrysler has managed to revolutionize the minivan segment – again – with the 2017 Pacifica by introducing a plethora of clever features as well as a plug-in hybrid that gets up to 30 miles of electric-only range and an overall 84 MPGe in combined electric/gasoline driving. I’ve now had the opportunity to drive the Pacifica in a press preview as well as a weeklong test, and I can say this is a vehicle you can actually live with. It fit 7 adults comfortably – including a large fireman in the third row – and my mother who needs a walker was able to climb into the cabin with relative ease. It was great for luggage-filled trips to the airport as well as Sams Club runs – all while holding a full crew of passengers. From Stow N Go to the bevy of USB ports for every passenger to charge mobile devices, Pacifica is practical as well as easy to drive.

Nissan GT-R (Pricing: $111,685 - $176,685)

Previously, my favorite street-to-track vehicle was the Chevrolet Corvette, but it has been handily supplanted by the GT-R this year. I had this car for two beautiful days, and spent time on highways, city streets and the racetrack. I figured it would be fine for two out of three, but I was stunned to discover that it was perfect for any driving situation. It has a nice large trunk, and decent visibility out the front and rear. Plus it’s comfortable. On the track, all I had to think about was what I wanted the GT-R to do and, bam, it reacted. With all-wheel drive and a compact (read: usable only for small children) back seat, the GT-R could be an everyday driver. The only thing it’s missing in my book: A manual transmission.

Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Vehicle (Pricing: Not for sale yet)

Though I didn’t get the chance to “drive” the Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Vehicle, I will say this was the single most significant vehicle I had the opportunity to sit in this year. A portent of things to come, this fully autonomous vehicle had a couple engineers in the front who monitored the progress of the vehicle on public streets, but they were more likely to be turned around facing me in the back seat or staring down at the computers in their laps than they were looking at the road. And it was awesome. Using a combination of prior maps, cameras and LiDAR, the vehicle “sees” everything from stop signs and red lights to pedestrians heading into a crosswalk. It was both creepy and cool to see the technology in action, and though there’s still work to be done on timing and real-life situational reactions, I see how Ford and other automakers can say autonomous vehicles will be ready for prime time in 5 years or less.

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