Driven Women Magazine’s Car of the Year awards are based on the cars that I have driven in the calendar year and I say it every year, but WOW what a year 2023 was! My family and I reviewed 72 cars from 30 marques with a combined price as tested amount of over $10 million! And somewhere among them I clocked up my 300th press car.
What is more authentic than car reviews written by a woman with input from her family? Once again, my children have also selected their favourites vehicles from the year, so without any further ado, here are the winners!
My Daughter’s Car of the Year
For anyone who has been following my journey over the years it will be of no surprise that my daughter has once again awarded her Car of the Year to the Ford Mustang. It must be true love.
My Son’s Car of the Year
This year my son chose the Audi RS e-tron GT as his Car of the Year because he liked the way it looked and its speed! I have to agree, the acceleration from this e-tron was like nothing I have ever experienced.
His Highly Commended award goes to the Kia EV6 GT.
Driven Women Magazine’s People Mover of the Year
Here’s an unpopular opinion, a People Mover is better for moving large families than a seven-seat SUV. Just look at the space all passengers get in this year’s People Mover of the Year, the Kia Carnival Special Edition Diesel and the size of the boot. To top it off I used just 7.0L/100km of diesel while driving this Carnival.
Driven Women Magazine’s Ute of the Year
All the ute you will ever need? It’s a big call, but that’s what I think about the Ford Ranger Raptor! Last year’s Car of the Year is still the best ute you can buy in Australia in my opinion.
Driven Women Magazine’s Eco Car of the Year
I was blown away by the Kia Niro last year! Whether you choose the Niro EV or the Niro HEV, this is one great vehicle. The Kia Niro EV recorded the best energy consumption figures of any EV I have ever driven, at 13.9kW/100km! Then I recorded possibly my lowest fuel use figure ever in the Kia Niro HEV of 5.3L/100km, I was so impressed by both Kia Niros.
Driven Women Magazine’s SUV of the Year
The Lamborghini Urus S is my favourite SUV ever and this year I got drive my actual spec, so that’s why it’s my SUV of the year. The Urus is completely bonkers and a blast to drive and it has a huge boot!
Special mention goes to the Aston Martin DBX707 for being the most stylish SUV I drove this year and the Nissan Pathfinder Ti-L for something a more real-world.
Driven Women Magazine’s Performance Car of the Year
This was by far the toughest category to decide this year for me and my family, but it had to go to the Lamborghini Huracán STO because of that amazing V10 engine alone, again the word bonkers comes to mind.
The McLaren Artura was a close second behind the Lambo and then there was the C8 Corvette Stingray 3LT Coupe, my dream car from an early age. I also can’t forget to mention the Ferrari Roma, one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Driven Women Magazine’s Fun Car of the Year
The Lambo could have easily one this category as well, but in the end I gave it to one of my all-time favourite vehicles I have driven among those 300 plus cars, the Jaguar F-TYPE 75 Convertible P450 for its surround sound V8 experience.
This was another tough category this year, so special mentions also go to the Land Rover Defender 90 P525, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, and the sixth generation Honda Civic Type R.
Driven Women Magazine’s Car of the Year 2023
Of the 72 cars I reviewed in 2023 there was a clear winner among them, Audi RS 6 Avant! Combining an entertaining V8 engine, with a lovely interior and a huge boot, it really is all the family car you will ever need. The decision was clearly cemented when I drove the even more powerful Performance version at the beginning of this year, my whole family loved it!
My Highly Commended awards go to two more Audis, the Audi RS 3 Sportback, it’s a small hatchback that reminded me of a Lamborghini Urus. While the Audi S8 was the best sedan I drove this year and again we all thoroughly enjoyed our experience in it.
The line-up for 2024 is already looking amazing and I can’t wait to share my love of cars with you all over again.
Stay safe and happy driving!
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.