19 January, 2022 - Western Australia’s top-selling Hyundai i30 has scooped the small-car category in the RAC’s Best Drives of 2021.

Latest new car sales figures from VFACTS, which is compiled by the Chamber of Automotive Industries, show the i30 was sitting pretty on a 27.7 per cent market share in its segment last year, with 2623 cars leaving dealerships — though behind its main competitor and bestseller, the Toyota Corolla on 29.9 per cent (2836 cars sold).

Latest new car sales figures from VFACTS, which is compiled by the Chamber of Automotive Industries, show the i30 was sitting pretty on a 27.7 per cent market share in its segment last year, with 2623 cars leaving dealerships — though behind its main competitor and bestseller, the Toyota Corolla on 29.9 per cent (2836 cars sold).

The ever-popular Toyota Camry Hybrid took out the medium car gong (under $50,000) and the Tesla Model 3 was best electric car — up against a range of electrified players, including the Volvo XC40 Recharge plug-in hybrid, Kia Niro, Toyota Kluger and Camry hybrids, Nissan Leaf, MG ZS EV, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and Outlander PHEV and the Tesla Model 3 Long Range.

More than 60 vehicles were road-tested by the RAC in a year beset by supply constraints for manufacturers and car-hungry customers facing long delivery times.

RAC’s manager of fuels and vehicles Alex Forrest gives us the lowdown on the top 12 picks, below, including the Kia Carnival, which took out the people mover category in spite of initially missing out on auto wipers and a full LCD screen in front of the driver when it launched in January 2021, with Kia saying these would be added later as a running change.

At the other end of the spectrum, Toyota’s GR Yaris has been named best sports car under $65,000.

“This 98 octane petrol-sipping, three-cylinder turbocharged all-wheel-drive grocery getter was arguably the most hysterical, irrational and disproportionately expensive ($49,500 drive-away) car ever to wear a Toyota badge,” Mr Forrest said.

“Yet, Toyota could not build enough of them to satisfy demand.”

Dual-cab utes also had a big year, with 2021 being the first full year of sales of the new Isuzu D-Max, plus a new flagship Mazda BT-50, a heavily revised Nissan Navara and some important upgrades to the Toyota HiLux, WA’s bestselling 4x4 ute with a 26.9 per cent market share in its segment based on 6182 vehicles purchased.

The small and medium-sized SUV segments also saw plenty of new arrivals, including the Hyundai Tucson, Peugeot 3008 and 5008, Citroen C5 Aircross, Kia Sportage, Genesis GV70 and GV80, Land Rover Defender 90 and Subaru Forester, which took out best medium SUV under $55,000.

Notably, 52,642 SUVs were purchased across light, small, medium and extra large categories, making up the bulk of new car sales in WA in 2021.

AWD SUV Category: $70,000 - $150,000

GENESIS GV70

PRICE From $74,920 drive-away

ANCAP SAFETY RATING *****

BODY TYPE SUV

FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE 9.8L/100km, unleaded 95

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder, 8-speed auto

The GV70 has the potential to be a threat to the main players in the medium-sized premium SUV segment, which includes the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. As Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis is less well known than its established competition, but comparably well appointed with clean-slate styling and good driving dynamics. Servicing is being promoted as free for five years, but of course that’s rolled into the purchase price.

Find the complete article by Olga de Moeller - The West Australian here