The top Autocar reviews of 2021

Mercedes’ new flagship, the EQS, is one of the most important cars we drove over the past year. Why? Because not only is it the first Mercedes to be built as an EV from the ground up, it also previews the German brand’s next generation of cars. We were particularly impressed with the luxurious interior, although we thought the 141cm-wide dashboard screen was a bit much at times. Either way, it leaves us eagerly awaiting the future. 

Ineos Grenadier

When the new Land Rover Defender was revealed, some bemoaned that it had gone soft. The Grenadier, dreamt up by Ineos boss Sir Jim Rattcliffe, was supposed to pick up where the original, bare-bones Defender had left off when production ended in 2016. We headed to Austria to drive a development prototype of the Grenadier and were taken by its off-road ability, boxy looks and rugged charm. 

Hongqi e-HS9

To call the Hongqi e-HS9’s styling bold would be the understatement of the century. Designed by the same man who styled the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, this luxury SUV marks the beginning of the Chinese brand’s European expansion. Our tester thought it worked well as an opulent barge, but low-quality interior materials and a dull drive stopped it from getting above three-and-a-half stars.

Toyota Mirai

Toyota has remained committed to hydrogen technology over the past decade, even as other manufacturers have shied away from FCEVs. The second-generation Mirai showed how far along the technology has come. Our tester praised its “relaxed attitude” compared with the previous version, but the infrastructure to support hydrogen cars still isn’t as widespread as it should be.

Maserati MC20

As Maserati’s first mid-engined supercar since the Ferrari Enzo-based MC12, the MC20 certainly had some very big shoes to fill. We needn’t have been worried: it was everything we hoped for. The first in-house-developed Maserati supercar in a generation, the MC20 is a return to form for the brand. Our tester called it “fast, thrilling and engaging yet also wonderfully approachable and easy to drive”.

Cupra Formentor

The Formentor is the first Cupra not to be based on a Seat, and despite being built on the Volkswagen Group’s massively popular MQB platform, it manages to feel like an all new type of crossover. In the words of our tester, the Formentor is “precisely the kind of early offering to demonstrate the alternative style, everyday versatility and breadth of appeal that Cupra can now aspire to conjure for a whole range of future models".

Hyundai Ioniq 5