Those of us here at Gear Patrol's Motoring desk drove a lot of cars in 2023, and we can't wait to get right back behind the wheel in 2024. But with the calendar coming to a close and the ingredients for a tasty glass of boozy egg nog waiting to be assembled, it's time to reflect on the year we had in the automotive world.
From brand-new trucks to budget off-roaders to anything-but-budget sports cars, here are our favorite vehicles that we drove in 2023.
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Subaru Crosstrek / Crosstrek Wilderness
Tyler Duffy
The Crosstrek’s formula — being a cheaper, more chuckable Outback — is a winner. For the all-new 2024 model year Crosstrek, Subaru followed even more in the Outback's footsteps and added a full-bore Wilderness version. You get Subaru’s excellent symmetrical AWD system paired with 9.3 inches of ground clearance — nearly as much as the base Jeep Wrangler. It’s optimally sized for navigating a trail, clambers over almost everything you put in front of it, remains charming on-road — and best of all, starts under $35,000. Oh, and if you don't need quite that much off-road capability, the lesser Crosstreks are delightful as well — Tyler Duffy
The new G70-gen 7 Series is, let’s face it, far from attractive. But aren’t we taught not to judge books by their covers, not to write off people based on appearance, not to be rude and vain? To discount the 7er for its pug-fugly mug would be a sin. And not just because that would be bad behavior — but also because everything else about it is so good.
Nowadays, you can have the 7 Series in rear- or all-wheel-drive, gas or electric or plug-in hybrid form, and with power anywhere between 375 and 650 horses — a veritable Baskin Robbins of variants. I enjoyed it last year during my brief first drive, but spending a few days with the i7 xDrive60 EV variant on my home turf was enough to remind me just how it blends dynamism and comfort better than the vast majority of new cars on sale today. And believe it or not, I even started to warm up to its appearance — at least, when specced out in dark gray or black, which gives it a Darth Vader menace that seems all too appropriate. — Will Sabel Courtney
For the 2024 model year, Toyota finally revitalized the Tacoma, moving it to the new TNGA-F platform. And like the Tundra and Sequoia, it’s a game-changing upgrade. We haven’t driven the hybrid yet, but even with the less-potent gas engine, the new Taco is a night-and-day upgrade. It handles like a modern truck, has an interior befitting a modern truck, and the new eight-speed automatic transmission is buttery smooth. The Tacoma has long been the coolest midsize truck, and that's still true, at least in my book. And I suspect when the hybrid arrives, it will be objectively the best. — Tyler Duffy
Okay, I’m cheating slightly by bundling two (or even arguably three) cars together. Forgive me — but Porsche’s naturally aspirated street-oriented 911s are so bloody good, they all deserve a salute. If any other automaker built a sports car with a 500-plus-horsepower naturally aspirated engine, a six-speed manual and the level of engagement, performance and driving pleasure packed into the GT3 and S/T, we’d call the result an unabashed supercar; the only reason we don’t here is because these 911s have the same face as your dad’s dentist’s convertible.
The 911 S/T is a truly remarkable piece of machinery, distilling all the most involving parts of the 992-generation lineup into a dream of a Porsche. But the GT3 — in both extroverted regular or visually subdued Touring form — still delivers 97 percent of that car’s goodness and fun, while being (at least, in theory) much more attainable. If I hit it big on Jeopardy! and won enough cash to buy a two-car garage, the GT3 would be one of those cars … assuming I couldn’t get one of the 1,963 S/Ts, of course. — Will Sabel Courtney
There are few surer bets in the automotive world than that any new Honda Accord will be brilliant. And, yep, Honda did it again with the all-new 2023 model. It’s practical, it's precise, and despite losing the 2.0-liter turbo four for a less-potent hybrid powertrain, it remains remarkably fun to drive. And over a week of not especially abstemious driving, I averaged nearly 40 mpg combined. You probably want a crossover. You should be in the market for an Accord Hybrid. — Tyler Duffy
It’s been a while since GM made a great affordable car. (Actually, apart from the Ford Maverick, it’s been a while since Detroit made a great affordable car.) But the all-new Trax excels by taking the personal transportation basics and repackaging them up with what Americans want: a boxy body shape, a higher ride height and a handsome appearance.
That would have been plenty to move metal even with a price in the high $20K range, but Chevy also made the Trax a screaming deal to boot. The base model with cruise control and wireless CarPlay starts under $22,000 with destination, while the more appealing LT with the nicer screens and automatic climate control is under $23.5K. There’s also a surprisingly attractive Buick version if you prefer the four-door-SUV-coupe look, but going that route negates a lot of the value proposition. With the Trax, the less you spend, the happier you’ll be. — Will Sabel Courtney
As someone who spent the first half of his life in Vermont and the second in New York City, believe me, I appreciate the value of a car with a suspension that soaks up bumps without compromising performance. Hence, I love the Huracan Sterrato.
It’s admittedly no crossover — I scraped the nose on 3rd Avenue within two minutes of driving off — but the extra height, more pliant suspension and sidewall-laden tires give it a more pleasant, relaxed ride compared with other supercars (and even some sportier sedans). The V10 is every bit the screaming delight it’s always been, revving to 8,000 rpm like it’s going out of style (which, admittedly, it sadly is).
My sole complaint about the car: the optional roof-mounted spare on my tester, which is of middling use (it’s only size-matched to the front wheels), incredibly noisy at speeds above 50 mph and completely ruins the lines of the Huracan. Okay, that and the fact that it has arguably the world’s least-usable infotainment system. But hey, what’s a Lambo without a few quirks? — Will Sabel Courtney
Toyota needed a bigger Highlander; Lexus needed a crossover bigger than the RX. The Grand Highlander and its sibling the Lexus TX arrived in 2023 to fill both family needs — and Toyota pretty much nailed it. Whether you’re climbing picturesque mountains in Hawaii or doing school runs at home, those SUVs are in their comfort zones. And their range of compelling powertains — a Prius-like efficiency hybrid, powerful performance hybrid and PHEVs, and a strong four-cylinder gas option — propels them above some more formidable competition. — Tyler Duffy
Most people lucky enough to drive one loved the DB11 ... but for a few quibbles. With the DB12, Aston Martin did the sensible thing and fixed those little problems. The DB12 packs a meaty 671-horsepower from its AMG-sourced twin-turbo V8. You wield it through a marvelously tuned eight-speed automatic gearbox. And it strikes the perfect balance between exhilaration and luxury. It proved the perfect companion for a spirited drive along the Route Napoleon (and muttering under our breath while being trapped in a queue behind a deliberate Renault Clio). — Tyler Duffy
So, that two-car Jeopardy! garage I mentioned earlier? The other stall would be filled by the CT5-V Blackwing. Never mind the fact that having two rear-wheel-drive, manual-transmission cars while living in New York City is a terrible division of resources — Cadillac’s super-sedan is so good, I’d gladly deal with the issues that would arise with using it as a daily driver.
I spent 10 days this summer driving up, down and around Michigan in the CT5-V B'wing, during which time it proved itself every bit the perfect everyday ride. It’s equally content cruising along the highway at 75 mph as it is carving up fast B-roads at 100, with an engine that feels as though it could spin the Earth the other way ‘round and a ride-handling balance that borders on magic. Sure, the clutch pedal hates stop-and-go traffic, and sure, it sucks down premium gas like George Costanza going to town on an ice cream sundae — but the package as a whole is so lovely, so well-rounded and so delightful, it’s impossible for me not to love it with my whole heart. — Will Sabel Courtney
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 / GMC Sierra 2500 HD AT4X AEV
Will Sabel Courtney
Confession time: I love heavy duty trucks. While standard half-tons are becoming more car-like and refined as they cater increasingly towards people who buy them for appearances, HD rigs — even the off-road-focused ZR2 and AT4X models I drove — still feel like tools first and toys second.
What makes the mechanically-identical Silverado HD and Sierra HD great is that they bring a pleasant dash of refinement to the table without losing the truckiness that defines the breed. The cabin is comfortable, the ride compliant and the interior is downright cavernous … but the diesel V8 still sounds delightfully industrial, the steering slow and heavy, and the climb up to the cabin nearly requires climbing rope. Add in the fact that the 2500 HD is generally priced almost identically to its Silverado 1500 equivalent in many cases yet packs more power, size and payload capacity, and it’s hard not to ask … why settle for less? — Will Sabel Courtney
