We test and review a multitude of different models at DRIVEN Car Guide every year. Looking back at the year's work, we're always quite pleased at the diversity of the list. This year is no exception: the top 10 most-read countdown encompasses everything from city cars to luxury, petrol and diesel to hybrid and pure-electric.
What were last year's top reviews? Click here to take a look a back at the hero cars of 2023.
This year, as with any, a special mention to our Ultimate Guides for Hybrid, PHEV and BEV models: they always figure in the top-10 for readership but we don't include them in our overall rankings, because we want to highlight individual models that have really struck a chord with readers.
So onward and upward, as we take a look at the top-10 DRIVEN Car Guide reviews of 2024.
1. Suzuki Jimny
This is a little car with a big following. So popular is the Jimny that we've had to rig the ratings a teeny bit to stop it dominating the whole list. In fact, our Jimny Sierra 3dr long-term test series is the number one review for the year, followed by our launch coverage of the 5dr at number two.
Oh, and our 5dr follow-up review is also in the top-10 list on its own merits. But let's just lump them all together as a Jimny love-in and leave some space for others to get a look-in.
Read our Jimny 3dr long-term test, our Jimny 5dr launch report and our Jimny 5dr review
2. Mitsubishi Triton
Have you heard? Kiwis love a ute. For 2024, the Ford Ranger has remained the top one-tonne seller, but a lot of attention was still on the first all-new Mitsubishi Triton in nearly a decade.
Our first drive story covered the truck's much-changed dimensions (130mm extra in the wheelbase, a way better look) and new tech, as well as acknowledging its rich history in NZ.
Read our Mitsubishi Triton review
3. TrailLite 300 Oakura 354 (Volkswagen Crafter)
Yep, that's a campervan on the podium. We took to the hills in the NZ-designed and built TrailLite 300 campervan, which is built in Pukekohe and offers "apartment style" living for private buyers; it's not your rental type of thing by any stretch.
It was a nice way to celebrate TrailLite's 70th anniversary in 2024 and a good excuse to give the Volkswagen Crafter base vehicle a good workout on some winding roads north of Auckland.
Read our TrailLite 300 Oakura 354 review
4. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Kiwis could hardly contain their excitement at the prospect of the first all-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in 15 years; especially when it's oozing retro-cool style.
We got stuck in straight away with Toyota NZ's launch programme for the Prado, which took us over some awesome terrain over the Napolean Hill trail on the West Coast of the South Island. Prado emerged proud (but with a bent number plate).
Read our Toyota Land Cruiser Prado review
5. Toyota bZ4X
Interest in pure-electric vehicles has flattened this year in a big way, but put EV technology together with the Toyota brand and people are still intrigued.
Right back at the start of the year, we ran a FWD bZ4X as a long-term test car and had a few adventures, including a range-test run from Auckland-Taupo that raised as many questions as it answered.
Read our Toyota bZ4X long-term test
6. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Another pure-electric long-termer, we ran the flagship (and very fast) Mach-E GT to see how credible a plug-in Mustang SUV could really be. And to be honest, what kind of reaction it stirred up in others!
In fact, the Mach-E popped up in other places, too. We used it for an EV road trip advice piece, which might be handy given we're in the holiday season. Have a look at that here.
Read our Ford Mustang Mach-E long-term test
7. BYD Sealion 6
A fitting top-10 spot for our 2024 AA DRIVEN Car Guide New Zealand Car of the Year (there's a mouthful), the BYD Sealion 6 (another mouthful).
We loved the Sealion 6's combination of Kiwi-SUV family values with some really clever "DM-i" hybrid technology. The same hybrid system powers BYD's new Shark 6 ute.
8. Lexus LBX
Can Lexus really take a Toyota Yaris Cross base and turn it into a convincing (albeit tiny) luxury SUV? Maybe that's what everybody wanted to find out.
Spoiler alert: it actually did, and we came away very impressed by the LBX's build quality, refinement and (perhaps surprisingly) fun-to-drive character.
9. Toyota C-HR
Another Toyota? Why not. The second-generation C-HR retains the wacky style but ramps up the quality and equipment quite considerably. Enough to be named our Best City SUV in COTY 2024.
Our review focused on the entry-level GX model, which might not have the zany two-colour paintjob but comes with almost everything else you might need in a compact SUV.
10. Toyota Hilux Hybrid
Yet another Toyota? It's as good a place as any to finish up. The updated Hilux is a hybrid of the very mild kind, but it's still created a real stir among the customer base.
We tested the Hilux Hybrid in a couple of guises, SR5 and SR5 Cruiser. later, we even found time to tow a very silly looking 3.5-tonne trailer with one.