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Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
What is the best car of the 21st century?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Aussies are passionate about cars. Drawing up a list of the most significant models from the past 25 years isn't an easy task – though limiting it to cars made after 2000 helps streamline things, as you can forget about classics such as the original Mini, VW Beetle, or Ford Model T. My list of the top 10 cars from the last 25 years represents an odd bunch. To celebrate the launch of the new app, we're celebrating the people, places and events we'll never forget from the first quarter of the 21st century by asking for Australia's view. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. There are pioneers of electrification and the growth of Chinese cars, best-sellers, Aussie icons and cars that led the way for technology. What is the best car of the 21st century? Toyota LandCruiser Ford Mustang Holden Commodore VW Golf Porsche 911 Toyota HiLux MG3 Tesla Model Y Toyota RAV4 Bugatti Veyron Cast your vote Tesla Model Y You can't talk about the most significant cars of the last quarter century without talking about Tesla. It's easy to make a case for most of its models, but I'm going with the Tesla Model Y. The Tesla Model Y set sales benchmarks for electric cars. Photo: Mark Bean. This wasn't just the world's best-selling EV for the last couple of years, it was the world's number one selling car. Period. The Model Y made electric vehicles an everyday reality for thousands of Aussies. It's an important machine. Toyota HiLux The Toyota HiLux was the first ute to top our sales charts. Photo by Thomas Wielecki. Utes are part of Australia's motoring identity. The Toyota HiLux is an important one – it was the first ute to top the national sales charts, overtaking sedans and hatchbacks to sit atop the list – until it was overtaken by another ute, the Ford Ranger. Ford Mustang Ford's Mustang GT is the nation's favourite sports car. Photo: Thomas Wielecki Aussies love fast cars, and we love a V8. It's no wonder the Ford Mustang is the country's favourite sports car. While it's sad that you can't buy a V8 powered Commodore or Falcon any more, the Mustang is here to fly the flag for red blooded performance cars. And Ford promises that it will keep doing that, at Bathurst and beyond, for years to come. Bugatti Veyron The Bugatti Veyron redefined what cars are capable of. If you love fast cars, they don't get much faster than this. The Bugatti Veyron shattered speed records by streaking past 400kmh way back in 2005. It set a new benchmark for what cars are capable of – and helped introduce tech such as dual clutch transmissions found in many cars today. VW Golf VW's Golf GTI is a favourite for many Aussie drivers. There's a little bit of Bugatti in modern VW Golfs, with turbocharged engines and DSG gearboxes that can be found in every suburb. The Volkswagen Golf GTI and R have really resonated with Aussie car enthusiasts. They're damn good vehicles. Porsche 911 Porsche's 911 is the definitive performance car. If you want the best sports car in the world, your search can start and stop with Porsche. The Porsche 911 has an amazing record on road and track. It caters to traditional car lovers with free breathing engines and manual transmissions – or fans of hybrid power, turbocharging and technical toys. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY Holden Commodore Late-model Holden Commodores were the best cars Australia produced. Back in the real world, if we look at the earliest part of the millennium, the Holden Commodore was king. From Bathurst to the Boulevard, the Commodore ruled the streets and sales charts. The last of them, such as the SSV Redline and HSV's GTSR W1, were truly special. Toyota LandCruiser Toyota's LandCruiser is an icon in the bush and beyond. The Toyota LandCruiser might be the only car that can claim to be more iconic – to Australians – than the Commodore. From the basic 70 Series Ute to fully loaded wagons, such as the modern classic 200 series, the LandCruiser is a firm favourite on Australian roads. MG3 The MG3 hatchback kept cars affordable. OK this one might be a touch controversial, but hear me out. Chinese cars are redefining Australian roads. Many are more affordable than more famous rivals. And in the case of the MG3, this is a car playing in a space abandoned by key rivals. The old MG3 cost $16k when a Toyota Yaris was double that. When Ford, Honda, Renault and Hyundai gave up on cheap cars, MG was there for buyers on a budget. That's why they sold thousands. Toyota RAV4 Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid is the world's best-selling car. Photo: Thomas Wielecki. If we're talking about popularity, you have to talk about the Toyota RAV4. It's Australia's most popular car today. It's the world's most popular car today. It has pushed the case of hybrid cars well into the future, and been a staple for Aussie business and families for years. Not just a petrol head? Take the rest of our 25@25 polls Originally published as What is the best car of the 21st century?
Herald Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Aussie parents are splurging on new cars
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring. Followed categories will be added to My News. 'Thud-thud-thud.' The ultrasound confirmed two things: I was having a baby, and I desperately needed a car with 17 cup holders and five-star safety. Suddenly, my trusty old sedan felt like a deathtrap. No rear air vents. No boot space. And absolutely no way it was going to handle a pram, let alone a scooter, nappy bag, and the crushing weight of my new mental load. Like many expecting mums, I was hit by the overwhelming, rather irrational urge to upgrade my entire life. And that started with my ride. You've probably heard of nesting - the biological instinct that turns otherwise normal people into midnight drawer organisers, onesie washers and freezer-meal warriors. Well, for a growing number of Aussies, that instinct has now extended to the driveway. More Aussies than ever are upgrading their car before they have a baby. Picture: Supplied Because in 2025, baby prep goes beyond painting the nursery. It's about finding the safest, roomiest and most reliable car to bring your new human home in. And the numbers back it up. More Aussies than ever are upgrading their vehicles as their families grow, with 16 per cent listing it as their main reason for buying a new car - up from 11 per cent in 2021 according to Carsales. The data also reveals new families with kids under six care less about engine size or power… probably because hauling little ones, groceries, and a small army's worth of gear doesn't require drag-race speeds. So, what are they buying? SUVs - or as I like to call them, people movers with perks. Turns out we're a nation obsessed. In fact, these roomy rides make up around 60 per cent of all new vehicles sold, and it's easy to see why. They offer height, safety, and enough boot space to haul half the house. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and Kia Sorento Hybrid. Picture: Mark Bean And they come with features such as 'baby modes', built in rear sunshades, rear-seat reminders and seats that fold all the way down for a spontaneous roadside nap. In Australia, brands like Kia, Hyundai and Volvo are leading the way with clever features designed for parents, from quiet cabin tech to pram-friendly boots, integrated child seat anchors and hands-free tailgate that open with a swipe of your foot. Here are some of the most popular, all boasting a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Toyota is leading the charge with the award-winning RAV4 - crowned Australia's most popular SUV. A spacious cabin with clever storage and a massive safety focus. Featuring smart pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection technology, Active Cruise Control and Road Sign Assist. Toyota also takes second and third place with the iconic LandCruiser and Prado. While the Ford Everest is also a popular pick. 2025 BYD Sealion 7. Picture: Mark Bean Electric vehicles are also cruising into the baby bubble. Tesla's Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7 were the top two selling EVs in the first six months of this year - both mid-size SUVs targeted at families. The big question is - if you're expecting, do you really need a new car? It's easy to get swept up in the baby vortex, where suddenly your old car feels wildly unfit for the job ahead. Plenty of parents make it work with hatchbacks and clever boot Tetris. But for those of us deep in the nesting phase, a trip to the dealership feels just as essential as the trip to the hospital. I didn't need 59 muslin wraps, 15 booties or an electric bottle warmer. And technically, I probably didn't need a brand-new SUV either. But when you're facing sleepless nights, an avalanche of baby gear, and endless unknowns, sometimes it feels like a safer, bigger car is one of the few things you can control. For me, in an ironic twist, the new car ended up delayed for months due to a parts shortage. Well past my baby's due date. But hey, if parenthood has taught me anything, it's this: sometimes you just have to buckle up, grab a double shot coffee, and embrace the chaos… preferably from the comfy seat of a family-sized SUV. Originally published as Forget the pram: New parents are splurging on this instead
