Family-friendly Honda wins top NZ Car of the Year award

In case you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, we’ve got you covered with the top-rated cars recently announced in the 2023 NZ Autocar Car of the Year awards

If you own a Honda CR-V, be proud. The Family Car of the Year for 2023 was the new Honda CR-V and it also won overall Car of the Year. The SUV was described by NZ Autocar as, ‘a highly competent vehicle, doing most things in an accomplished fashion.’ It made us laugh, the car was also said to have ‘few annoying traits,’ because that’s important, isn’t it?

No, but seriously, NZ Autocar judges the 2023 CR-V as the complete package –it’s good value, a decent drive and dependable, they say. And you have a choice of three models in the range including a seven seater option, handy for shuttling the water polo team around.

And it works for both city types and for rural drivers.

Ready for some tech details? The CR-V has all the conveniences needed for everyday life, it’s got an efficient conventional ICE powertrain and there’s a hybrid model for buyers who are hot on keeping their car’s emissions down.There are lots of driver-assistance features which will help keep you and your family safe and connectivity is all sorted, keeping things simple for you busy types. And there’s a level playing field for all buyers which is nice. Honda has a price promise which means everyone pays the same and there’s a big warranty thrown in for peace of mind.

And if the Honda CR-V doesn’t light your fire, here’s a list of the other category winners to choose from and their best features, according to NZ Autocar.

The Seal is a polished combination of comfortable, quick and well specified. The styling is slick, and the cabin is high quality. To drive, the Seal is refined, a model of smoothness, which adds to the quality feel of the car. The Performance version is rapid too, impressing with its effortless progress.

The new Amarok is a capable work truck, yet it’s as refined as an SUV to drive. The engines are well-mannered and always deliver more than enough torque for the job. It does fine work both on- and off-road, and is more versatile than ever. Inside, it’s rather flash for a ute and there’s a heap of safety gear onboard.

The hybrid is the pick of the new Hyundai Kona range. This hybrid works just as well out of town as it does in the city, helping lower your emissions profile. Kona is a quiet, refined ride and there are plenty of safety items included. The new, bigger model is now more practical too.

The MG4 has become one of New Zealand’s best selling electric cars thanks to its value proposition. It’s good to drive, is well specified, has a five-star crash rating and there’s a generous seven-year warranty.

This AWD electric car offers supercar-baiting performance for a fraction of the cost. It has a grin-inducing amount of thrust, yet it’s quite refined considering the performance and price. The MG4 Xpower is stupid quick and it’s good value, especially when it comes to running costs.

This is an electric car that delights on the handling front. The set-up conspires to be an enthralling drive; it almost comes across as mid-engined in terms of its balance. It’s also a handy compact offering that’s great for the city.

Dolphin impresses with its thoroughly decent quality, a high-level fit out and a comfortable character. It’s practical too. There’s BYD’s Blade battery tech, road noise is minimal and the motor is muted. Plenty of safety items on offer too.

Chances are, a lot will like the look of this new Audi, and it’s a spacious, easy-to-drive electric vehicle, with all the conveniences and enough luxury to justify the price. Those looking for a premium EV should consider the Audi Q4 e-tron.

The 911 GT3 RS is the epitome of performance, everything about it honed to achieve the absolute maximum from the package. This is a hardcore machine but it’s also a dream drive. It’s expensive but RS models tend to hold their value well.

This retro-original cruiser is a peach, it’s keenly priced and is learner-legal. The engine delivers decent low rev action, the vibes are well-controlled and the bike’s easy on gas. Handling is confidence-inspiring and the Super Meteor 650 covers all the bases well.