CariCarz.com’s Top 5 Test-Drives of 2023

Having recapped the best new vehicle launches – both traditional combustion and electric types – of the year, our lookback of 2023 wouldn’t be complete without recapping some of the best road-tests we’ve conducted this year too.

From which, it’s safe to say that Malaysian car buyers today are indeed spoiled for choice. However, amongst all that we’ve sampled in 2023, the following picks truly stood out, each with their own good reasons too.

And before you ask, yes, we will have another dedicated post recounting some of the best electric vehicles (EVs) we sampled in 2023 too. For now, though, as far as traditional combustion (ICE) types go, here’s our Top FIVE picks from the year…

1. Honda Civic e:HEV RS

With its turbocharged twin already garnering universal appeal amongst Malaysians, we can only wonder how the Honda Civic RS’s package can be improved upon. To our surprise, the answer came in the form of added electrification, and this saw the Civic e:HEV RS stood as the better car in almost every aspect over its ICE twin.

The partial electrification granted by the e:HEV hybrid setup makes the Civic e:HEV RS a much better car compared to its turbocharged twin in many different ways!

In fact, partial electrification granted by Honda’s proprietary e:HEV hybrid setup has refined the FE-gen Civic’s already stellar driving dynamics. More importantly, with the electric motors tasked for most of the driving, its century sprint time has also been improved from 8.5 seconds (Civic RS) to 7.9 seconds.

While its RM166,500 asking price seems steep for a C-segment sedan, it’s hard to deny all the great improvements this electrically-charged sedan boasts over its turbocharged twin. This, plus its Axia-rivalling fuel economy rate of 25 KM/litre, makes the Civic e:HEV RS simply the ‘king’ of C-segment saloons in our book.

2. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro

Chinese brand Chery rebooted itself in Malaysia this year with two crossover SUVs on hand. Whilst the smaller but and sharper looking Omoda 5 had respectably good chops, it was the bigger Tiggo 8 Pro sibling that impressed most.

Aside from its posh and well-equipped cabin, the Tiggo 8 Pro also boasts a segment-leading peppy powertrain setup and decent driving dynamics, all packaged with a very tempting price tag

Much can be said about how Chery ‘borrowed’ cues from several notable German contemporaries with the Tiggo 8 Pro’s exterior and interior. That aside, the fact that Chery didn’t skimp on desirable tech and luxuries, and the respectable driving dynamics they’re paired with, resulted in a package too convincing to ignore.

Adding to which is the Tiggo 8 Pro’s nearly unbeatable asking price that gave its nearest Japanese rivals – and perhaps P1 – reason to sweat. Above all else, it also proved just how serious Chery is about its Malaysian re-entry, and we reckon there’s more to come from them in 2024…

3. Ford Ranger Wildtrak

Despite the SUV and EV craze that gripped the market in recent years, the local pick-up trucks segment hasn’t sat dormant. However, it’s the mighty American blue oval marque that continues to dominate with its Next-Generation Ranger range.

The Next-Generation Ford Ranger, especially in this up-specced Wildtrak form, is simply the best do-it-all truck you can buy in the market today!

Amongst many, it’s range-topping Ford Ranger Wildtrak iteration that proved to be the best of the lot. As we’ve said, this really is all the truck you could ever want and need, and that’s despite the presence of new Chinese pretenders plus renewed Japanese rivals that beg to differ.

Though the Ranger Wildtrak is one of the priciest amongst this crop, few come close to dethroning its brilliantly tailored package that can seemingly do it all. In fact, the Ranger Wildtrak’s only threat stems from within its own ranks, but that’s an argument for another time perhaps…

4. Perodua Axia 1.0AV

Though arguably the smallest car we’ve tested this year, the Perodua Axia 1.0AV also made the largest and most lasting impact above everything else we’ve tested. There’s indeed much to talk about this supermini – both good and bad.

Bigger, better, and but unfortunately pricier, the new D74A-gen Axia improves a lot compared to its predecessor, especially in both driving dynamics and safety

Much of its misgivings are easily forgiven simply for the fact that it drove brilliantly – a testament to the DNGA chassis platform it underpins. For the 1.0AV range-topper, it also punched above its weight in terms of safety by delivering abilities previously unseen in this space.

The only caveat with Perodua’s second-gen supermini in said range-topping form is, sadly, its price. However, for young urbanites willing to shell out the extra Ringgits on one, we’re certain they’ll have no regrets in adopting this pint-sized world-beater over the long term.

5. Mazda CX-30

It is no secret that the Mazda CX-30 is one of the oldest and priciest in the highly competitive B-SUV space. Thanks to the recent CKD effort by Bermaz Auto though, this sleek crossover is now made slightly more attainable and much more tempting than before.

Though some might loathe the omission of the frugal yet torquey diesel option from the CKD line-up, the CX-30’s 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol mill still proved peppy and surprisingly economical. Mated with a slick 6-speed automatic box plus G-Vectoring Control, the CX-30 also boasts the best driving dynamics over its adversaries, which includes a certain GR-badged rival.

Besides drive dynamics, its leather-laden innards are also segment-leading, rivalled only by the Europeans. While space is a bit of a premium when compared to its mostly B-plus SUV rivals, it’s hard to deny the sporty and posh qualities the CX-30 boasts.