As Christmas is nearby, it’s time for us to reflect back on the last 12 months to see which cars have been the most impressive and the ones that are definitely worth considering for your next vehicle.

2024 has been the year of the electric car, and that’s because we’ve seen an abundance of performance and affordable models to help make the EV more accessible for real people.

But, petrol-powered and hybrid vehicles are still among some of the most popular on the market today.

We’ve compiled a list of the best new cars to come out of 2024 and the ones you need to take a look at.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

One of the biggest shocks this year came from Hyundai with its Ioniq 5 N which has proved that going electric can still exhilarate just like an internal-combustion engine.

While its £65,000 price tag may sound like a lot for a Hyundai hatch, given that it’s a 607bhp, four-wheel-drive supercar killer, it doesn’t sound like bad value. With its bulging wheel arches, body-hugging sports seats, artificial engine note with synthetic gear changes and boost button that for 10 seconds opens up 640bhp, the Ioniq 5 N packs everything the driving enthusiast wants as well as retaining the standard car’s practicality. EVs really do not get much better than this, and we can’t wait to see what Hyundai has to offer in the future.

Toyota GR Yaris (Gen 2)

It’s hard to make something as good as the original GR Yaris, but the guys at Toyota have done just that with this midlife makeover.

What the Japanese firm has done is listen to all the criticism that the old car got and ironed out all the imperfections. So, now the driving position has been lowered, the rear-view mirror has been raised, the dashboard has been redesigned with a retro squared-off look and there is more power. The suspension has been fettled and the chassis stiffened to make the car handle even better and there are choices of different drive modes and even the option of an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The car now produces a total of 276bhp and 390Nm of torque, to give it that little bit extra when driving hard and to drive, there really is nothing else like it on the road. To put it into perspective, the Ioniq 5 N is the most fun you can have in an EV, this new GR Yaris is the most fun you can have in a car.

Kia EV3

Now moving towards something more sensible is Kia’s latest electric car – the EV3. This new SUV really is a car worth mentioning as it brings affordability into the electric SUV category while offering lots of standard equipment, superb levels of build quality and great driving dynamics.

It’s also practical, efficient and with the firm’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, it’s got that added peace of mind. This year has been really tough finding a winner in this category, especially with the likes of Skoda’s new Elroq, but this new EV3 just scrapes through as a better car for being more engaging to drive and having that long warranty package.

Porsche 911 S/T

Although it may be a dream to some, the Porsche 911 S/T is one of the most exciting and hardcore cars to come out over the last 12 months. Essentially, it’s a GT3 RS in disguise, with no large spoilers, lips or graphics and instead is a lot more of a tranquil affair. It still maintains the same high-revving 4.0-litre flat-six engine that pumps out 518bhp and does 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 186mph.

Take into account the sound of its engine, the svelte looks and its interior featuring the same ultra-light bucket seats that do a tremendous job of holding you in the corners, and you’ve got the penultimate driver’s car.

BMW M5 Touring

Back in the late 00s, BMW decided to do a Touring version of its legendary M5 sports saloon, but it was only sold in relatively small numbers. But this year, BMW has tried again and now offers its latest M5 in a practical family wagon bodystyle. Now, the M5 Touring comes with plug-in hybrid power that the firm claims can run up to 41 miles on electric power alone and it produces a total of 717bhp and does 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds.

Not only is it fast and efficient, but at the back, there is a total boot capacity of up to 500 litres or 1,630 litres with the rear seats folded down – making this new M5 Touring an almost complete package.