TTAC’s Best Vehicles of 2024

Matthew Guy:

Strangely, the bookends of experience this year are both all-electric. This is surprising given my proclivity for loud and annoying V8 engines.

Most Liked: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Before anyone in the comments tries to burn me at the stake, one must acknowledge that EVs – while definitely not right for everyone – are here to stay. That on-the-ball automakers are embracing this reality by choosing to infuse some of them with type of entertaining anti-social traits gearheads enjoy is a Very Good Thing. This car replicates the pops and burps and snorts of a raucous hot hatchback to a tee, including pauses in power delivery during ‘upshifts’ which sound and feel for all the world like a good DCT. It adds the aural and tactile reference points we like when ripping around a race track, with the ability to turn it all off on the drive home if you so chose.

Most Disappointing: Chevrolet Blazer EV

The challenges of this model during its introduction have been well documented by other testers at other sites, so it was disappointing to experience similar troubles in my test unit so long after those initial copies hit the fleets. A spazzing infotainment system underscores GM’s hubris at thinking they’re better than Apple/Google, the lack of an on/off button is moronic, and the number of squeaks and rattles in that low-mileage tester was not to be believed. This is frustrating since its don’t-say-Ultium bones are excellent and range was superb. Ironically, it is the world’s best advertisement for a Honda Prologue – which has the same structure but dressed in better clothes.

Chris Teague:

I was fortunate enough to test a new vehicle every week of 2024. Some stuck out for all the wrong reasons, but many were surprisingly good. As a huge Toyota nerd, I was looking forward to driving the new Land Cruiser as much as anyone, but I had trouble loving the often-strained four-cylinder engine and stilted on-road handling. At the same time, I expected the new electric Acura ZDX to offer little improvement over the Honda Prologue, which I own. I came away from that week pleasantly surprised, as the ZDX is more engaging to drive, offers Super Cruise, and is arguably more attractive.

The Honda Accord Hybrid sticks out as a high point of 2024. It’s not the most exciting car I drove, nor is it the most luxurious, but it’s not outrageously priced, and it offers up to 48 mpg combined. It’s also interesting how Honda gave the hybrid trims exclusive features like a larger infotainment touchscreen and Google Built-In.

Tim Healey:

I liked a lot of cars this year, but the Acura Integra Type S stands out as my favorite for its balance of luxury and sport — and an affordable price (before dealer markup, anyway). If my bosses were nice enough to fund a one-year test drive of the car of my choice with a price cap, this would be my choice. It’s just so good.

Other favorites included the 2024 Ford Mustang GT, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Santa Fe.

I also give nods to the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for being interesting, though both had flaws that dampened my enthusiasm. Price and range in the case of the VW, and some software settings in the case of the N.

I had a hard time coming up with a vehicle that let me down this year, with Subaru’s WRX TR perhaps taking that honor, mostly because it doubled-down on the worst parts of the WRX without improving performance. That said, the new WRX tS is very, very good — a full review is forthcoming.

The most interesting car I drove, though, isn’t a car at all.