All We Want For Christmas Are These Cars Parked Under The Tree

Just look at the Jimny, how can you not love this thing? It looks like a cross between a shrunken down Mercedes G-Class and Jeep Wrangler. It’s boxy and beautiful. Though we don’t get it in the U.S., I still lust at it from overseas. Powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, it pumps out a hearty-enough 100 horses and 96 pound-feet of torque. It has all-wheel drive, of course. And at just 11.9 feet long – that’s about as long as a Fiat 500 – it’s absolutely adorable. Maybe Santa will ship me one from Europe.

– Jeff Perez

I must confess: I hate pickup trucks. I’ve tried to like them, having once owned a Ford F-250 diesel and a half-ton Ram but for the most part, I think they’re oversized, clumsy, and utterly wasted on 99 percent of pickup truck buyers.

That’s why this choice is so extraordinary for me, because it’s something that makes sense as a truck for the typical pickup owner. Not only does the Gladiator offer exceptional off-road capability in a package that’s not ridiculously large, it offers legit cool stuff to go with it. Your truck has a little step at the tailgate that helps you reach grocery bags in the bed? That’s cute . . . the Gladiator’s freaking windshield folds away and the roof comes off. We constantly hear automakers boasting about unique offerings, but it’s very rare for a vehicle to actually deliver on that. It’s so cool that it’s made this pickup-truck naysayer a star-struck fan.

– Chris Smith

Truth be told, I’d rather wake up to find a delectable Ferrari Daytona under the tree. It’s more attractive than the Superfast, but it’s not as if this fearsome front-engined hypercar is hard on the eyes. For me – as I suspect is the case for many enthusiasts – a big V12 Ferrari isn’t just a snazzy Italian sports car. It’s an experience unto itself; something to savor on many levels that, frankly, aren’t strictly auto-related.

You can have a similar experience with any big V12 GT car, but none can match the 789-horsepower embrace from the 812’s 6.5-liter mill. Honestly, what auto enthusiast wouldn’t want the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated car wrapped in a bow on Christmas morning?

– Chris Smith

It’s been incredible to watch Dodge keep the Challenger relevant, exciting, and popular despite the car’s aged platform and design. First there was the brutally powerful Challenger Hellcat, and then came the drag strip-demolishing Demon. Now there’s the Hellcat Redeye, which marries the original Hellcat concept with a 797-horsepower supercharged V8 that’s based on the Demon’s engine. A special dual-nostril hood and sexy widebody fender flares make the Redeye look irresistible, as well. With a 203-mile-per-hour top speed, the new Challenger Hellcat Redeye won’t remain under my Christmas tree for long.

– John Neff

I am picking the Bentley Continental GT to go under my Christmas tree because, to my eyes, it is the most beautiful new car you can buy. Last year’s redesign of this gorgeous grand tourer took its aesthetics to another level, and I just can’t stop staring at it. Considering it starts over $215,000, asking Santa for one is my best shot.

– John Neff

The Subaru WRX is my practical choice for the car I’d be happiest to find under the Christmas tree. The performance potential is exciting but not overwhelming for use on the road. All-wheel drive can handle Northern Ohio winters, and four doors makes it easy to load the dog in the back. Santa would be a real Grinch if he doesn’t bring me one.

– Chris Bruce

I already have some rather expensive hobbies, like buying old video games and building model robots, but if I had the ability to add something more outdoorsy to my interests, it would probably be some form of off-roading. Crawling through some forest trails with my wife and dog along with me to enjoy the view seems like a great way to spend a weekend, and a Wrangler Rubicon seems like the ideal tool for the job.

– Chris Bruce

If you can get it for under $40k as close to MSRP as possible, the Honda Civic Type R one of the best daily drivers for those looking for something both fun and practical. You can go to the track, drive back home, hit up Costco, then take your significant other out on a date. It’s the do-it-all hot hatch.

– Matthew Eugenio

You would need a rather sizeable tree to fit a Rolls-Royce Cullinan beneath it. The SUV, ahem, "high-bodied car," is the latest from RR and boy is the desire strong here. While the Cullinan does not have the same grace as a Wraith or the posh elegance of the Phantom, it has a presence on the road unlike anything else. Plus the Spirit of Ecstasy looks much better covered in mud. And in this fantasy scenario the $325,000 starting price is merely a stocking stuffer. Ho Ho Ho.

– Clint Simone

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a benchmark car, and every control is the height of what I seek in a modern-day sports car. The brake pedal is as firm as a businessman’s handshake, the six-speed manual transmission goes from gate-to-gate with deft precision, and the steering is so communicative that it not only shares the current status of the tires’ connection to the asphalt below but also the history of the surrounding land. It’s a fantastic package in every way imaginable, and it’s the only vehicle I want to find under my Christmas tree.

– Greg Fink

Alas, beggars can’t be choosers, and if Jolly Old Santa is unwilling to bring me a 911 GT3, I’ll happily settle on an F-150 Raptor. Powerful, capable, and versatile, the Raptor is a jack of all trades that’s just as happy hitting the trails as it is doting around the Home Depot parking lot. It’s also surprisingly fun to push around twistier tarmac, even if its body pitches and dives like a Boston Whaler in the middle of the ocean.

– Greg Fink

I am a man of the people. So, to counteract my lofty Rolls-Royce selection, may I present the Genesis G70. When we drove the car earlier this year, the G70’s playful chassis, competent gearbox and sweet V6 melody left us swooning. It is by far the best looking car in the class and gives you the opportunity to proudly exclaim “look at my not 3 series!” One for me please, Mr. Claus.

– Clint Simone

All the car I’ll ever need, the Audi A4 Allroad ticks the right boxes. Seriously, what more could you want from a car? It’s luxurious and refined as every other Audi, it has standard Quattro for slippery conditions, and offers the high practicality you’d want from a wagon. It sits a bit higher than the regular Avant so it’s a bit like a crossover but without the many disadvantages that come with that.

The 248-horsepower gasoline engine is more than enough for my needs, but I wouldn’t say no to an RS4 Avant… I’d be just as happy with the A4 Allroad’s lesser cousins from the VW Group, be it the Golf Alltrack, Octavia Scout or the Leon X-Perience.

– Adrian Padeanu

The Audi would serve as the daily and the Miata for weekends to enjoy on twisty roads. Living proof that you don’t need a ton of power to get your jollies, the lightweight and nimble coupe captures everything that’s great about a sports car without breaking the bank. I’d go for the RF since it has a hardtop, but the regular Miata is almost as nice.

Mazda’s latest design language has worked wonders on the RF and that simple yet functional is an invitation to get behind the wheel and discover why a naturally aspirated car is more fun to drive than one using forced induction. It’s especially true when the N/A engine is hooked up to a slick six-speed manual gearbox, which thankfully Mazda offers.

– Adrian Padeanu

In my eyes, a well-equipped wagon is generally a quicker, more efficient, better-looking, and, in many cases, more practical and comfortable vehicle than a similarly-priced SUV. I really don’t understand people who say “I’m buying an SUV because it’s practical and roomy.” No, it isn’t.

But, thankfully, there are still many manufacturers building and offering awesome modern wagons. Like Volvo which, depending on where you live, is currently selling a number of traditional and raised wagons. In my opinion, the best overall package is the V60 Cross Country, it’s simply the perfect SUV antidote. It’s compact yet roomy, rugged but refined, and powerful and efficient at the same time. Isn’t that everything we need in a car?

– Anthony Karr

I know, it’s not really a car. However, I’m a camping guy who loves spending his holidays in the nature but also hate missing my laptop, some cold drinks, and a comfortable bed. The Romotow trailer camper has everything I’ll ever need on vacation plus some extra features like a fully equipped kitchen and a fold-down electric barbeque on the deck.

I’m just a bit worried that I won’t be able to tow it with the V60 Cross Country, but I can live with that. It seems that Santa is super generous this year so I’ll simply ask him for an extra Ford F-150. And a Porsche 911, thanks.

– Anthony Karr