The year is now 2023 and we're wrapping up our list of the highest rated cars we've driven in 2022. Small changes come with this final update and there's no change at the top, where the Land Rover Range Rover continues to reign, but some entries elsewhere in the list see a few more affordable entries depart.
Those include the Honda Civic Si, a Motor1.com Best Performance Car Star Award finalist, drop off the list. Also leaving is the BMW M240i and its straight-six song. Replacing one six-cylinder sports car is another, in the Porsche 911 Carrera T. And Audi notches up a win with the SQ8 E-Tron, bringing the total number of EVs in this year's list to three.
As with last year, this list is limited to vehicles we’ve reviewed in 2022 and does not include any of last year’s stars. We’ll update this list at the end of each quarter and will note the changes at the bottom. Stay tuned for that, but in the meantime, check out the full list and let us know how you feel in the comments or at feedback@motor1.com.
10. Genesis GV60
Gallery: 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance Review
Say what you will about its looks, the Genesis GV60 still stands out as the pinnacle of Hyundai's first crop of electric crossovers. A sibling of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, both products that made earlier versions of this list, the GV60 is more powerful, more entertaining, and far better appointed. And that's all saying something, as the Ioniq and EV6 already qualify as powerful, entertaining, and premium feeling.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
9. Ford F-150 Raptor
Gallery: 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor: Review
It's big, it's wide, it's thirsty, and it's ostentatious. But the 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor is also capable of tackling just about any terrain, thanks to its 450-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and Fox Racing long-travel suspension. The Raptor is also very comfortable, with leather and microfiber suede upholstery and a buttery-smooth ride over even the most broken pavement. "Fun-to-drive" usually applies to a sports car's performance on a canyon road, but in the F-150 Raptor's case, it means snappy acceleration on asphalt and stump-jumping composure everywhere else.
Brett T. Evans, Senior Editor
8. Ford Bronco Raptor
Gallery: 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor First Drive
Close your eyes and imagine your perfect vehicle. Practicality is a concern, so you'll want seating for at least four adults. Performance is important too, so nothing less than 400 horsepower, please. And a dash of top-down fun would be nice. Now open your eyes and take a good, long look at the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor. Its wider track, better suspension travel, and twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 make it perfect for attacking a lonely dirt road, while the decently spacious interior, removable roof and doors, and retro styling ensure there's enough fun to go around. Oh, your ideal vehicle is cheap and efficient, too? Well, nothing's perfect.
Brett T. Evans, Senior Editor
7. Genesis G90
Luxury, technology, and a pretty darn good driving experience put the Genesis G90 high on our list of highest-rated cars. With up to 409 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with an integrated starter generator, and a back row built for royalty, it's hard not to fall in love with the G90 from either seat. As I noted in my first drive, “for those wanting more than just a rolling status symbol, the new Genesis G90 hits all the right notes.
Jeff Perez, Senior Editor
6. GMC Hummer EV
Gallery: 2022 GMC Hummer EV: First Drive
Back and more polarizing than ever, the reborn, all-electric GMC Hummer EV is a revelation and a promising sign of where GM's electrified efforts are going. Effortlessly quick and utterly capable off road, the Hummer EV's primary shortcomings are its high price (for now), limited availability (again, for now), and immense width. Considering two of those issues will resolve themselves in the coming years, there's a lot to like about GMC's first EV and GM's introduction to Ultium.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
5. Audi SQ8 E-Tron
Gallery: 2024 Audi SQ8 E-Tron: First Drive
Along with beginning to sort out Audi's convoluted EV naming strategy, the new Audi SQ8 E-Tron adds more range and a quicker DC charge rate while losing very little of what made the old Audi E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback such good luxury EVs. The SQ8's three-motor layout, meanwhile, provides rambunctious acceleration in a vehicle with a lavish, comfortable cabin, making it an easy electric SUV to recommend.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
4. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Gallery: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: First Drive
If the standard Corvette Stingray felt like a world-beating sports car when the eighth-generation car and its mid-engine layout appeared, the latest Z06 is the same thing but for full-throated supercars. Available starting at $106,000, the base Z06 is like a Stingray on steroids. But spend just $15,000 to score the Z07 and Carbon Aero packages, and you'll find a mid-engine track weapon that can stand toe to toe with the best from Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, and Lamborghini.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
3. Genesis GV70
Gallery: 2022 Genesis GV70 2.5T: Review
Genesis is on a streak of success. With the GV70, in particular, the compact crossover offers more style and higher-end luxury elements than any other SUV in the segment. Even with the base turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the GV70 still offers 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet, and inside, a gorgeous 14.5-inch touchscreen display stretches across the dash.
Jeff Perez, Senior Editor
2. Porsche 911 Carrera T
Gallery: 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T: First Drive
It's easy to get wrapped up in the Porsche 911 as a horsepower monster that's ready for track-day use in its hotter forms, but the Carrera T represents the very best of the 911 family. Based on the base Carrera trim, the T adds a few sporty options that are otherwise unavailable on the standard model, including a Porsche Active Suspenion Management and a rear-seat delete. The result is one of the most engaging driver's cars on the market.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
1. Land Rover Range Rover 7-Passenger
Gallery: 2022 Land Rover Range Rover: First Drive
The Land Rover Range Rover has been a luxury benchmark for decades and that's not set to change with the fifth-generation SUV, which hides dramatic changes under a modest reskinning. A joy to drive whether it's packing JLR's own turbocharged straight-six or the twin-turbocharged BMW-sourced V8, the new Range Rover is even better from the backseat, where a new high-dollar, four-seat layout promises Maybach-rivaling luxury.
Brandon Turkus, Managing Editor
Change Log:
April 4, 2022: List created with Kia K5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Acura MDX Type S, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Infiniti QX60, Lexus LX, Kia EV6, BMW M240i, Honda Civic Si, and Genesis GV70.
July 1, 2022: Land Rover Range Rover, GMC Hummer EV, Genesis GV60, Ford F-150 Raptor, Ford Bronco Raptor, Aston Martin DBX707, and McLarent 765LT Spider replace Kia K5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Acura MDX Type S, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Infiniti QX60, Lexus LX, Kia EV6.
October 6, 2022: Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Genesis G90 replace McLaren 765LT Spider, Aston Martin DBX707 removed. Genesis GV60 demoted following seven-day test.
December 31, 2022: Honda Civic Si, BMW M240i replaced by Porsche 911 Carrera T, Audi SQ8 E-Tron.