Long waits and fuel price hikes – but there are still great new cars

AN eventful year in the automotive industry which motivated many motorists to ditch their second car as the cost of living began to bite and soaring fuel and energy costs made travel expensive.

For those buying a new car, orders can still take up to two years to fulfil in some cases due to a global manufacturing crisis, while used car buyers have been forced to stomach record prices as dealers’ supplies dried up.

But while the flow of new models continued, as the push towards zero-emissions motoring moved on, the Advertiser Motors pages delivered a glimpse of the market newcomers that could soon be sat on your driveway.

Here we give our run down of our favourite five cars of 2022 in the eclectic annual Rotherham Advertiser Car of the Year line-up.

1) MG 4 (from £25,995)

“Even in a climate which sees the world’s biggest carmakers battling for supremacy with a new breed of EVs, MG is the go-to for affordable EV motoring and the MG4 proves it is doing so without compromise.”

2) Toyota GR86 (£29,995)

“In a world where gimmicky cabin design, intrusive driver aids and complex electrified drivetrains are distancing us from the simple joys of driving, the GR86 places you right back in the heart of the action.”  

3) Dacia Jogger (£19,640 as tested)

“Value is where Dacia majors and the Jogger is its new champion. Perceived quality is up, the passenger count is up and it should also prove frugal to run. Naff name aside, but it’s a pretty good place to be.”

4) Audi etron GT (£111,130 as tested)

“That adaptive air sprung suspension was wafty smooth at motorway speeds, while the rear quarters of the car proved spacious for two adults. The boot even delivers over 400-litres of luggage space.”

5) Honda Jazz Crosstar (from £25,795)

“Few will boast about owning a Jazz in the pub. But in a cash-strapped society where the one-car family is becoming more common, it ticks an awful lot of boxes.”