2022 Test Drive Car of the Year

Time flies, and 2022 is already coming to an end.

The latter half of this year seemed to pass by faster than usual. The saying “Time flies like an arrow” truly fits. Especially December—I barely have any memories of it before the month was over (maybe just my poor memory lol).

Thank you so much for following the blog “Welcome Home, PORSCHE” throughout this year.

So today, I’d like to share the husband’s annual tradition (or so it seems lol) of choosing the 2022 Test Drive Car of the Year.

The Top 3 Test Drive Cars

To get straight to the point, he said, “They were all great, but if I had to narrow it down, it’s these three. Ranking them within these three? That’s impossible.” So, here are the top three cars of 2022.

Also, please understand that my husband’s preferences lean strongly toward “driving enjoyment” and prioritizing performance over interior or comfort features, so this is purely his personal opinion.

① Volkswagen POLO / 5-speed MT (4th generation late model)

This year, my husband had the chance to test drive a friend’s POLO on the Royu Driveway, and he came home absolutely thrilled, saying:

“It was insanely fun! I didn’t expect it to be this enjoyable! Small but mighty, for sure. I was blown away. The ride quality, engine torque feel, rigidity, road grip, brake control, precise handling—and it’s a manual. Nothing to complain about.”

At that time, it had been about six months since I took delivery of my Swift Sport, but he said:

“You should just switch from the Swift Sport to the Polo! The Swift Sport would probably sell for a good price. This generation of POLO is really cheap used, so it’s a great value!”

He even went to check it out at a dealer (though he didn’t end up buying it…).

My husband often says, “The fun of driving a car doesn’t necessarily correlate with horsepower or price.”

While high-performance cars are of course amazing, too much power can be hard to handle, and there aren’t many roads in everyday driving where you can really unleash it. Having driven many cars, he feels this more keenly than ever.

② Early Model Macan

Regarding the early Macan, my husband had only briefly driven one when his younger brother owned a Macan Turbo, but this fall, he was deeply impressed by a loaner early Macan he drove.

And I was impressed too.

I don’t get to test drive that many cars every year, but for me, the 2022 Test Drive Car of the Year is definitely this early Macan.

My husband said:

The early Macan was instantly a ‘Porsche’ the moment it started moving. It wasn’t a car whose charm you gradually discover; within just two seconds of driving, you unmistakably feel it’s a Porsche. The unity between car and driver you experience in this Macan is the same as what you feel in a 911. It was truly moving.”

He also mentioned that the sound of gear changes when using paddle shifters in manual mode is very satisfying. The sports performance of this early Macan, which you wouldn’t expect from an SUV, really stands out.

For more detailed impressions, please see this article:

前期マカンの魅力に迫る！｜これぞポルシェのSUVだ！

③ Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (996 model)

The 996 model 911 was another car my husband was allowed to drive by an acquaintance.

It was in original condition and well maintained, with about 80,000 km on the clock. My husband said:

We gradually increased speed while driving on the Royu, and it was just pure fun. Even though it was my first time driving a 911, the more I drove, the more in sync I felt with it. The seats were a bit soft, which was nice. And to think you can buy one used for around 3 million yen—it’s way too cheap. I think it’s a classic that deserves more recognition. Of course, there are the intermediate shaft and cylinder 6 issues, but if you have a trustworthy dealer or maintenance shop, there’s no need to be afraid. I seriously wanted one.”

For more detailed impressions, please see this article:

ポルシェ 996型 911に試乗｜これはもっと見直されるべき名車だ！

Is the Latest Porsche Always the Best Porsche?

Looking back on my husband’s “2022 Test Drive Car of the Year,” one thing stood out.

That is, none of the cars were the latest model Porsches. In fact, most were a bit older.

This year, my husband also test drove the latest GT3, GT4 RS, and was amazed by their performance and said they were wonderful… (perhaps because he owns a 992 himself).

Someone once said, “The latest Porsche is the best Porsche, but not necessarily the greatest Porsche.” I think that’s exactly right.

Of course, their performance is undeniably excellent, but when you consider things like how they appeal to human senses, the feeling of being one with the car, and the overall driving vibe…, these three cars left the strongest impression on my husband.

Thinking about that, there must be many more classic cars out there we haven’t discovered yet. I hope to have more wonderful encounters with such classics next year.

Thank you so much to everyone who kindly let us drive their precious cars and to the dealers who lent us loaners this year. We look forward to your continued support next year as well.