Automobile Journalist Sergio Mariscal Reveals His Favorite Test Drives in 2019

As an automotive journalist, I’m lucky in that I get to live the dream of traveling the world and testing the sort of cars guaranteed to make you go mmm! In 2019 I was fortunate enough to put my foot to the pedal and go full throttle in some of the most dynamic and aesthetically pleasing cars in the business. Here are my top five picks from the last year that I absolutely loved.

Mercedes-AMG GT 6T 4-Door Coupe 

Mercedes is more than a brand; it’s a way of life. There’s nothing like rocking it up in one of these bad boys to announce the world exactly who you are and what you aspire to be. With the AMG GT 6T 4-Door Coupe, Mercedes have outdone themselves once again. Its sleek and savage lines will make you drool with envy, and that’s even before you get behind the wheel. Its 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 petrol engine generates a lot of power and leaves you with an intoxicating impression of comfort and speed.

The Jeep Gladiator 

There’s nothing like a bit of high-speed cruising on the highways, but sometimes, when you want to mix up your driving experience and feel the intensity of a wholly different ride, then off-roading is the way forward. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator builds on the legendary Wrangler and provides a unique mid-size pick-up for those looking to do a little off-roading. It’s compact, sturdy, versatile, and has the sort of suspension and all-wheel-drive system you’ll need to experience the hills, thrills, and bumps of the more rugged terrain. What’s more, it looks like it means business as well.

Alfa-Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV 

There’s elegance and class, and then there’s Alfa-Romeo. As a brand, it has the sort of history and mystique which always packs a punch, and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV is no exception. Where do I begin with this bad boy? It’s big, beautiful, and handles like a dream. This all-wheel-drive has a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine, which gives it a whopping horsepower value of 505. You can really go for it in this car and look good at the same time. If traveling in comfort at high-speeds is your thing, look no further.

Porsche 911 Carrera S (New version)

Ask any car-crazy kid which wheels they want to own when they’re all grown up and nine times out of ten they’ll tell you, a Porsche! There’s a good reason for that. In the motor industry, Porsche is a byword for all that is immortal and eternal. And Porsche’s 911 Carrera S (New version) is a car that has been tweaked and touched up until it is in a league of its own. The Porsche 911 is a car defined by its history but one which refuses to be trapped by it. It just keeps getting better and better. Driving it is a sublime experience and one which you’ll never forget.

Volvo S60

Last but not least we have the Volvo S60. It may not be as flashy as some cars or have the wow factor but it does exactly what is said on the tin, and that’s deliver a dynamic and cutting-edge performance. Its 390HP, plug-in hybrid, twin-engine is good for the planet and it’s a simply electrical ride in more ways than one.

Well, that’s it for 2019. It’s now time to turn my attention towards 2020. There’s a lot of cars out there which remain untested and a lot of roads which remain untravelled, so I best get my motor running.