OPENERS CAR Selection 2013 Yasuhiko Kawamura
OPENERS Readers: 2013's 5 Essential Cars
OPENERS CAR Selection 2013: Yasuhiko Kawamura Edition
Yasuhiko Kawamura selects five of the best cars of 2013. What should "OPENERS readers be paying attention to" right now? He also offers his overall assessment of the automotive industry this year.
Text by KAWAMURA Yasuhiko
A Bountiful Year
While some years make it difficult to choose just five recommended cars, 2013 was undoubtedly a "bountiful" one.
Five years have passed since the "Lehman Shock" of 2008. Even now, many new models clearly show a focus on cost reduction, targeting emerging markets that continued to grow despite the shock.
However, it seems that 2013 was the year when Japanese manufacturers reconsidered, thinking, "We can't expect evolution as automobiles this way," and began to revive cars with the product strength to compete at the forefront of the world. The Mazda Atenza and Honda Fit are prime examples.
Among Japanese cars, the redesignedLexusIS also left a strong impression. In particular, the handling of the "IS350 F Sport," the series' flagship, with its 4WS mechanism featuring electronic variable gear ratio control on the front wheels and an integrated steering control system with electronic variable damping, was so vivid that its essence lingered long after exiting the car. Including other grades, the IS model demonstrated a high product quality, worthy of any global stage, as a creation from a premium brand originating in Japan.
However, looking back, the new Golf, now in its seventh generation, delivered an impact that easily surpassed it.
Frankly, its appearance, compared to the previous model, is so "within expectations" that some might ask, "What's changed?" Yet, any user of the previous model driving the new one will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by its dramatically improved quietness from the moment they start moving. Furthermore, its supple ride, class-leading fuel efficiency, and other features realize a level of performance that leaves nothing more to be desired in a practical car. The high level of balance it achieves is beyond the reach of any rival.
Ultimately, as the year drew to a close, one had to concede that "the impact of the Golf was truly unparalleled." That was the essence of 2013.
Yasuhiko Kawamura's Top 5 Picks for OPENERS Readers in 2013
While it seemed the year of imported cars would be dominated by the Golf, the V40 put up a strong fight to prevent that. Its exterior design, a brilliant escape from the "boxy Volvo" mold, is frankly far more stylish than the Golf's, which barely changed from the previous model! Open the door, and the "Scandinavian design" interior also possesses a far greater flair than the Golf's.
While concerns remain about the dealer network, which cannot compare to VW's, this is a car full of highlights in terms of performance and price.
I personally took the plunge and purchased this model, taking on a "huge debt," after trading in my first-generation model in the same S-grade manual transmission specification. While the exterior design clearly follows the first generation, the more I drive it, the more I realize daily that its driving potential surpasses the previous model by an unexpectedly wide margin.
One might think a two-seater mid-engine model lacks practicality. However, this model, with its sealed engine compartment and luggage space front and rear, is one of the rare exceptions.
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
This is the top contender when asked for a "recommended car" for "relatives and acquaintances" whom one will inevitably have to deal with for the foreseeable future!
While there are no surprising design elements, the quality of its finish, both inside and out, is truly class-leading. Similarly, its quietness surpasses the class norm, its ride quality is superb, and its outstanding fuel efficiency demonstrate a level of perfection that makes its rivals seem almost pitiable.
The well-established dealer network is also a significant advantage.
Honda Fit
Honda Fit
Amidst a wave of imported cars that made one admit, "The gap with Japanese cars has widened further," the redesigned Fit offered a spirited challenge to these "foreign imports." The developers themselves declared, "We won't make boring hybrids," and indeed, the hybrid model, showcasing robust performance, and the 1.3-liter model, achieving over 20 km/L fuel economy, are both full of appeal. Naturally, the Fit's unique features, such as its rear seats that create surprising space with simple adjustments, remain.
Renault Lutecia
Renault Lutecia
Apologies for the surprise (!), but upon driving this "ordinary Lutecia" without high expectations, I was treated to its extraordinary capabilities. The acceleration generated by the engine, paired for the first time with a DCT in a domestically introduced Renault model, possesses a power that makes you forget its 1.2-liter displacement. The steering feel, which is exceptionally smooth yet conveys a strong sense of road contact, even makes one wonder why the "synergy effect" within the group doesn't work, given how vague and unreliable the steering of Nissan's electric power steering is around the neutral point.