Wheels journos drive hundreds of cars each year, and with 2016 drawing to a close, we’ve asked them to nominate their favourite from the past 12 months.

‘Favourite’ is wonderfully vague, and could mean anything from the fastest car they sampled, to the most exciting, or simply one of those rare moments in time where a car, the road and weather unite in perfect harmony to deliver an unforgettable driving experience. So, with that in mind, here are our favourite cars of 2016.

Mercedes-AMG GT R

Alex Inwood – Acting Editor

Mercedes -AMG-GT-R

My favourite drive of the year, though, occurred in Japan at the wheel of an Abarth 124 Spider. It was my first time exploring the mountain roads around Hakone, which are breathtakingly beautiful and smeared with rubber from drifters. I dutifully added to the black marks.

BMW M2 Pure

Ryan Lewis – Journalist

BMW-M2

Peugeot 308 GTi 270

Tony O’Kane – Journalist

Peugeot -308-GTi -front -side

Why? Because it’s astoundingly light. Because it manages to squeeze 200kW from a 1.6. Because it rides and handles like a dream. Because it has a proper limited-slip diff, motorsport-spec brakes and seats that are as grippy as its Michelin Pilot Super Sports. There are so many reasons to love the 308 GTi 270, and so few reasons to reject it over its hot hatch rivals. I want one.

Mazda MX-5 GT

David Bonnici – Journalist

Mazda -MX-5-front -side

While my 49-year-old frame groaned whenever I climbed in, I loved the feeling of being enveloped by MX-5’s tiny body and how everything was within arm’s reach. It’s become almost cliché to heap praise on the 2016 COTY, but the MX-5 warrants nothing less.

Audi RS Q3

Cameron Kirby – Journalist

Audi -RSQ3-front -side

Yes, it is heavy, yes it has the turning circle of a suburb, yes it lacks a USB port. But oh lord is it fun. Seeing the face on sportsbike riders as I harassed them in a small SUV in the twisties made my year, and cruising along the seaside was a joy. Long live silly cars.

BMW 440i Gran Coupe

Barry Park – Journalist

BMW-4-series -GT

That’s right; deep down I’ve lusted after a folding-roof car for its roof-up profile. But the GC’s four doors kept the kids happy, the liftback is great for chucking in luggage, the styling does grow on you after a while, and there’s that sweet, sweet 240kW twin-turbo 3.0-litre in-line powerplant. I’m a convert-ible.