Each year, we have to test so many cars that it’s sometimes better to kill two birds with one stone.

Our back-to-back drives help us pick the winner from a set of direct competitors, so we’ve picked the ten best comparisons for the year, in no particular order.

1. Kia Stinger vs Holden Commodore SS-V Redline – December 2017

Though an XR6 Turbo might have been a closer comparison, the Kia Stinger appeared just as the Commodore left us, making it the perfect timing for a look back, and a look forwards.

2. NISMO GT-R vs BMW M4 GTS – August 2017

At the Haunted Hills Hillclimb, Japan’s almost robot-like GT-R takes on the wildest BMW M4 yet.

3. VW Golf GTI Performance vs Honda Civic Type R – December 2017

But when put up against the ultimate do-it-all hot hatch, the Golf GTI, the Honda proved it was more than just a playful-looking wannabe.

4. Walkinshaw W557 vs Herrod Mustang GT – September 2017

5. Alfa Romeo Giulia QV vs Mercedes-AMG C63 S vs BMW M3 Competiton – September 2017

The QV has proven itself capable, but is it a better track weapon than a top-spec M3 or C63?

6. Mercedes-AMG GT R vs Porsche 911 GT3 – June 2017

This was more than just an excuse to test the new GT3, this was a battle for coupe supremacy.

7. Ford Mustang vs Nissan 370Z NISMO – The Annual 2017 issue

And what better car to face a new sports coupe than the sports coupe that had proven the most popular in Oz.

8. Mazda MX-5 vs Abarth 124 Spider vs Subaru BRZ – April 2017

Japan takes on Japan, and Japan takes on Italy’s take on Japan in this far-less-confusing than it sounds battle of the featherweights.

9. Mercedes-AMG C43 vs BMW 340i vs Jaguar XE S vs Audi S4 – June 2017

Four cars that are similar on the surface become very apparently different once you get behind the wheel – which is what made this comparo so interesting.

10. PCOTY! – February 2017

While we work on bringing you the next Performance Car of the Year, take a look at what went down this year at MOTOR’s biggest calendar event.