Judging by the wear on our suitcases and laptop keyboards, 2014 has been a very busy year for new car launches. The year also saw some very important vehicles launched in the latter part of the year that will make for some interesting battles on the forecourts of car dealers in 2015, namely the new Volkswagen Passat and new Focus and Mondeo from Ford.
Rather than simply choosing what our favourite cars of the year were, here is the top-ten list of our most-read car reviews by you, the reader. It also gives an indication of what kinds of cars are of most interest to Irish new car buyers.
The new Volkswagen Passat is the latest in a line of very successful generations for the German manufacturer and now with its latest engine and chassis technology, combined with a tangibly higher level of quality, it's starting to rival premium cars.
2. Dacia Duster
With prices starting from €14,990 the Dacia Duster looks like it could be a game-changer in the Irish market - it just has to convince Irish buyers to take a chance on an unknown brand first.
3. Nissan Qashqai vs. Hyundai ix35
The new Nissan Qashqai has some seriously big sales boots to fill, living up to the runaway success of its progenitor. But just as it's getting underway, Hyundai has fired a warning shot across its bows by cutting the price of the larger, more SUV-ish ix35.
Mitsubishi's new Outlander PHEV is a remarkable car in a wholly unremarkable body, but perhaps the most impressive thing about it is how 'normal' it feels to drive. Combining the best of three alternative-fuel worlds it is a family friendly SUV that can achieve nearly 150mpg with emissions only bettered by fully electric cars.
5. BMW i8
A sports car with eco credentials to better most city cars, the BMW i8 compromises little despite its diametrically opposed goals of performance and economy. An impressive, guilt-free high performance sports car.
6. Volkswagen Golf GTD vs. Volvo V40
Changes in emission laws and buying habits has led to the hot hatch segment developing a new sub-section, the performance diesel. We pit two of the top contenders on paper against each other.
Now that BMW M's two-door coupé is called the M4 you may be wondering about the M3 lineage; fear not: the equally new M3 Saloon is a worthy recipient of the iconic badge. It's a ballistic performance car that engages the driver like few others. The rear doors should be seen merely as a bonus.
8. Volvo V60 D4
We now know why Volvo is so excited by its range of all-new four-cylinder engines. The D4 diesel unit is refined, powerful and yet more efficient than all of its direct rivals. Paired with ZF's automatic gearbox it transforms the Volvo S60 and V60 into real premium class contenders.
9. Hyundai ix35
Hyundai makes no bones about it: it wants a part of the Nissan Qashqai pie. Can the ix35 lure buyers into Hyundai showrooms?
10. Kia Sportage
Kia's latest Sportage takes on the massive-selling Qashqai at its own game. Has it enough to worry the big-selling Nissan?