Last week, our “Car Buy of the Year,” Top-10 list concentrated on the “best bang for the buck,” with the “green-oriented” 2019 Honda Insight winning top honors. This week, we showcase our “Car of the Year” list, in which we focus on the best car, truck, crossover or SUV and what it delivers, regardless of price – just the pure vehicle – and how it feels to be behind the wheel, although we have something luxurious and “green” on the Car-Buy side as well this year.

For our 15th annual Car of the Year list, we see five countries of origin represented with muscle cars, luxury cars, roadsters, convertibles, “supercars” and that “green” crossover. And while power counts – one vehicle at 755hp and three of the 10 over 600 horses – one car made the list with less than 200 hp. As for price, two (not the No.1 pick) was priced over $100,000, but one also stickered under $35,000; and many cars I tested this year that were priced from $60,000 to $125,000 didn’t make the list.

My rules: To make this list, I must have test driven the car in calendar 2019 and it must have stood out from the pack, had something “extra”, surprised me, impressed me, and satisfied the “car guy” in me, as well as amaze any passengers or onlookers who rode in or saw the vehicle. I test drove 56 different vehicles this year, and after a weeklong (in most cases) assessment as a daily driver and/or track car, I graded each ride in the following categories: Interior; Safety; Power; Handling/Ride; Economy/Price; Looks; Niche-fitting and a Miscellaneous grouping in which I took into consideration the “feel-good” factor and other intangibles.

Last year, the 365-hp turbo Kia Stinger combined power, luxury and elegance from a badge not generally considered to deliver those attributes, to win the crown. This year, a racing icon crossed over and went “green” to produce something unexpected and worthy of the title. Prices reflect sticker-as-tested.

1. Jaguar I-PACE: All-electric Crossover is innovative sleek, fast, fun and ‘Green’ -- $80,520. In the past, Jaguar “Green” meant British racing Green exterior paint. This year, Jaguar, who earned its rep for creating sleek, catlike, powerful race-worthy sportscars, has moved into a new arena with its new 2019 I-PACE, Jaguar’s first all-electric vehicle, an EV SUV/crossover.  Oh, and it is also fun to drive. With all-wheel-drive, two electric motors and Jag’s iconic sleekness outside and luxury inside, I-PACE shows off Jaguar muscle with 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque while attaining an EPA-rated driving range of 234 miles. I-PACE embodies the Jaguar legacy of luxury and performance. The motors deliver sports car operation, launching the I-PACE from zero to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds in tests. My fun-to-test quarter-mile was accomplished in an un-crossover-like 13.2 seconds, accelerating easily and handling like a sedan.
2. Corvette ZR1: 755 horses of futuristic supercar is last of an era -- $130,090. My favorite car to drive all year only lost out for top honors because of my rating system, which counted 13.9mpg lower than electric and 234 miles per charge vs. about the same range per tank, but at $45-50/tank. One car that certainly fits the definition of supercar, in all areas is the 2019 Corvette ZR-1 – and it is among the final C8 Corvettes to be built. With exotic lines, ZR-1 handles like a car destined for the track, but with street-luxury car smoothness for driver and passenger. I blazed through a zero-to-60 sprint in 3.3 seconds for an 11.4-second quarter-mile with ZR1’s dual-fuel-injection, LT5 6.2L V-8 that rockets out 755 hp and 715 lb-ft. Additionally, the cockpit is luxurious and tech-filled.
3. Alfa Romeo 4C Spider: Exotic track star that is athletic around town -- $73,195. Building on Alfa’s storied racing heritage, and its history of creating exciting, solid-handling, exotic, athletic vehicles, the 2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider offers driving enthusiasts a mid-engine design convertible that represents the essential sportiness embedded in the brand’s DNA. With hints of Lotus and Ferrari -- exotic, this is a feel-good, drive-well car. Its 237hp and 258 lb-powerplant averages 28mpg, and my track runs were timed in 4.2 (sprint) and a 12.8 quarter-mile.
4. Nissan GT-R: 565 hp and a video-game design for a superbeast -- $116,320. The 2019 Nissan GT-R is a powerful, sexy, track-handling, tech-advanced, a head-turner and a very fun drive. Designed to compare to video game creations, GT-R is aggressive, sexy, fluid and functional. Its 3.8-liter 24-valve twin-turbocharged V-6 engine delivers 565 horsepower and 467 lb-ft. I turned a sizzling sprint in 3.1 seconds during an 11.2-second quarter-mile and I averaged 17.9mpg.
5. Ford Mustang GT: 55 years of Pony Power stays true to the past -- $44,145. The unmistakable Mustang GT look comes at you with an aggressive grille and Pony insert, rounded, sleek lines and muscularity. Athletic and muscular, the Mustang GT’s Pony-Power comes from a 5.0-liter V-8 that galloped out 460 hp and 420 lb-ft, and lived up to its heritage with tire-smoking acceleration and track-worthy handling. I crushed a zero-to-60 sprint in 4.3 seconds en route to a 12.6-second quarter-mile, and I averaged 18.2 mpg.
6. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: American muscle icon powered by 650 horses -- $73,190. Chevy has added new front fascias and grillework on several Camaro trims this year, and added infotainment upgrades and  a Carbon fiber rear wing, but Camaro is about power -- ZL1’s standard 6.2-liter LT4 direct-injected V-8 engine is responsive and super-powered, with 650 horses/650 lb-ft of torque. I blasted a zero-to-60mpg dash in 3.3 seconds during a quarter-mile run of 11.3 seconds and averaged 15.4mpg.
7. Genesis G70: Performance sedan delivers inside and out -- $51,125. On last week’s list as a Top Buy, the 2019 G70 shows off the manufacturer’s “Athletic Elegance” design signature outside, and a driver-focused experience with high quality materials inside. Its 365hp/376 lb-ft 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 averages 19.6mpg and finishes off a zero-to-60mph sprint in 4.9-seconds, and a quarter-mile in 13.5. On the highway and around town, Genesis delivered a stable ride with solid balance and attentive handling.
8. Cadillac CTS-V: Premier luxury sedan impresses with elegance and 640hp --$92,885. Cadillac’s legacy of building luxury cars is coupled with Corvette-like power with a 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 that thunders out 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque in the 2019 CTS-V. Built for performance while pampering with elegant lines, a luxurious interior and state-of-the-art tech and safety, CTS-V’s throaty exhaust note purred during a zero-60mph dash in 3.9 seconds, and a 12.0-flat quarter-mile. I averaged 15.0 mpg.
9. Infiniti Q60: Stylish and powerful luxury sport 4-seater -- $52,958. The Infiniti Q60 is a 2-door sport luxury 4-seat coupe with an aggressive stance, low and wide proportions and muscular lines. Some vehicles get 400hp, but my test ride had a 300-hp. 295-lb-ft 3.0-liter V-6. A zero-to-60mph dash takes about 6 seconds, during a 14.5-second quarter-mile, and fuel consumption was 22.8mpg. Its low center of gravity enhances driving dynamics, and is augmented by a well-appointed and comfortable interior.
10. Mazda MX-5 Miata RF: Good power in this fun-drive Roadster -- $34,455. The lowest-priced car on this list and a “Top-Buy” member from last week’s list, the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata gets a SKYACTIV 2.0-liter in-line 4 electronic fuel injection engine that provides 181-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, for a zero-to-60mph dash in 5.8 seconds during a 14.5-second quarter. Fuel economy is 30.3 mpg, and you get a cool retractable hardtop roof that makes MX-5 a convertible in 13 seconds.

Next week we begin coverage of the 2020s, and we start rating and reviewing style, performance, nuances, improvements and deals on wheels.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

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