Presented by MTF Finance
We're on a mission to find the Car of the Decade and we want your help. Vote for the best cars of the last 10 years and you'll be in to win $2500 for fuel or EV charging.
We've selected finalists in nine categories: Ute, Game Changer, Family SUV, Hybrid/EV, Aussie Big Six, Sports/Performance, Urban, Luxury and... Dud of the Decade.
If you want to read more about the finalists in any of those categories, click on the relevant blue words above. If you want to go straight to the voting page and have your say, you can do that here.
But right now, let's take a look at the contenders for Sports/Performance Car of the Decade.
Toyota GR Yaris (2020-)
The GR Yaris is Toyota’s idea of the ultimate thinking person’s hot hatch.
Created by the brand’s Gazoo Racing division as a homologation special for the World Rally Championship, it took the humble Yaris as a starting point, then threw almost everything away (only the original headlights and door mirrors remain) in the pursuit of performance-car glory.
With an urgent three-cylinder turbo engine and high-tech AWD system, GR Yaris was and is a hero car for Toyota and Gazoo Racing. It was our overall Car of the Year in 2021.
Mazda MX-5 (ND-generation, 2016-)
The fourth-generation ND Mazda MX-5 was launched in NZ in 2015 and continues to this day in pretty much the same form.
The ND is notable for going back to basics. Previous versions had put on just a little size and weight, but this one was similar physical dimensions to the 1990 original and 10 per cent lighter than the previous NC.
It’s still a brilliantly entertaining sports car, partly because Mazda refuses to overdo it: not too much power, not too much grip.
Ford Mustang (sixth-generation, 2015-23)
The sixth-generation Mustang was the first model in 50 years to be built in right-hand drive by the factory. With export markets more in mind, it was also a Mustang that was not just muscular, but could also handle the corners.
Everything about this generation propelled the Mustang into the modern world, especially the styling – which looked bang-up-to-date but didn’t lose classic Pony Car styling detail. There’s since been a new seventh-generation model, but this one really set the scene.