10 Cars From 2022 That Were So Good They Blew Our Minds

Today, it seems that more disappointing cars are realized than actually impressive ones. Despite the sad news, we have to shift our focus to see the slightest glimmer of light in this brooding, dark cloud. To be fair, there have been some pretty good cars that have made their way into our lives over the past few years or so. Some of these include the best American luxury cars ever made, the most intense hypercars, and even the affordable cars that turn everyone's head. That said, 2022 wasn't entirely empty-handed per se. Here are some of last year's most impressive cars that proved to be even better than we expected.

10/10 range rover

For years, the luxurious Range Rover has been one of the go-to luxury vehicles for successful businessmen. And we can confidently say that the new Range Rover is just that, better than ever. Its styling is still understated but confident, and Land Rover eventually borrowed a more reliable powertrain from another automaker, his BMW.

The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine underneath the top-of-the-line P530 Range Rover produces 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the entire Range Rover cabin space has been updated to make it feel even richer than before.

9/10 GMC Hummer EV

Choosing between the new Hummer EV and the BMW iX was a challenge we underestimated. The iX is great on its own, but the Hummer EV shocked us more than the ugly electric Beemer.

Despite its curb weight of 9,640 pounds, the GMC Hummer EV accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. How? It's caused by three electric motors producing 1,000 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. Besides, the Hummer is useful both on tarmac and on dirt roads thanks to his four-wheel steering system called Club Driving Mode. RELATED: 8 Past American Models Who Need a Comeback

8/10 Ferrari 296 GTB

When we first heard that Ferrari was officially ditching its petrol-only mid-engined sports cars, we feared the worst. Such drastic changes usually end in disaster. But not the Ferrari 296 GTB.

Somehow Ferrari managed to make the 296 GTB as lively and attractive as its predecessor. Powering the 296 is a turbocharged V6 that matches the plug-in hybrid system. All in all, the 296 GTB has his 819 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque at his disposal, and from a standstill he can hit 60 mph in under three seconds.

7/10 Maserati MC20

The Maserati MC20 had a big footprint in the iconic supercar, the MC12. The MC20 has half the cylinder count of his MC12, but still packs a decent punch and has the same innate drive as the old one.

Its lightweight rear-wheel drive setup only complemented its driving style. And with a mid-engined V6 twin-turbo engine producing 621 horsepower, you'll never run out of power in corners or straights. RELATED: Ranking the Best V6 Engines of All Time

6/10 BMW M240i

M-Light cars are usually just a guise to make it look like you own a real M car. But for the new M240i, it may have just gotten the M2 badge from the factory.

The M240i benefits from BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system, so it's not only capable of performing in all weather conditions, but it's also ridiculously fast in the straight line. 6 allows a small Bimmer to reach 60 mph from standstill in just 3.6 seconds.

5/10 Aston Martin DBX 707

The original Aston Martin DBX never overwhelmed us in any shape or size. However, that is not the case with the resurrected DBX 707. It features a retuned suspension set-up, a stiffer chassis, more aggressive styling and of course a stronger powertrain.

A 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged AMG Source V8 under the hood puts out a whopping 697 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to accelerate an Aston from 0 to 100 miles per hour in just 3.1 seconds. In fact, the Aston Martin DBX 707 is the most powerful petrol-only SUV you can buy today.

4/10 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06

Where I thought the C8 generation Corvette was the pinnacle of Chevrolet, I was surprised to see an even bigger Z06 model. The Z06 employs a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 that's good for 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

In the real world, this would allow a Corvette Z06 to go from rest to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Aside from the Z06's incredible performance numbers, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this supercar killer only costs him $110,000... RELATED: This Chevrolet Corvette L88 Rest Mod Is Sinful, But Breathtaking

3/10 Toyota GR Corolla

Putting a Borderline hypercar and a Japanese hot hatch on the same list seems almost disrespectful. But rest assured, this is no ordinary Corolla...

The GR Corolla is purpose-built for the track and features a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline 3 with up to 300 horsepower. Thanks to its all-wheel drive system, manual gearbox, clever power distribution modes and lightweight chassis, the GR Corolla is the ultimate track-ready hot hatch. Or maybe second... more on that later.

2/10 Mercedes AMG One

The Mercedes-AMG One is exactly what it aims to be and more. As its name suggests, its overall demeanor is heavily influenced by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. That's why we're showing a 1.6-liter V6 engine assisted by four electric motors and a full-fledged Drag Reduction System (DRS).

In total, the Mercedes-AMG One has 1063 horsepower at its disposal, along with an extraordinary amount of torque. No wonder it broke the production car record of 6:35.183 at the Nürburgring.

1/10 Honda Civic Type R

This year, the new FL5 Honda Civic Type R surprised us the most. Aside from the less noticeable exterior and updated interior, the new generation Type R has the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. -The cylinder engine that the previous Civic had... sort of.

The only difference is that the FL5 uses a redesigned turbocharger. The result is 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, 9 hp and 20 lb-ft more torque than the previous FK8. Best of all, the new FL5 Civic Type R retains the same boy racer persona we love in all of our other Type R cars and promises to be faster than all of its forefathers. All of this without ignoring core attributes. Source: caranddriver.com, mercedes-amg.com