From hatchback to SUV, we pick ten cars that tick all the right boxes at year’s Singapore Motor Show 2016

SINGAPORE — We’re seeing stars, we mean cars, and lots of them. Held on levels three and four of Suntec’s Exhibition Centre, welcome to the Singapore Motor Show 2016, our country’s biggest automotive event, which is now on!

While level three is filled with car accessories and other car-related stuff, the entire fourth floor is dedicated to things that go vroom vroom.

Running from January 14 to 17, the event sees 22 car brands exhibiting, and more than a hundred vehicles on display (please refer to our master list here), making this year’s motor show the biggest one yet.

Scouring the halls of Level 4 to uncover the best of this year’s offerings, the CarBuyer team was spoiled for choice, selecting these 10 cars weren’t easy — but here they all are, listed in alphabetical order.

*Prices shown are valid for the show only and subject to change according to the distributors.

BMW 216d
Booth 102

Overshadowed by the hype surrounding the new 7, this fuel-efficient seven-seater deserves a spot on our list for its practicality and styling. The 216d Active Tourer has 116hp, 270Nm of torque, a top speed of 195km, and a combined fuel consumption of 4.2L/100km. It is currently priced at $140,800 with COE.

Honda Legend
Booth 129

The new Legend uses the same cutting-edge powertrain components found in the exotic NSX: a 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to a seven-speed twin clutch auto, and three electric motors, two of which power the rear wheels. At $361,999 with COE it’s expensive for sure, but it’s a high performance Honda with 380bhp…

Kia Optima
Booth 109

The all new Optima is Kia’s biggest flagship saloon here in Singapore. It is longer and wider than its predecessor which means more legroom for both the driver and passenger, uses 51 per cent more high strength steel for increased rigidity, and has a smart trunk that automatically opens when it detects the key. Priced from $121,999 with COE at the show.

Lexus GS F
Booth 110

The GS gets the ‘F’ treatment with a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine and sporty body-kitting. Other ‘F’ enhancements include Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) for improved stability when handling tight corners at high speeds, and a Brembo high performance brake system which uses a total of 10 pistons (six in the front and four at the back) for better braking power. Priced from $460,000 with COE.

Mazda 2
Booth 127

The four-door sedan version of the Mazda 2 follows the Kodo design philosophy closely, with a sloping tail giving it the appearance of an extended hatch. It has an impressive boot capacity of 440-litres, thanks to its extended body. The wheelbase however remains the same as its five-door hatchback sibling which is just as roomy. Priced from only $89k with COE.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Booth 108

This snazzy-looking hatchback gets a mild facelift with new tail lamps and a redesigned rear bumper. This is the luxury carmaker’s most affordable compact car, and the best choice for someone looking to own their first three-point star. At the show was a loud, proud metallic green version of the high-performance AMG model, the A 45. Priced from $276,000 with COE for the AMG model.

Nissan Pulsar
Booth 115

The new Nissan Pulsar uses the same 1.2-litre turbocharged engine as the Qashqai, and incorporates advanced safety features like lane departure warning system, blind spot warning system and a 360-degree camera.

Suzuki Vitara
Booth 111

Priced from $107,900 with COE, the new Suzuki Vitara is slightly smaller than the previous model, and is aimed at customers who are considering a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) as their first car. Now more compact and refined, the Vitara has a 1.6-litre, 118bhp, 156Nm of torque, six-speed auto drivetrain, and Ann Kok as ambassador. Although the latter is obviously not a standard feature.

Toyota Corolla Altis Sport
Booth 112

This limited edition variant of the ubiquitous Corolla Altis is a good start for any young budding car enthusiast. To make it look peppier, this version comes with sleeker side skirts, an aerodynamic front and a rear bumper spoiler.  Priced from $104,888 with COE.

Toyota RAV4
Booth 112

The facelifted RAV4 debuts with LED headlamps and daytime running lights, power back door with memory function, keyless start/stop, seven airbags, and a host of safety features including anti-lock braking system, stability control, and a reverse camera. Priced from $157,888 with COE.