All the cars I want for Christmas

This year wasn't always an easy one, but it did at least bring some rather excellent cars, from workhorse mid-size sedans to supercars that redefined what fast feels like. With the holiday season upon us, we're in a retrospective mood. Of all the cars we drove this year, which were the hardest to hand back once the test drives were done?

Despite the hype storm surrounding electric and autonomous vehicles, our favourite new machines this year are all gasoline powered, with the exception of the prototype Jaguar.

The vehicles here range from $20,000 to more than $300,000 but every one of them nails the balance between ride and handling, price and performance, style and substance.

So: Santa, Rudolph – whoever's in charge – it'd be great if you could come through for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Festivus and all the other holidays around this time of year, and deliver some top-notch presents this time around.

Here are 12 cars we'd love to find under the tree, pole or, really, anywhere.

1. Dodge Demon

Kanye West's album 808s & Heartbreak was about his love for the Roland TR-808 drum machine, not the 808-horsepower Dodge Demon. But make no mistake – me, you, Kanye or anyone else could easily fall in love with this devilishly old-school American muscle car. It's the Roland TR-808 of cars: huge, powerful and capable of making great art. Call it "Two Black Lines of Burnt Rubber on Tarmac." Under the hood is a 6.2-litre supercharged V-8 that can launch the car over a quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. Yes, $109,995 is a lot of money for a Dodge, but it'll humble any Ferrari off the line.

2. Honda Accord

The new Civic Type R, Honda's hideous-but-fun hatchback, grabbed all the attention this year. To much less fanfare, Honda also rolled out an all-new Accord. This mid-size sedan gets taken for granted because it's always just been good. For the all-new model, Honda has given the trusty Accord a modicum of style with an on-trend fastback roofline. It also has a much better touch-screen infotainment screen – with a real volume knob! – and an impressive suite of standard-fit safety systems, including automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning. It's a wonderfully complete package.

3. Jaguar E-Type Zero

Neil Young did it. Arnold Schwarzenegger did it. Now Jaguar is doing it, too, turning gasoline cars into fully electric ones. Is this a whole new frontier for hot rodders? It just might be. The E-Type Zero is a one-off, hand-built by artisans at Jag's Classic Works in Coventry, England. The 1968 Roadster's straight-six engine was carefully taken out and replaced by a battery pack and electric motor. It'll do 0-100 kilometres an hour in 5.5 seconds, which is much faster than the original could muster. Purists will hate it, but they're on the wrong side of history; bring on the electric hot rods.

4. Subaru Crosstrek

It may not look it, but Subaru's trusty Crosstrek is all new. It's an odd thing, a 50-50 blend of hatchback and SUV. The key to its appeal is sheer versatility. For as little as $24,000, you get all-wheel drive, good cargo space and some rough-roading ability – all in a vehicle that feels just the right size. Only the sluggish 2.0-litre, 156-hp, four-cylinder engine lets it down. Come on, Subaru, how about a Crosstrek WRX STI, eh?

5. Kia Stinger

Or, if you're not a fan of the Kia's styling, the Genesis G70 would make an equally nice present. Both cars have quite a lot in common: a rear-biased all-wheel-drive chassis, 3.3-litre turbo V-6 engines and handling tuned by Albert Biermann, ex-engineering boss at BMW's M Division. These cars represent a major effort by the Korean brands to take a slice of the entry-level luxury market traditionally dominated by German sport sedans like the A4, 3 Series and C-Class. Our initial impressions of the Stinger and G70 were promising, but your ultimate approval will likely depend on how much of a badge snob you are.

6. Volvo XC40

Starting at just less than $40,000, this is the most affordable of Volvo's all-new models. Looking around the cabin, it doesn't feel as if it was built to a price point. The XC40 has the same clean, un-flashy Scandinavian style of the flagship XC90. Volvo hasn't fallen into the trap of trying to make all its cars sporty. It's a relaxing vehicle to drive, save for the occasionally annoying touch screen that can be sluggish. The XC40 comes standard with a class-leading list of active safety systems, but you'll want it primarily because it looks good inside and out. That's not something we could have said about old Volvos.

7. Audi RS3

Audi Sport, the in-house tuning department responsible for high-performance RS models, has for a long time existed in the shadow of Mercedes's AMG and BMW's M divisions. With the RS3, Audi Sport has put itself on a level playing field. This car is lively and fun to drive in a way that previous RS models never were, thanks to the fact it's available with wider tries on the front wheels. The five-cylinder, 400-hp turbocharged motor also helps. It's the least-expensive RS model, and also our favourite.

8. Mercedes-AMG Hammer

Most classic cars are a disappointment, but not AMG's Hammer. It's easy to see why this beast put AMG on the map. The styling is Mercedes at its Teutonic, 1980s best. AMG, then an independent tuning house, took a W124 E-Class and fitted new suspension, a 5.6- or 6.0-litre V-8 engine, and optional wide-body kit. The result is the archetypal German muscle car: comfortable, luxurious and fast with a bass-heavy soundtrack. In its day, it was quicker than a Lamborghini Countach.

9. Alfa Romeo Alfasud

The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV will undoubtedly be a popular model for the company in Canada. But, sorry, there's something sacrilegious about an Alfa sport utility vehicle. The antidote – provided you're handy with a socket set – is the classic Alfasud, built in the seventies and eighties. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, there's not a bad angle on this compact hatchback. It's the least practical car here, and finding a good clean example will be nigh impossible, but this is a wish list.

10. BMW M5

BMW's go-faster division has been a little uneven lately. The M2 is great, but the M3/4 are harder to get along with. The old M5 lost some of the magic that made the earlier ones brilliant. So it was with great trepidation and high expectations that we went to drive the all-new M5 a few weeks ago. To our relief, the new M5 is a hoot. Far from making the M5 dull, all-wheel drive has actually improved the handling. All 600 hp are precisely controlled in a way that will flatter any driver. At $113,000, the price tag is painful, but if you could only put one car in your fantasy garage, this would be on the short list.

11. Ford Fiesta ST

Outside of gearhead circles, the little Fiesta ST has lived its entire life in obscurity. That's a shame, because it's a firecracker of a car, and this is likely your last chance to get a new one. With a new European-spec Fiesta already unveiled, the old version still on sale in Canada is unlikely to last much longer. Think of the Fiesta ST as a supercar for the real world. You've got to work the six-speed manual to get the most from the 1.6-litre turbocharged motor. The chassis is lively, but not uncomfortable. With only 197 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque, you can drive it everywhere like you stole it. Get one while you can.

12. McLaren 720S

There was a bumper-cop of eye-popping automotive exotica this year. Aston Martin's DB11 with an AMG V-8 engine under the hood is a match made in gearhead heaven. Lamborghini's Huracan Performante, with its ingenious aerodynamics that glue it to the road, is a surreal experience. The McLaren 720S, though, is the one I can't stop thinking about. Being in it is like sitting in a rocket-propelled birdcage made of glass and carbon fibre. It's quicker than its 710 horsepower would suggest, capable of 0-200 km/h in 7.8 seconds. The McLaren is raw, engaging, and not especially easy to drive fast. It's a rare, old-school supercar with edge.

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