As 2023 comes to a close, we revisit the news stories which our readers clicked on the most.
Another year has flown by, filled with news stories that shape our present and our future.
We’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 news stories you clicked on throughout 2023 – and interestingly, it seems to be a veritable mash-up of the conversations that dominated the zeitgeist over the past 12 months.
While an upcoming SUV topped the headlines – proving Australia’s love for big off-road vehicles – there was also plenty of interest in new-car delays, electric vehicle trends and prices, and new-car safety.
Rounding out the list was some true crime, including what many perceived to be hypocrisy by police, following a social media video showing a Highway Patrol car driving around on bald tyres.
This list represents the most clicked-on news stories of 2023, but is there another story that sticks out in your mind? It may be your favourite, your most hated, or one that you simply found interesting. Share yours in the comments section below.
10. Victoria Police uncover $2 million HSV rebirthing operation
It was a multi-million dollar vehicle rebirthing ring operating in Melbourne, involving a police investigation lasting months.
Despite 30 Holdens and HSVs being stolen across the city, police at the time were only able to recover 11 – but it was a story that proved buyers still have to keep their wits about them, even when buying a modern car today.
READ: Victoria Police uncover $2 million HSV rebirthing operation
9. Video: Police Highway Patrol car rolling on bald tyres
While not the first time a police car was found to have bald tyres, the emergence of a social media video with a driver challenging Highway Patrol officers on the roadworthiness of their car certainly caused a stir.
It was an embarrassing gaff for Victoria Police, discovered while officers were in the process of defecting a car for being too low.
Unsurprisingly, our comments section blew up, with many of you pointing out the double standards of the situation. Thankfully, Victoria Police advised Drive the tyres had been replaced following the incident.
READ: Police Highway Patrol car rolling on bald tyres
8. World’s third-largest smartphone maker to start building cars
If given an ultimatum, many people would have a hard time deciding whether to give up their smartphone or their car, which is why it should be no surprise that our readers were very interested in this story.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s first foray into the world of electric cars was revealed following leaked images of the SU7, sparking plenty of interest from our readers – both in Australia and overseas.
READ: World’s third-largest smartphone maker to start building cars
FULL DETAILS ON THE CAR: World’s third-largest smartphone maker unveils its first car
7. Tesla drops prices in Australia: Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV trimmed
It was early January 2023 when Tesla introduced price cuts for its electric cars sold in Australia – the first round, with more to come in the following months.
Discounts of up to $3400 helped spur a new wave of orders for the car company, resulting in a big year for Tesla locally – and despite promises of a new, facelifted Model 3 on the horizon.
READ: Tesla drops prices in Australia: Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV trimmed
6. 2023 New Car Calendar for Australia
Always one of our most popular news stories of the year – thanks to the hard work of our man Alex Misoyannis.
One could easily assume the New Car Calendar is nothing more than a list of dates that have been copied and pasted from an industry calendar – but in fact, every single vehicle is chased up individually with the manufacturer to provide you with one of the industry’s most reliable sources of information.
READ: 2023 New Car Calendar for Australia
5. Bubble-wrapped Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series for sale with eye-watering price
A Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series being treated as if it were supercar royalty, and with a price tag to match?
This news article made the Top Five for the year, as our readers clicked and shared – mostly out of the absurdity that an ageing farm ute could have gotten to the point that it garnered so much respect and desire.
READ: Bubble-wrapped Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series for sale with eye-watering price
4. The new cars stripped of five-star safety ratings from today
This year saw the introduction of new safety ratings, as well as the expiration of safety rating which no longer reflect the current test standards.
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) imposed six-year expiry dates, which put an end to car companies advertising safety rating which may have been more than a decade old.
The change caused a stir among fleet managers, with many government and private organisations mandating minimum safety ratings as part of their vehicle-purchasing policies.
READ: The new cars stripped of five-star safety ratings from today
3. Study finds up to half of all electric-car owners considering a switch back to petrol power
Despite coming in third, this controversial study prompted the most number of comments and shares of all news articles in our Top 10 list.
The study, conducted by S&P Global Mobility – a division of the globally respected research and analyst company Standard & Poor’s – claimed that half of all electric-car owners were considering switching back to petrol or diesel when they purchase their next vehicle… with the exception being Tesla owners.
READ: Study finds up to half of all electric-car owners considering a switch back to petrol power
2. Total ship show: Quarantine crisis deepens, 60,000 new cars stuck at sea and ports
New-car delays continued in 2023 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by biosecurity concerns and bottlenecks at ports.
For the first time in Australia, 60,000 vehicles had been caught in a traffic jam as they waited to clear customs on their way to showrooms.
Some car companies even took to chartering their own ships to ensure any biosecurity concerns from rival brands didn’t affect their own vehicles.
The good news is the logjams have now eased for the most part – with some exceptions – but the bad news is we’re heading into the season which is known to bring biosecurity risks onto our shores.
READ: Total ship show: Quarantine crisis deepens, 60,000 new cars stuck at sea and ports
1. 2024 Toyota Prado unveiled, due in Australia mid next year
Your number one article for 2023 was about the next-generation Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
It’s been approximately 15 years since the current-generation Prado was introduced, and this article proved Australians’ love for the four-wheel-drive hasn’t diminished, with significant interest as the model was unveiled overseas.
It’s expected the all-new Prado will arrive in Australia in mid 2024, and you can read all about it by clicking the link below.
READ: 2024 Toyota Prado unveiled, due in Australia mid next year
The post Top 10: Most read news stories of 2023 appeared first on Drive.
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