30 of the best buys in town

The Straits Times features models across six categories that are worth looking at

- Lee Nian Tjoe

Consider the hatchback the bookends in one's motoring life from an inexperienced driver to an older person whose reflexes may not be as sharp as they used to be.

Even those who are between these two extreme points can appreciate the hatchback for its cabin flexibility, especially when it comes to the ease of loading bulkier items into the cargo area. Dropping a large piece of luggage into a car with an open hatch is easier than trying to slot it through the aperture of a saloon's boot.

Cars come in all shapes and sizes. They can be low-slung or they can be tall. They can also be big or small, or have two, five or eight seats. Some are bought for their function or performance, while others are appreciated for the way they make the driver – or passengers – feel.

While car companies report that demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is cooling abroad, consumers in Singapore cannot get enough of them. Industry insiders expect 2024 to end with around one-third of all new-car registrations being EVs, up from 18.1 per cent in 2023.

There are also more electric options than ever in 2024. In some segments, credible EV options are outnumbering cars with internal combustion engines.