There is no perfect car.

There are, however, perfect cars for certain situations—SUVs for rolling with friends, convertibles for sunny days, town cars for drivers to take you to meetings.

The trick is knowing which model in a given segment and price range is best suited to what you need. Every year it changes, too. Some models get upgraded and refreshed, others fall behind as their maker focuses on new endeavors.

This year we saw plenty of both. Tesla gave us “Ludicrous Mode” on its latest Model S sedan, and Ferrari gave us new turbocharging technology on its 488 stunner; Cadillac replaced the SRX SUV line with the forthcoming XT5, and BMW dropped the “long wheelbase” distinction on its biggest 7-Series sedans.

So in the spirit of “New Year, New You” here are the cars that bested their competitors in a given segment—the ones that deserve your precious time and hard-earned cash. 

Best Serious Sedan: BMW 750i xDrive

The 750i comes with a massive V8 engine that pulls 445 horsepower and will hit 60mph in 4.3 seconds. It has multiple drive modes that adapt automatically to your driving style and an 8-speed automatic transmission built on all-wheel-drive. That’s all great. But it's the up-front tech (self-parking system, gesture-driven technology) and in-back features that matter most, like the enormous panoramic sunroof spanning from the front to the rear two executive seats, both of which massage and one of which can fully recline (there's even a custom scent selector). BMW’s biggest sedan feels as posh and businesslike as a Lear-jet in the back and drives as light and nimble. There is nothing on the town car market today with the same supreme engineering and understated dignity.

Best Sport Coupe: BMW M2

BMW introduced the 2-Series last year as a way to upgrade everyone from the 1-Series and compete more directly with the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C350 coupes. The efficient and affordable M235i costs less than $50,000 even with upgrades like Harman-Kardon sound, park assist cameras, and heated seats. What’s more, its eight-speed turbocharged inline six engine packs 320hp and gets to 60mph in four and a half seconds. Moral of the story? It’s small, tight, and powerful, like a punch from a welterweight. Once you hit the gas, you’re not going to want to get out.

Best "Impractical" Coupe: Mercedes AMG GT

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