We’re well and truly into the festive season now, and it’s about time to wrap up the last bits of Christmas shopping (or, for those less organised among us, start it).
Every year though, there seem to be more and more presents to buy — and somehow, you’ve got to get them to your recipient. Playing Father Christmas this year? These are the cars you should be looking towards for your sleigh…
Audi RS6
Fast and practical are two attributes every good sleigh needs — and nothing brings these two qualities together better than the Audi RS6.
With a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet, it’s got the go for quick deliveries and can make plenty of them too thanks to a 565-litre boot. Oh, and you can get it in red for the full Father Christmas effect.
BMW 5 Series Touring
There are few cars quite as good at load-lugging in absolute comfort as the BMW 5 Series Touring. It’s spacious, comes with a range of engines and packs one of the biggest boots in the business.
It’s also got a feature which you won’t see included on many cars on sale today – a split glass tailgate. It means that you can access the boot without having to open the whole hatch; it’s a feature you’ll use a lot more than you’d expect.
Toyota Land Cruiser Utility Commercial
Need to deliver presents here, there and everywhere? You’ll need a Toyota Land Cruiser Utility Commercial, then. It’ll tackle any type of terrain, and its lack of rear seats mean that there’s loads of room for all manner of gifts – you could fit a few brand new bicycles in the back of this one.
It’s also relatively rough-and-ready, which means it’ll stand up to any type of abuse over the festive period. A sludgy farm track? This car won’t even miss a beat.
Mercedes S Class
In contrast, there’s the luxurious Mercedes S-Class. Though it’s arguably one of the best cars to be driven in, the S-Class is also great for whoever is behind the wheel too. It’s also got a decent sized boot, and it’s nearly the length of Santa’s sleigh too. All it needs is reins and some reindeer out front and it’d be close to the real thing.
You can also get a range-topping S63 version packing Mercedes’ powerful 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, making those last-minute dashes to deliver presents even quicker.
Ford Ranger Raptor
If you’ve got to cover some difficult terrain at a pace with your drop-offs this Christmas, look toward the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Designed for taking on even the most treacherous of turf, this tarted-up truck gets more ground clearance, chunkier BF Goodrich tyres and more capable suspension. Plus, with a respectable 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel outputting 210bhp and 500Nm of torque, it can do it at a good rate of knots.
Tesla Model S
What’s better than one boot when carrying tons of presents? Two, of course — and that’s exactly what the Tesla Model S has.
With its batteries stored on the floor of the car, that extra space in the bonnet can come in handy when playing eco-friendly Father Christmas this year. Plus with up to 334 miles of range between charges, you’ll be able to quietly cover even the longest of drop-off runs.
Volkswagen Up! GTI
For the urban-based, last-minute delivery runs, you’re going to need some agile enough to navigate tight city streets but also quick enough to get the presents under the tree in time.
Step in the Volkswagen Up! GTI. Taking the German city car’s proven capabilities and adds a spritely 108bhp engine — giving it go-kart like credentials. Okay, so you’re going to struggle on larger presents, but those stocking fillers won’t be a problem.
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
If Father Christmas has a dream car, we suspect it’d be a Rosso Corsa Ferrari GTC4 Lusso. This genuine Italian stallion not only boasts a screaming V12 under its long bonnet, but also four-wheel drive and a decent sized boot thanks to its shooting-brake bodystyle — making it a capable delivery machine too.
Perhaps the only thing holding him back is just how loud it is. He knows you won’t be sleeping after pulling up in it…