My Top 5 Matchbox Mainline Models of 2024

It’s finally the best time of the year!  No, not Christmas – it’s the Diecastleno Top 5 season!  At the end of every year, I round up my favorite diecast models from each of the major product lines and organize them into an algorithm-pleasing numbered list.  This year, I’m kicking things off with the Matchbox mainline. 

First, the rules: in order to be eligible for this list, a model needs to be a new casting that I have in my possession.  Let’s jump right in! 

2022 Infiniti QX80

Infiniti as a brand may be on life support, but that didn’t stop Matchbox from making an excellent diecast version of the QX80!  This casting surprised me, as the QX80 doesn’t really seem like the kind of car I would expect to be one of my favorite models of the year, but Matchbox’s always-excellent SUV proportions and generous detailing make this Infiniti worthy of a spot in my collection.  The grille is a highlight, with a mesh that you can feel when you run your finger over it and a big Infiniti logo in the center.  

I have to also tip my hat to the Matchbox team for the texture on the rear bumper – it looks so cool!  The gray paint looks nice, though I find the “QX80” and “AWD” badges get lost in it, and the caramel brown interior adds a luxury feel to this SUV.  Like a lot of Matchbox’s recent SUVs, I worry that future recolors may become pegwarmers, as there’s definitely a limit to the number of QX80s I need in my collection.  I do need this gray version though, and I’m glad to have it. 

Porsche Macan

Just like that, I’m already bending my own rules.  This Porsche Macan casting technically debuted last year as a super chase, but since that model wasn’t widely available I’m counting 2024 as this casting’s first “real” release.  That’s probably for the best, because I think this orange version looks far better than the theoretically-more-desirable super chase version.  Orange is a daring but not too outlandish color choice for the Macan, and it really helps show off the lines of this new casting.  I’m quite impressed by how well Matchbox has managed to differentiate this casting from the Cayenne – it feels meaningfully smaller and the overall proportions are much more car-like.  This casting relies a lot on printed detailing, with little texture on the front of the casting and none on the rear.  That’s too bad, but at least it gets the printed detailing it needs, and those details look good. 

This lightbar really stood out to me, especially the distinctive quad-LED pattern that screams “Porsche”.  Unfortunately, I’m less of a fan of these exhaust tips that seem to just melt into the rest of the rear bumper.  The same is true for the rear doors, which inexplicably don’t have door jambs along the bottom of the door…apparently (in traditional Porsche style) rear door jambs are an optional extra. 

2022 Jeep Wagoneer 

When this Wagoneer was first previewed at the Gathering in 2023, it was one of my favorite prototypes.  I’m happy to report that all the great features of that 3D printed prototype made it into the production version.  That iconic Jeep grille is incredibly well detailed with a mesh texture and perfectly aligned printed detailing, the headlights and foglights look excellent, and the Wagoneer script on the hood looks crisp and classy.  In a world where some Mattel models don’t even get side mirrors, these massive SUV-worthy side mirrors are a breath of fresh air.  

I love the boxy side profile of this model – it looks tough and classy at the same time.  These also have to be some of the best door handles I’ve seen on a Matchbox model in a while…little things like that are what make a model great. 

Matchbox has gotten very good at wrapping their lighting around onto the sides of their models, and they were certainly using that prowess on this Wagoneer.  It makes the model feel more detailed than it is, though I would still have appreciated a rear license plate. 

2021 VW Golf GTE 

Choosing between my top two models this year was very difficult, but I demoted this new Golf GTE to second place for one reason: the notch in the hood.  This wasn’t an error in my specific example, it is widespread across every Golf GTE I’ve seen online, and it drives me crazy!  It’s such a shame because this is otherwise such a great casting. 

I did a full feature on this model, so go read that for my full thoughts, but I am so happy to finally have a successor to the Mk5 GTI in the Matchbox lineup!  The proportions and detailing are both perfect, and since the styling of the GTI and GTE are nearly identical, I’m choosing to pretend this is a Mk8 GTI.  I really hope they can fix that notch in the hood for the recolor, because this is a stunner of a casting that I can’t wait to see more of. 

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

It’s about time, right?  After at least 23(!) releases, the old 996 Carrera Cabriolet casting was finally updated, and my word is it ever good!  The proportions of this casting are perfect, with a low front end and a tall rear deck that makes this casting truly look rear engined.  The headlights and DRLs are detailed, and there’s even a radar cruise control sensor! 

The detailing gets even better around back, where we get a black mesh grille bisected by the 992’s distinctive third brake light, a lightbar that wraps impossibly far onto the sides of the casting, and color-contrasting exhaust tips!  What more could I ask for? 

A great interior, of course!  This model displays none of the interior-cheapening that we’ve seen across the Matchbox range in recent years, and it’s a glorious breath of fresh air. 

There’s plenty more I could say about this excellent convertible 911, but it’s probably easier if you just go check out my full blog post on it.  I love this casting, and I think it’s a brilliant example of how to make a mainline model within the budget constraints of the modern Matchbox lineup.  Bravo! 

The Elephant In The Room

Some of you are probably surprised not to see the Mk5 Toyota Supra on this list (and no, it’s not because I don’t have it in my possession).  It’s exactly the kind of car you might expect me to like: a modern performance car in a factory deco…yet I found myself feeling oddly disappointed by it.  It’s not a bad casting by any means, but I think the wheels are too big, I dislike the white and gold debut color combo, and something looks just a little bit off with the front bumper, though I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is.  I’m excited to see what the future of this casting is, and I’m hopeful that a better color combo and perhaps some different wheels will help change my opinion on it, but I didn’t feel like the current release deserved a spot in my top 5. 

In both my 2023 and 2022 top 5 posts, I expressed my belief that we’re in a golden era of Matchbox releases, and there’s no doubt that 2024 was another great year.  However, I am beginning to worry about the proliferation of EV crossovers in the lineup, as they always seem to be the pegwarmers in any given case.  Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a Speed Trapper situation, but it is something that I think the Matchbox team should keep an eye on going forward.  I think those cars have a place in the Matchbox lineup – “regular traffic” has always been a halmark of the orange brand – but the recolors may need to be spaced out a bit more to better match demand.  Maybe swap out the next VW ID.4 recolor for a recolor of that new 911 Cabriolet!  

Here’s hoping the 2025 lineup is even better – if the sneaks we’ve seen so far are any indication, we’re in for a treat!