Add CategoryTen cars. Two Days. One winner. It seems simple and easy but, when you have the very best of the year’s new cars, things are never going to be easy.
Each car is judged on the things that matter to new-car buyers. That includes standard safety equipment, connectivity, cabin space and practicality, value for money, comfort, fuel economy and performance.
Judges will also take into account the ownership experience, from length of warranty coverage to cost of servicing and resale value.
That’s why cars as varied as the Kia Sorento, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen Golf have claimed COTY in recent years.
The field for this year is as varied as ever but there is something very different from every other year since the first award in 1997.
There is no Ford or Holden.
The end of local production means no Falcon or Commodore but it also means both brands are struggling to make an impact with their imported cars (save Ford’s Ranger). Longstanding Japanese heavy hitters Mitsubishi and Nissan missed out on a finalist.
In a sign of the changing global balance of power, three Koreans made the list, while only two Europeans were represented.
“There are a lot more than 10 potential winners this year. Deciding the final contenders was a huge challenge,†says motoring editor Richard Blackburn.
The list of near misses includes the Volkswagen Arteon, Subaru XV, Hyundai Kona, Volvo XC60 and BMW X3.
Volkswagen is pitching the Arteon as a true prestige car and a potential rival to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — but does anyone shopping for a luxury car dream of a VW?
The Kona and XV are neat little SUVs but neither can match the value of the small cars that donate their mechanical platforms — the Hyundai i30 and Subaru Impreza.
The Volvo XC60 is good but not completely great, while the X3 at $68,900 doesn’t match the value of its cheaper Audi rival, the Q5.
We’ve driven the new Toyota Camry overseas but we’re reserving judgment until next week’s local launch. If it impresses, the field will swell to 11. There is no clear favourite but this is the way they face the starter:
KIA PICANTO S
from $15,690 drive-away
The South Korean tiddler is rock-solid proof that little cars can do a lot. It’s superbly equipped with everything from auto emergency braking and reversing camera to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is always a drive-away deal available and it's a good car to drive. Downsides include a four-star ANCAP score and an auto that’s short a couple of cogs.
SUZUKI SWIFT GLX
from $22,990 drive-away
The Swift has a rock-solid reputation in Australia, earned over more than 30 years. The car slumped a little during the global financial crisis but is now back to its best with a completely new platform and bolder styling. The GLX version adds safety technology usually reserved for more expensive cars and the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine is surprisingly zippy.
HYUNDAI i30 Active,
from $24,990 drive-away
It’s an evolution, not a revolution, though the renewal of Australia’s favourite South Korean car comes with bonuses in quality, comfort, refinement and safety. The Bluetooth is fixed and alloys are standard on all five grades. The only disappointment is the abundance of hard plastics in the interior.
SUBARU IMPREZA2.0i-L
from about $28,180 drive-away
Subaru spent more than $1 billion on the new platform that pays off in every way for a born-again Impreza. The car is back to its best with a quiet, classy cabin that’s got more room and a chassis that feels solid as a rock. Add to that an impressive array of driver aids and it looks a contender, although the engine and transmission combination is a bit dozy.
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
from about $56,700 drive-away
If you can get past the cartoonish bodywork, the first turbocharged Type R is a ripper little beastie. It’s quick, responsive, surprisingly compliant on tough roads and a car to enjoy driving at all times. It only comes as a six-speeed manual, it’s not cheap but it’s a welcome return to Honda’s sporty values.
KIA STINGER
from about $61,000 drive-away
More important than just an alternative for the outgoing Holden Commodore, it really shows what South Korean brands can do. Five adults fit in the hatchback body, there is old-school rear-wheel drive and even a 3.3-litre turbo V6 sports model, making a strong case for Aussie families.
HONDA CR-V
from about $33,590 drive-away
Fully grown into a real family car, with a seven-seat option, the latest CR-V picks up all the improvements in materials and comfort of recent Hondas including the Civic and Odyssey. Comes with a downsized 1.4-litre turbo and Honda’s latest five-year warranty.
MAZDA CX-5 Maxx
from about $34,500
There was nothing wrong with the benchmark in its class, which has also been Australia’s favourite SUV for four years, but Mazda stepped things up in every area with the 2017 model including rear air vents, LED headlamps and improved seats and safety.
SKODA KODIAQ 132 TSI
from about $46,290
A Skoda badge means solid value and a five-year warranty but it’s easier to think of the Kodiaq as a seven-seater VW Tiguan. It’s big and comfy, well equipped and fitted with a choice of petrol and diesel turbo engines with all-wheel drive as standard.
AUDI Q5 2.0 TDI
from about $72,400 drive-away
The good looking new Q5 is elegant and refined, as well as safe and luxurious, making it a benchmark in its class. It’s not cheap but has all-wheel drive and auto safety braking with pedestrian detection. If only the brilliant “virtual cockpit†instrument display was standard.