Koreans, Germans clean up at AJAC awards
After four days of back-to-back testing and evaluation, the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada revealed its list of winners Friday.
Of the 11 awards handed out by AJAC, 10 went to models from South Korea and Germany. Not a single Japanese model won and the Dodge Journey was the only domestic to top a single category.
Hyundai had triple wins while Kia, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all took home two awards respectively.
The group will announce its 2012 car of the year and utility vehicle of the year winners on Feb. 16, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. Though there is little doubt that the Kia Optima, which took home two awards (Best New Family Car under $30,000 and Best New Family Car over $30,000) won’t win car of the year.
And the winners are…
Best New Small Car (under $21k): Hyundai Accent
Second: Kia Rio 5
Third: Honda Civic Sedan
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Chevrolet Sonic Sedan
Fiat 500
Nissan Versa Sedan
Scion iQ
Best New Small Car (over $21,000): Hyundai Elantra
Second: Ford Focus
Third: Subaru Impreza
Others: Volkswagen Beetle
Best New Family Car (under $30,000): Kia Optima
Second: Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesel
Third: Toyota Camry
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Chevrolet Orlando
Chrysler 200
Mazda5
Best New Family Car (over $30,000): Kia Optima Hybrid
Second: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Third: Chevrolet Volt
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Dodge Charger
MINI Countryman
Toyota Prius V
Best New Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class C350 4MATIC Sedan
Second: Chrysler 300C
Third: Acura TL
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Buick LaCrosse eAssist
Infiniti M35h
Lexus CT 200h
Best New Sports / Performance Car (under $50,000): Hyundai Veloster
Second: Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Third: Kia Optima SX
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Buick Regal GS
Dodge Charger SRT8
Honda Civic Si Coupe
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe
Best New Sports / Performance Car (over $50,000): BMW 1 Series M Coupe
Second: Porsche Cayman R
Third: Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class C63 AMG
Others(in ALPHABETICAL order):
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Chrysler 300C SRT8
Hyundai Genesis R-Spec
Best New Prestige Car (over $75,000): Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC
Second: BMW 6 Series Cabriolet
Third: Jaguar XKR-S
Best New SUV - CUV (under $35,000): Dodge Journey
Second: Jeep Compass
Third: Jeep Wrangler
Best New SUV - CUV ($35,000 - $60,000): Volkswagen Touareg TDI
Second: Range Rover Evoque
Third: BMW X1
Others (in ALPHABETICAL order):
Dodge Durango
Ford Explorer
Best New SUV - CUV (over $60,000): BMW X3
Second: Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Third: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
