AJAC reveals Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year finalists

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced six potential winners for the 2018 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year, with Mazda leading the way in three categories, according to a CIAS news release.

The three car finalists are: the Honda Accord for Best Large Car, the Mazda 3 for Best Small Car, and the Volvo S90/V90 for Best Large Premium Car.

For the utility vehicles, the finalists include the Chrysler Pacifica (Best Minivan), Mazda CX-5 (Best Small Utility Vehicle), and Mazda CX-9 (Best Large Utility Vehicle).

“This year, voting was expanded to include all new vehicles available to Canadian buyers, not just those vehicles new to the market,” according to the CIAS news report. “For the first time, nearly 100 of AJAC’s voting journalists were able to directly score vehicles against their competition, whether they were all-new for 2018 or returning popular models.”

As a result nearly 3,000 ballots were cast on 182 vehicles, and from there 14 vehicles were selected as the best in their respective segments. Another round of voting reduced the category winners to six — three of which are Mazda vehicles.

“This marquee event is more relevant than ever as breakthroughs in product design and technology are pushing the auto industry to new levels of sophistication,” said Tammy Brown, National Industry Leader, Industrial Markets, KPMG in Canada.

KPMG in Canada is a provider of audit, tax and advisory services, and a supporter of the Toronto-based Canadian International Autoshow as a Media Day sponsor. The show also coincides with KPMG’s 2018 Global Automotive Executive Survey, an annual “go-to report on the current state and future prospects of the industry as it adapts and aligns to shifting consumer preferences and technological change,” said Peter Hatges, National Sector Leader, Automotive, KPMG in Canada.

The winners of the 2018 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year will be revealed at the CIAS at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 15. during Media Day. So far, only the auditing firm of KPMG is aware of the results.

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