The annual Test Fest took place in Niagara on the Lake and the results are in. How did your brand do this year?
When it comes to new vehicles, for both for consumers and dealers, the sheer number of available nameplates and their respective features can be overwhelming.
While tons of information is available online for potential shoppers, and dealers receive new model product training, sometimes it isn’t always enough to paint a true picture of a how a particular car, truck or SUV actually feels when you sit in it, performs on the road or how it’s features stand up against the competition.
That’s where organizations like the Automobile Journalists’ Association of Canada come in. Since 1981, AJAC has been in the business of providing Canadians with accurate, impartial information on the latest cars and trucks, courtesy of its members, which are professional automotive journalists and road testers.
Robert Staffieri (left) and Jack Sulymka of Kia Canada pose with the Optima LX and its 2012 CCOTY category award for best family car under $35,000.
Cars are properly put through their paces during the evaluation process, including stints on the AJAC test track. Here contenders in the best small car over $21,000 (Ford Focus) and best luxury car (Mercedes C-350 4Matic) get a workout during somewhat inclement weather conditions.
Canadian Car of the Year award
Besides providing regular reviews of new cars, trucks and SUVs, since 1985, AJAC has also administered a Canadian Car of the Year awards program, which has grown to become one of the most prestigious events of its kind. Simply put, vehicles that are new, or significantly altered for the latest model year (significant being major changes to the exterior, interior, chassis/frame or driveline) can be submitted by auto manufacturers for the CCOTY program, provided they are on sale by December 1st of the year they are introduced.
To provide relevant information to vehicle shoppers in particular segments and price brackets, the AJAC CCOTY committee breaks down the vehicle entry list into different categories.
Each of the contenders in each category (entries must be submitted by July 1st) is then brought together at AJAC’s annual Test Fest week each October, which takes place at the Niagara District Airport. Here, the vehicles are put through their paces on the street, test track and (where applicable off-road course) by a panel of AJAC member journalists (this year’s event saw 57 different cars, trucks and SUVs evaluated by some 70 scribes.
These journalists vote on each of the contenders and then at the end of the week, the votes are tallied and the winners in each category are announced.
The category victors then becoming nominees for the actual Canadian Car and Truck of the Year; the winners of which, are announced at the Canadian International Auto Show each February.
AJAC Car of the Year category winners are:
Best small car under $21,000
Hyundai AccentBest small car over $21,000
Hyundai ElantraBest family car under $30,000
Kia OptimaBest family car over $30,000
Kia Optima HybridBest luxury car
Mercedes-Benz C350 4-MATIC sedanBest sports/performance car under $50,000
Hyundai VelosterBest sports/performance car over $50,000
BMW 1-Series M CoupeBest SUV/CUV under $35,000
Dodge JourneyBest SUV/CUV $35,000-$60,000
Volkswagen Toureg TDIBest SUV/CUV over $60,000
BMW X3Best prestige car over $76,000
Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec 4Matic
