2021 Wheels Car of the Year

[DFB FGXR6]

I feel like new cars released over the last 12 months in Australia have been pretty unimpressive. I have to say the CX-30 is a pretty good car but not especially innovative or outstanding to be a clear winner this year.

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/c...els_newsletter

[Adamz Ghia]

I didn’t know this was still a thing!

[Wretched]

Looking at the other contenders i can see why it won. Didn't specialise in one area but did all areas well. As a CX5 and 3 (2 generations old) owner I can say that Mazda seems to be a solid performer, reliable good style and functional.
I am really keen to see how they progress the Skyactiv-X engines.
Well done Mazda.

[tasdex]

Would have to be good to make up for the recalls on the Mazda ranges the last few years .

Don’t believe in “ the car of the year “
If they were that good , journo’s that crowned it would buy the bloody things .

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by tasdex

Would have to be good to make up for the recalls on the Mazda ranges the last few years .

Don’t believe in “ the car of the year “
If they were that good , journo’s that crowned it would buy the bloody things .

I'm amused by peoples attitudes towards recalls, don't you understand they are for the better.
some of these are for minor defects that previously would have been ignored.

and it gets fixed for free.

[Cav]

Car of the year?

That would be the one with the most sales, wouldn't it?



But I think the Corolla should be the car of the year, not that I'd buy one of course.

[Citroënbender]

I thought your choice would be the caramel mudcake, served with a side of perfectly ripe seat cover.

[nstg8a]

Just have to look at past winners to see it means nothing.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Just have to look at past winners to see it means nothing.

Didn’t hear anyone saying that in 2002 (BA Falcon) or 2004 (Territory)

Disclaimer: I guessed the years and may have that wrong by a year, but they were winners for Ford

This Mazda will be a decent thing, as was last year Volvo XC40.

The Wheels COTY has pretty good evaluation criteria.




.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Didn’t hear anyone saying that in 2002 (BA Falcon) or 2004 (Territory)

Disclaimer: I guessed the years and may have that wrong by a year, but they were winners for Ford

This Mazda will be a decent thing, as was last year Volvo XC40.

The Wheels COTY has pretty good evaluation criteria.




.

Pretty sure history has shown the ba and Terri, especially those early ones to have more than their fair share of lemon type issues.

So, my comment stands, winning it means little.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Pretty sure history has shown the ba and Terri, especially those early ones to have more than their fair share of lemon type issues.

So, my comment stands, winning it means little.

Not to mention it was a gas guzzling slug with the Barra and the archaic tall geared four speed auto.
Two vehicles in that segment had already set a benchmark, the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90. Both had with diesels averaging nearly half of the Territory in the real world.
It might be easy to say in hindsight but the writing was on the wall as to what fuel will become default choice the segment.
Still, the Territory was probably more deserving than the VN, VR and VT.

Cadogan has ripped into Wheels. I hate it when I agree with him, although our reasoning is probably different. He’s butt hurt they didn’t pick a Kia.
Cadogan should go and use those untouched tools he has on show in the back ground.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Not to mention it was a gas guzzling slug with the Barra and the archaic tall geared four speed auto.
Two vehicles in that segment had already set a benchmark, the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90. Both had with diesels averaging nearly half of the Territory in the real world.
It might be easy to say in hindsight but the writing was on the wall as to what fuel will become default choice the segment.
Still, the Territory was probably more deserving than the VN, VR and VT.

Cadogan has ripped into Wheels. I hate it when I agree with him, although our reasoning is probably different. He’s butt hurt they didn’t pick a Kia.
Cadogan should go and use those untouched tools he has on show in the back ground.

The only tool he touches is between his legs, though he does have the odd good point.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Didn’t hear anyone saying that in 2002 (BA Falcon) or 2004 (Territory)

Disclaimer: I guessed the years and may have that wrong by a year, but they were winners for Ford

This Mazda will be a decent thing, as was last year Volvo XC40.

The Wheels COTY has pretty good evaluation criteria.




.

While they build quality issues I think the jump in productions rates wasn't matched by QC and vehicles shouldn't have been left to dealers to fix things if they even tried.

My big however is the Territory was a ground breaker and at the head of a segment that now is dominating around the world....while the BA up to then was as close as any Australian car got to a big euro sedan. Yes it gained a lot of weight however Ford never really explained this was due to a higher body strength, I saw this first hand as a neighbouring taxi depot and panel shop showed very easily what happened when cars rear-ended BA taxi's...BA 1-rear ender 0.

[Franco Cozzo]

What's the going rate for a car of the year award these days?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

What's the going rate for a car of the year award these days?

"bout three fiddy.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

While they build quality issues I think the jump in productions rates wasn't matched by QC and vehicles shouldn't have been left to dealers to fix things if they even tried.

My big however is the Territory was a ground breaker and at the head of a segment that now is dominating around the world....while the BA up to then was as close as any Australian car got to a big euro sedan. Yes it gained a lot of weight however Ford never really explained this was due to a higher body strength, I saw this first hand as a neighbouring taxi depot and panel shop showed very easily what happened when cars rear-ended BA taxi's...BA 1-rear ender 0.

The quoted figure at the time was that the BA Falcon sedan was 88% stiffer than the AU variants.

Having both in the family at the same time, the BA felt way stiffer in regards to body flex.

[Sprintey]

Territory was a worthy win - as explained above. It was defining the SUV concept after solid market research, right at the exact moment when that sector took off and outgrew sedans in sales. Buyers got great functionality, flexible storage, choice of drivetrains, choice of seating, really good ride and handling too - all at a very reasonable cost. They nailed it.

[tasdex]

84 for one

The Holden camira

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by tasdex

84 for one

The Holden camira

Of the 58 winners that's all that you could come up with, something that won 37 years back?

I'd be keen to hear from you based on the criteria outlined by Wheels, what car you believe based on your driving experience of it should have won.
Not the one model either, but the range of that car.

Originally Posted by ebv8

I don't get why the top selling car is not car of the year
eg: Toyota Hilux
it like McLaughlin winning the championship and the reporters saying Whincup was the best driver

Not sure this was a serious comment but I'll bite.
Too many factors in car purchases. Price, biases, marketing and the customer themselves. Top selling car doesn't mean the best.

Racing driver rating is the championship itself. Who is consistent across all disciplines of racing for the season, not just being fast for one lap.

[bigwil]

Originally Posted by tasdex

84 for one

The Holden camira

1988 VN Commodore

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I feel like new cars released over the last 12 months in Australia have been pretty unimpressive. I have to say the CX-30 is a pretty good car but not especially innovative or outstanding to be a clear winner this year.

Yes- and it has those horrid plastic wheel arch trim surrounds that after 6 years age terribly.

Got them on the Honda Civil 1.6 diesel that came from England, after 5 years started looking real tatty. May be fine in Europe with the gentle sun, but in Australia with our UV rays they just suck.

[smoo]

How depressing must it be to work as a motoring journo these days.
Reviewing boring **** like this and having to report with some type of enthusiasm or interest.
Does Motor still run BFYB and PCOTY? I imagine the amount of eligible cars worthy of consideration these days could be counted on one or two hands.

[Citroënbender]

My father used to bring home the propaganda flagships of the USSR and China. Every year was proclaimed as a vast improvement, everything always better; more advanced, more plentiful, happier times.

It’s got strong parallels in the continuum of Australian motoring journalism.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by smoo

How depressing must it be to work as a motoring journo these days.
Reviewing boring **** like this and having to report with some type of enthusiasm or interest.
Does Motor still run BFYB and PCOTY? I imagine the amount of eligible cars worthy of consideration these days could be counted on one or two hands.

Yes motor still does pcoty, will be in the next issue release next week. Bfyb wasn’t done last year so don’t know the deal with that, would like to see it though.


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[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by smoo

How depressing must it be to work as a motoring journo these days.
Reviewing boring **** like this and having to report with some type of enthusiasm or interest.
Does Motor still run BFYB and PCOTY? I imagine the amount of eligible cars worthy of consideration these days could be counted on one or two hands.

BFYB was missed last year due to Covid restriction.

PCOTY, Porsche Car of the Year, is as normal.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

BFYB was missed last year due to Covid restriction.

PCOTY, Porsche Car of the Year, is as normal.

Wow, not a Porsche this year!

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/p...5bavZSYS7LJKNo

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Wow, not a Porsche this year!

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/p...5bavZSYS7LJKNo

Well someone finally made something that was better on the day (and the manufacturers had available on the press fleet to give them). No surprise it was AMG that finally did it, they have come perilously close a few times.

Love all the butt hurt over Porsche winning heaps... as motor has said multiple times, they knew they would get crap for it, but the best car on test must win, regardless....

Now for a lotto win, so I can buy myself a GTR Pro..: awesome machines....


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[Wretched]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Wow, not a Porsche this year!

https://www.whichcar.com.au/events/p...5bavZSYS7LJKNo

Likely cause the GT3 wasn't there. Can't help that Porsche make a desirable product that actually lives up to, sometimes exceeding expectations.
Motor isn't the only one that hold Porsche in such high praise.

Well done AMG.

[Polyal]

Used to be a huge selling point obviously for the locals, and perhaps a slightly biased mechanism to build up support for new models.

Camira...but when the Falcon won it was the most prestigious award in the industry ;)

[Franco Cozzo]

Australian motor journalists were ahead of their time - they were fake news before fake news was even a thing