AJAC 2010 Canadian Car of the Year Awards: 2 Audi, 3 VW and a Porsche!

[afretes]

AJAC DETERMINES A DOZEN OF CANADA'S BEST for 2010

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON - Seventy of Canada's top automotive journalists spent this week in the picturesque tourist town of Niagara-on-the-Lake; but not for the scenery or the wine tasting. Journalist members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) were here for the express purpose of determining the `Best New' cars, trucks and SUV/CUVs in 12 different vehicle categories, as part of AJAC's annual Canadian Car of the Year Awards program.

The three days of intensive, back-to-back testing and evaluation are known in the automotive industry as "TestFest". The results of the journalists' test-drive evaluations were known today during a press conference wherein the winners in 12 categories were announced. The press conference was held at the Niagara Drive Centre located at the Niagara District Airport where "TestFest" is staged each year.

The winners are:

BEST NEW SMALL CAR (under $21k) - Mazda3

BEST NEW SMALL CAR (over $21k) - Mazda3 Sport

BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (under $30k) - Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI

BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (over $30k) - Ford Taurus

BEST NEW LUXURY CAR - BMW 335d Sedan

BEST NEW PRESTIGE CAR - Porsche Panamera Turbo

BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (under $50k) - Volkswagen Golf GTI

BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (over $50k) - Audi S4

BEST NEW CONVERTIBLE - Audi A5 Cabriolet

BEST NEW SUV/CUV (under $35k) - Subaru Outback

BEST NEW SUV/CUV ($35k-$60k) - Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel

BEST NEW SUV/CUV (over $60k) - Lexus RX450h

The results were compiled by the international accounting firm KPMG and kept confidential even from AJAC until this morning's press conference. They were determined from more than 46,000 individual data points established in the testing of 157 different vehicles.

The purpose of the AJAC awards is to provide consumers with a valuable resource they can use when researching the purchase of a new vehicle - one that includes a broad range of comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market. That information includes not just specifications and features but actual performance data and subjective ratings on up to 23 different characteristics - from interior roominess and comfort to ride quality and handling ability.

Our journalists' vote results - including all of the comparative test data amassed this week - are on our web site for use as a consumer resource buying guide. Consumers that want to compare a Nissan Cube to a Kia Soul, or the Ford Fusion Hybrid with a Toyota Prius, or even a BMW 335 Sedan with a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan, need look no further than the AJAC web site: www.ajac.ca > Canadian Car of the Year > 2010 Results Comparisons

Photos from the TestFest evaluation program and press conference are available on the AJAC web site as well on the various social networking sites.

The 12 category winners listed above now go on to compete for the honour of becoming the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year or the 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. These overall winners will be announced on February 11th, 2010, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, ON. Award winners for Best New Design and Best New Technology, presented by Shell Canada, will also be announced at that time.

In addition, an award for Best New Green Technology for 2010, also presented by Shell Canada, will be announced at the Montreal International Auto Show on January 14, 2010. As it has been for several years, Shell Canada was the official fuel supplier to the 2010 AJAC TestFest.

Several AJAC journalists who evaluated the brand-new models at TestFest are available across Canada for interviews to talk about the vote results and comparative data. Media are invited to visit the AJAC web site and log-in under "Ask An Expert," then choose the "Car of the Year" link for interviews once they've been validated.

Still looking to buy a 2009, 2008 , or even an older vehicle? AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its web site. Check it out: www.ajac.ca > Vehicle Comparisons

For more information on the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, either visit our AJAC web site, call the AJAC office 1.705.924.3444, or send an email to: beth@ajac.ca.

[gilboman]

that's what happens when it's a slow year in new cars. But all the VW/Audi cars will end up at the bottom of the reliability list (except the porsche) in 3yrs

but then, when the ford tarus wins best car in a category.... it's a pretty funny joke of a list

[afretes]

You should get your facts correctly, VW may have some reliability issues (certain models) but Audi isn't in the bottom of the reliabilty list, not even close!

that's what happens when it's a slow year in new cars. But all the VW/Audi cars will end up at the bottom of the reliability list (except the porsche) in 3yrs

but then, when the ford tarus wins best car in a category.... it's a pretty funny joke of a list

[npinc]

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list. Then the Volkswagens? Totally slammed for horrible reliability and terrible service?

Thanks, I'll stick to JD Power.

[ThePointblank]

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list. Then the Volkswagens? Totally slammed for horrible reliability and terrible service?

Thanks, I'll stick to JD Power.

Ford's on a tear in recent years. Lots of good, solid products in their lineup, so I'm not surprised Ford is starting to gain notice again.

[zzz3]

that's what happens when it's a slow year in new cars. But all the VW/Audi cars will end up at the bottom of the reliability list (except the porsche) in 3yrs

but then, when the ford tarus wins best car in a category.... it's a pretty funny joke of a list

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list. Then the Volkswagens? Totally slammed for horrible reliability and terrible service?

Thanks, I'll stick to JD Power.

ford is no joke with the new taurus and especially the new fusion. They are right on par in terms of reliability with honda and toyota. You guys quickly forget that the taurus used to be best family car not so long ago. Of course no one expects them to return to the days of the early to mid 90s when they used to destroy imports, especially these days in an increasingly competitive market with plenty of solid competition.

[Prof]

I enjoy reading articles from some of the members of AJAC, but this whole sham of a giving out awards to vehicles "of the year" seems like a effort to give them un raison d'etre. Really, if only one vehicle was produced would it automatically win? At least when Car and Driver lists a ten best, the editors compare a previous winner to the newest crop. If something better comes along, it replaces something already on the list. When they perform a comparison test, most of the likely competitors compete head to head. That makes a whole lot more sense. I wonder if AJAC receives cash every time their logo is placed in an ad for a winning entry. Hyundai used it ad nauseum for the Genesis (an admittedly good car priced in the same ball park as the Taurus) The best way, I think, to measure a car's worth is to hold a copy of Car and Driver and CR in each hand while talking to friends who have actually owned product from a given company. These light weight comparisons such as AJACs are just fodder for advertising.

[Andro]

that's what happens when it's a slow year in new cars. But all the VW/Audi cars will end up at the bottom of the reliability list (except the porsche) in 3yrs

but then, when the ford tarus wins best car in a category.... it's a pretty funny joke of a list

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list. Then the Volkswagens? Totally slammed for horrible reliability and terrible service?

Thanks, I'll stick to JD Power.

It's all fun and jokes to you guys, but I get less problems(if any) on my GTI now then I used to get in Civic, Accord V6, Maxima 3.5SE(which by the way was the worst car based on reliability I've owned). Service department at VW is by far the best too. Nissan topped my list for horrible service too.

P.S. Well technically I should exclude gilboman's comments, since all he does is bash VW/Audi......and has 0 credibility in regards to VW/Audi.

[m4gician]

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list. Then the Volkswagens? Totally slammed for horrible reliability and terrible service?

Thanks, I'll stick to JD Power.

QFT? The ford taurus has been a great car for ford this year. Lots of value.

[npinc]

It's all fun and jokes to you guys, but I get less problems(if any) on my GTI now then I used to get in Civic, Accord V6, Maxima 3.5SE(which by the way was the worst car based on reliability I've owned). Service department at VW is by far the best too. Nissan topped my list for horrible service too.

P.S. Well technically I should exclude gilboman's comments, since all he does is bash VW/Audi......and has 0 credibility in regards to VW/Audi.

I think there are always good and bad dealerships. I don't think it's fair to bash Audi either. I've seen some really nice Audis. There are some models I wouldn't mind having myself. VW I'm not as keen on. I drove a Jetta for a while. It was a very fast car with the turbo, but not really my cup of tea for the interior.

I had a friend that worked for a VW dealership and would hear the "inside scoop" so to speak of the service department there. It was never encouraging. Consumer Reports also seldom has anything good to say about Volkswagen. Moving some production to Mexico didn't help the brand.

[Andro]

I think there are always good and bad dealerships. I don't think it's fair to bash Audi either. I've seen some really nice Audis. There are some models I wouldn't mind having myself. VW I'm not as keen on. I drove a Jetta for a while. It was a very fast car with the turbo, but not really my cup of tea for the interior.

I had a friend that worked for a VW dealership and would hear the "inside scoop" so to speak of the service department there. It was never encouraging. Consumer Reports also seldom has anything good to say about Volkswagen. Moving some production to Mexico didn't help the brand.

True, however mine is German made.....and i know some ppl will say it doesn't make a difference, in my experience & opinion it does.

[bembol]

I'm not surprised with Audi's but VW?

About Ford Taurus' domination back in the day wasn't really about how great it was but I think it was because consumers believe it was very expensive maintaining Imports. That's the excuse I heard why most of my family/friends didn't touch them. Even I fell for it when I bought my first car. LOL

[npinc]

True, however mine is German made.....and i know some ppl will say it doesn't make a difference, in my experience & opinion it does.

Hey, the Germans make awesome tanks....

[aleks]

I can't think of any new 2010 sports car under 50K that's better than the GTI. Awsome combination of fun and practicality, looks, features etc.

[corrupt123]

but then, when the ford tarus wins best car in a category.... it's a pretty funny joke of a list

Lol. If a Ford makes the list, especially a Ford Taurus, it's a pretty useless list.

Why