Prior winners include:

2012 Chevrolet Volt

2009 Opel Insignia

2006 Renault Clio

2004 Fiat Panda

2003 Renault Meganne

I suggest the basis of choice is "likelyhood of being a POC"

Totally meanigless propaganda. Surely no one takes notice of this any more.

Don't buy one then.

Which car manufacturer doesn't use marketing and hyperbole? Or are we supposed to believe that driving a Nissan Juke is as exciting as taking a mega death slide through the heart of a city, driving a Toyota Auris will make you fall in love with driving again, buying a Mokka will make you stand out from the crowd (actually, they may be right on that one, if you want to look odd), Nissan Squashy the ultimate urban experience.

Metal boxes with engines for getting from A - B. Wake up to that and it all becomes clear unless you believe that it will make you more attractive or be more admired by other chaps (if that spins your wheels).

People who are gullible enough to believe the advertising machine deserve what they get.

It would be much more meaningful as an award if all cars were eligible, instead of just those newly on the market in the past year.

Sorry but that negates the prupose of the Award which is to sell new cars.

Anyone who thinks its is to choose the actual Best car.. needs counselling..

I remember when the Horizon won the award - 1978 or 1979 I think, as that was when it came out. The reason it won was purely because it had a trip computer, which I don'think any other mass-market car had.

As you say, Skidpan, it's been a joke for many years: there are several reasons for that, but one of them is that - whatever the name of the award - it's restricted to newly-introduced models.

We're often rude about motoring magazines on here, but their 'car of the year' awards include in the field any cars currently in production, and are far more useful for that reason for people who want to buy a car.

"Sorry but that negates the purpose of the Award which is to sell new cars." That purpose would be better served if usefulness for potential buyers came higher up its list of priorities.

Edited by Avant on 04/03/2015 at 20:25