Subaru Impreza is the 2016-2017 Japan COTY

NOT MY WORK. Source: 1, Subaru Worldwide press release and 2) Paultan.org by Danny Tan

The Subaru Impreza has been named 2016–2017 Car of the Year Japan. The fifth-generation Impreza scored 420 points to clinch the award, ahead of the Toyota Prius (371) and B9 Audi A4 (149, wins the Import Car of the Year award). This is the second time Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) has been awarded the honour, following the Legacy’s win in 2003. The Mazda MX-5 was last year’s JCOTY winner.

Photo source: Subaru Worldwide Official.

The latest Impreza made its debut at the New York show in March. In about a month since its launch on October 13 in Japan, the new Impreza outsold its monthly sales target of 2,500 units by more than fourfold, with 11,050 orders.

FHI says that demand from customers switching from other brands has been notable, representing 51% of all orders. This is an indication that the Impreza is now attracting a wider range of customers in the Land of the Rising Sun, the firm suggests.

The new Subaru Global Platform underpins both sedan and hatch versions of the Impreza. It has an increased rigidity of 70% to 100% over the outgoing model, and a lower centre of gravity by 5 mm. The suspension has been setup for better comfort and Active Torque Vectoring also helps improve dynamics. The car is longer and wider than the old one.

Powering the Subaru is a revised version of the FB20 2.0 litre direct-injection boxer-four. With around 80% of parts revamped, the engine produces 152 hp, four horses more than before. The marque’s Lineartronic CVT has enhanced ratio coverage, better acceleration and fuel economy. Symmetrical AWD is standard, of course.

Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety functions is available. It is also the first car ever produced by a Japanese brand to include a pedestrian protection airbag as standard.

There's a strong possibility Motor Image Malaysia will CKD the New Impreza.  Fingers crossed.

Source:

1) http://www.media.subaru-global.com/en/news/2351

2) http://paultan.org/2016/12/09/subaru-impreza-is-the-2016-2017-japan-car-of-the-year/

- Article by Danny Tan.

End of article.  Be like me, Don't plagiarize.  If copy also please state the Source and give Credit.

International Engine of the Year 2015 Award - BMW i8 Powertrain wins

BMW i8 Powertrain wins the International Engine of the Year 2015 Award.

The sophisticated plug-in hybrid powertrain of the BMW i8 sports car has been rated the top engine in this year’s International Engine of the Year Awards, the official award of British publication Engine Technology International. The i8’s powertrain consists of a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and drives the rear wheels, plus a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. Together they produce a peak output of 362 horsepower, enough to accelerate the i8 from 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds, yet when required to the car can return upwards of 76 mpg.

Read more at: 

1) http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/

2) http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/results.php?id=2

3) http://paultan.org/2015/06/17/international-engine-of-the-year-2015/

VW Passat named European Car of the Year 2015

VW Passat named European Car of the Year

SOURCE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/vw-passat-car-of-the-year/

The Volkswagen Passat has taken the European Car of the Year crown, beating rivals from Citroen, Ford and Renault

2015 VW Passat driving, front view

The Volkswagen Passat has been named European Car of the Year 2015

2 March 2015 • 5:12pm
Andrew English
Motoring Correspondent, Telegraph Cars

Volkswagen has scooped the 2015 European Car of the Year award for its Passat model, with a huge margin of votes over the other six shortlisted cars.

The Passat’s 340-vote victory was 92 points ahead of the second-placed Citroen C4 Cactus and is one of the largest margins in 51 years of European Coty history. Mercedes-Benz’s C-class came in third place.  

Announced on the eve of the Geneva motor show, the Coty award was judged by 58 judges across 22 different European countries. Whittled down from an initial list of 31, the seven-strong shortlist of cars was said by the President Hakan Matson to be one of the hardest ever to judge.
The Passat, though came through a clear favourite in spite of the British judges (including yours truly from The Telegraph), rating the Citroën as the better car and putting BMW’s 2-series Active Tourer in second place, with the Passat in third.

This is Volkswagen’s third Coty award in five years, the Polo winning it in 2010 and the Golf (on which the Passat is heavily based) in 2013.

The full list of votes is: Volkswagen Passat, 340 points; Citoren C4 Cactus, 248 points; Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 221 points; Ford Mondeo, 203 points; Nissan Qashqai, 160 points; BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, 154 points and Renault Twingo, 124 points.

Volkswagen Golf wins European Car of the Year 2013

Car of the Year 2013 announced in Geneva

For the second time within its new schedule, Car of the Year award winner was announced as a Geneva Motor Show preliminary, in Palexpo facilities, on the eve of the press days. The contest had eight finalists previously nominated (“eight winners,” in the words of Hakan Matson, president of the Jury), but the event was to reveal

 The Winner: Volkswagen Golf. 

Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen AG Head of Development, and Walter de Silva, top responsible of Design, jointly received the trophy and thanked the Jury on behalf of the whole team and all VW workers. Later, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen, would say: “That's a superb result, and we are very proud of it. This most significant European award is the perfect final touch to the list of prizes we've already won. Over 29 million customers have made the Golf into the icon that it is. The Golf will continue this success story.”
 

Matson remarked: “Car of the Year is the most prestigious automotive award in Europe.This year is very special to us, as the award turns 50. But just remember one thing: life begins at 50!  The Volkswagen Golf VII received amazing results in our intensive test drives. It is a modern car with a high level of quality and safety, a wide range of drive trains as well as an outstanding driving performance. The Car of the Year winner has to show excellence in a number of categories – with special attention to the needs of consumers. All the members of our Jury are experts and put the finalists through a series of exhaustive tests to provide substantial purchasing criteria for consumers.”

Volkswagen Golf MK7 wins JCOTY

25th Nov 13 words by Peter Lyon from Motoring.com.au.

 

SOURCE:  http://m.motoring.com.au/news/2013/car/volkswagen/golf/volkswagen-golf-named-japan%E2%80%99s-best-car-40220

Volkswagen Golf wins Japan COTY

Volkswagen Golf has been named 2013 Car of the Year – in Japan! It is the first time a foreign car has taken out the award in its 34-year history.

The home award of the Japanese car brands, the JCOTY award makes it a hat-trick of major gongs for the seventh-generation Golf.

The JCOTY ceremony was held in conjunction with the 2013 Tokyo motor show at the Tokyo Big Sight venue last week.

In a contest that was expected to see the Golf trade blows with the Honda Fit/Jazz for line honours, the Golf polled strongly from the outset and ended up amassing a commanding 504 votes from the 60 jurors in attendance.

The Fit/Jazz came in second with 373 votes and the Volvo V40 placed third with 167 votes.

“This is a very special award for us in so many ways,” commented Shigeru Shoji, president of Volkswagen Japan.

“Firstly, our Golf 7 has become the first ever imported car to win Japan’s COTY award, and we achieved this in our 60th year since Volkswagen imports started into Japan.”

In three new minor awards that were introduced this year, Mitsubishi’s plug-in Outlander PHEV picked up the ‘Innovation Award,’ the Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) won the ‘Emotional Award’ and the jointly developed Suzuki Spacia and Mazda Flair Wagon mini-cars captured the ‘Small Mobility Award’.

The ‘Special Achievement Award’ went to the Daihatsu Move for its front seat lift design. The technology was created to assist senior citizens and people with disabilities enter and exit vehicles.
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Published: Monday, 25 November 2013 Words:Peter Lyon

Mazda6 SKYACTIV wins RJC Car of the Year in Japan

Hiroshima, JAPAN - Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that Mazda6 was selected as the 2014 RJC Car of the Year in the final voting by the Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan (RJC), a non-profit organisation consisting of Japan-based automotive critics and journalists.

Mazda6 is the flagship model that comes with Mazda’s new generation SKYACTIV Technology and KODO design theme.

Offered with a full suite of SKYACTIV Technology such as SKYACTIV-G, a highly efficient yet powerful new generation petrol engine, or SKYACTIV-D, an environmentally friendly diesel engine, the model delivers strong and spirited driving dynamics together with high quality ride comfort.
Since its launch last November sales of Mazda6 in Japan remain strong. The model received more than 24,000 orders by the end of October, which is almost twice as much as the annual planned sales of 12,000 units.

Eligible models for RJC Car of the Year are mass production vehicles launched between November 1, 2012 and October 31, 2013.

This is the sixth time a Mazda vehicle has won the RJC Car of the Year award. Mazda’s last win was with Mazda2 in 2007.

Car and driver 10 Best Cars 2013

Car and Driver Magazine recently announced their Annual 10 best Cars for 2013.  Here are the winners:

There's some videos on these but it's Not available for viewing to Malaysians at the moment.


For more info surf to:
http:// www.caranddriver.com/ list-features-10best-cars 

(Note the space in between, I'm afraid DMCA will come after me again).

Nissan Note wins RJC 2013 Car of the Year Award

Nissan Note wins RJC 2013 Car of the Year Award

Nov. 15 – Yokohama – Nissan’s all-new Note only rolled off production lines this summer, but the second generation of the popular hatchback has already won its first major award.

Nissan's award-winning Note

The Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan this week crowned the car RJC 2013 Car of the Year, beating off stiff competition from Mazda’s CX-5 and Suzuki’s new Wagon-R.

The Note, with fuel economy as much as 40% higher than its predecessor, has also won plaudits for combining improved performance and styling.

Global Chief Marketing Manager for the Nissan Note, Yosuke Iwasa

“It’s a great privilege we’re honored to be awarded the RJC Car of the Year,” says Nissan Global Chief Marketing Manager Yosuke Iwasa.

“Honestly speaking, the new Note is a well-balanced car. It’s got good roominess and we offer a high level of fuel economy. I think this type of vehicle will be highly evaluated by RJC members.” 

Note’s victory follows the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, which won the same award a year ago, and may be a sign of developments ahead.

On sale in Japan now, versions of the new model debut in Europe and North America next year, with Nissan banking on big recognition for the compact car globally.

Mazda CX-5 is ‘Car of the Year Japan 2012-13’

Mazda CX-5 is ‘Car of the Year Japan 2012-2013’

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corp.’s compact crossover SUV, the CX-5 has been named the 2012-2013 “Car of the Year Japan.” The award was announced by the Japan “Car of the Year” committee last Nov. 29.

The CX-5 was the first model to adopt the full suite of Mazda’s SKYACTIV*1 technologies including the engine, transmission, body and chassis. It offers a predictable and refined driving experience together with outstanding environmental and safety performance. It is also the first model to fully embody Mazda’s new design theme: KODO-Soul of Motion. With finely honed vitality and dynamism, its styling is reminiscent of a cheetah about to pounce on its prey.

The CX-5-equipped with Mazda’s new-generation SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine boasts powerful driving comparable to a 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine vehicle thanks to 420 Nm of maximum torque. At the same time, it achieves an SUV class-topping fuel economy rating*2 of 18.6 km/l (JC08 test cycle mode with FWD model).

In approximately nine months since sales of the CX-5 started in February, Mazda has received 37,000 orders—equivalent to more than three years of sales at the anticipated volume of 1,000 units per month—with sales continuing to go strong.

All passenger vehicles with an expected annual sales volume of over 500 units, announced or launched in Japan between Nov. 1, 2011 and Oct. 31 this year are eligible for this year’s Japan Car of the Year award. The last Mazda to be named the Car of the Year Japan was the MX-5 (known as Roadster in Japan) in 2005. The CX-5 is the fourth Mazda to win the award.

Mazda executive officer Kiyoshi Fujiwara commented: “We are thrilled to have the CX-5 receive such a coveted award and appreciate the warm support and encouragement of our fans. Spurred on by this honor, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to the task of crafting cars that only Mazda can, in order to continue winning the support of our fans and customers into the future.”

SOURCE: Click me!

Ford Ranger Wins NST-Maybank COTY Overall Car Of The Year

WRITTEN BY HANS CHEONG, 

Cars, Bikes & Trucks presented the annual Car of the Year (COTY) Awards Night at The Saujana Kuala Lumpur in Glenmarie, Shah Alam yesterday.

For the first time in the New Straits Times-Maybank COTY Awards' 11-year history, a pick-up truck won the overall award.

Ford's game changing Ranger 2.2 XLT won the hearts of the nine COTY panel judges and was crowned the "Overall Car of the Year" award, beating 67 other nominated models.

"Now, genuinely, you can buy this truck and use it as a car," said one of the COTY judges.

The Ranger garnered the most votes from the COTY panel of nine judges, citing its ride quality and refinement, all terrain capability, value-for-money proposition and on-board features.

With prices starting from RM89,888 (on the road with insurance) and its radical revamp as an urban utility vehicle with an interior that is even more passenger friendly than some cars, the Ranger swept all the judges' votes for the overall title.

Ford's commendation didn't end with just the Ranger. The Ranger's road focused family car sibling, the Ford Focus, also picked up the "Family Car of the Year" award.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot each picked up double category wins in this year’s COTY competition, whereas Nissan and Proton both picked up a category win together with a Special Mention award.

BMW’s 328i was awarded the “Premium Executive (below RM300,000) Award”, while the renewed 528i with its new 2-litre turbocharged engine won the “Premium Executive (above RM300,000) Car of the Year” award.

The Mercedes-Benz B200 and SLK claimed the “Premium Compact Car of the Year” and “Coupe/Cabriolet Car of the Year” awards respectively.

The “Executive Car of the Year” award and “Station Wagon of the Year” title were swept by the Peugeot 508 in sedan and station wagon guise respectively.

Meanwhile, the Proton Exora Bold clinched the “MPV of the Year” for the local car maker and the Saga FLX was awarded with a Special Mention award as the “Best Value Compact Sedan of the Year.”

The Nissan Elgrand took home the “Premium MPV of the Year” title, while the Special Mention award of “Eco Innovation Car of the Year” was presented to the Nissan Leaf.

Honda’s CR-Z two-door hybrid was named the “Compact Car of the Year” whereas the Toyota 86 took the “Performance Car of the Year” title.

In the SUV category, the Mazda CX-5 was awarded the title of “SUV of the Year”.
The very popular Range Rover Evoque added another feather to its cap by clinching the “Premium SUV of the Year” award.

In recognition of its sleek design, the Hyundai Elantra was presented with the “Good Design” Special Mention Award.

The Kia Optima bagged the “2012 People’s Choice” Award, which was based on votes received from the NST/Maybank Car of the Year 2012 People’s Choice Contest published in the New Straits Times.

The winners were selected from 67 new or extensively facelifted or re-engineered models that were introduced to the local market between October 2011 and October 2012, and divided into 14 categories.

The winner of the “Overall Car of the Year” title was selected from the list of 14 category winners.

The automotive industry is not just about cars, but also the hardworking people behind the industry.

Datuk Samson Anand George, chief operating officer of Nasim Sdn Bhd (the sole importer and distributor of Automobiles Peugeot) was voted the “Automotive Man of the Year” for his achievements in reviving the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, which is now one of the leading mainstream European brands in the country.

The New Straits Times–Maybank 2012 COTY Awards Night was hosted by the New Straits Times and title sponsor Maybank Berhad.

The event is endorsed by the Malaysian Automotive Association.

Ford Ranger 2.2 bagged the Pick-up of the Year award and Overall Car of the Year award.

List of winners

• Compact Car of the Year - Honda CR-Z
• Premium Compact Car of the Year - Mercedes-Benz B 200
• Family Car of the Year - Ford Focus
• Executive Car of the Year - Peugeot 508
• Premium Executive Car of the Year (below RM300,000) - BMW 328i
• Premium Executive Car of the Year (above RM300,000) - BMW 528i
• Performance Car of the Year - Toyota 86
• Coupe/Cabriolet of the Year - Mercedes-Benz SLK
• Station Wagon of the Year - Peugeot 508 SW
• SUV of the Year - Mazda CX-5
• Premium SUV of the Year - Range Rover Evoque
• MPV of the Year - Proton Exora Bold
• Premium MPV of the Year - Nissan Elgrand
• Pick-Up Truck of the Year - Ford Ranger 2.2
• Overall Car of the Year 2012 - Ford Ranger 2.2
• Automotive Man of the Year 2012 - Datuk Samson Anand George, Chief Operating Officer, Nasim Sdn Bhd

Special Mention Awards

• People’s Choice Award 2012 - Kia Optima
• Best Value Compact Sedan of the Year - Proton Saga FLX SE
• Eco Innovation Award of the Year - Nissan Leaf
• Good Design Award of the Year - Hyundai Elantra

SOURCE: CLICK ME!

International Engine of the Year Awards 2012

SOURCE: CLICK ME!

What a year it has been for Ford and its outstanding three-cylinder turbo engine. The Blue Oval finally broke its International Engine of the Year Awards jinx by collecting best New Engine and the Sub 1-litre Engine awards, but now the diminutive 999cc unit has gone one better and made it a treble by taking top spot in the race to be crowned the overall International Engine of the Year 2012.

Ford’s victory means that for the second consecutive year, a new name has been added to the International Engine of the Year Awards hall of fame, with Ford joining last year’s first-time winner Fiat, and previous victors Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Mazda and Honda.

Ford’s stunning success also means that since 2009, the overall winner has had a displacement of less than 1.4 litres - and in the past two years alone, the engine size of the winning International Engine of the Year Award has been below 1 litre - proof that downsizing is here to stay.

But Ford’s task in taking top spot was not easy. To qualify, it first had to beat last year’s champion - Fiat’s two-cylinder TwinAir - in the Sub 1-litre category.

And then, to take the overall title, it faced competition from GM’s range-extender powertrain and last year’s runner-up, Volkswagen’s ever-successful 1.4-litre TSI engine.

In the end, a crushing points victory among the European judges laid the foundation for its triumph in the overall International Engine of the Year Awards voting. Then, a solid endorsement from judges all around the world enabled the Ford to ease to first place, achieving a record tally of 401 points.

“This is a fitting victory for a truly remarkable engine,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards and editor of Engine Technology International magazine. “For a three-cylinder to power a vehicle like the Ford Focus with such ease proves that the future is very, very bright for the IC engine. Power, response and very good real-world fuel consumption figures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this engine and what it offers drivers today. Well done Ford!”

"InTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF THE YEAR WINNER", "NEW ENGINE winner" and "SUB-1.0cc winner": Ford 999cc 3 cyl turbo ECOBOOST

TECH SPEC.

Ford:
Displacement: 999cc
Number of cylinders: Three
Bore x stroke: 71.9mm x 82mm
Power Output: 123bhp
Compression ratio: 10:1

RESULTS

(Engine)	(points)
1. Ford 999cc three-cylinder turbo (Ford Focus)	401
2. Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (VW Polo, Beetle, Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Cabriolet, Scirocco, Eos, Jetta, Tiguan, Sharan, Touran/Cross Touran, Passat CNG, Touran/Cross Touran CNG, Audi A1, Audi A3, Seat Ibiza FR, Alhambra, Cupra, Škoda Fabia RS)	288
3. Ferrari 4.5-litre V8 (Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider)	224
4. GM 1.4-litre range extender (Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera)	212
5. BMW 2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol (BMW 125i, 320i, 328i, 520i, 528i, Z4 20i, Z4 sDrive 28i, X1 20i, X3 20i, X1 28i)	199
6. BMW/PSA 1.6-litre turbo petrol (Mini Cooper S, Clubman Cooper S, Countryman Cooper S, Coupe/Roadster Cooper S, Mini Cooper Works, Clubman Cooper Works, Coupe/Roadster Cooper Works, Peugeot 207, 207cc, 208, 308, 308cc, 3008, 508, 5008, 308 GTI, RCZ, Citroën DS3, C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, C5, DS5, DS5, DS3 Racing, DS4, DS4 Racing)	162
7. BMW 3–litre turo six –cylinder gasoline (BMW 1 Series, M Coupé, 335is, Z4 35is)	160
8. BMW M 4–litre V8 (BMW M3 Coup&, M3 Convertible)	128
9. Audi 2.5–litre five–cylinder turbo (Audi TT RS, RS3 Sportback)	126

CATEGORIES WINNER:

1) International Engine of the Year,

1a) New Engine and 

1b) Sub 1.0 engine winner:
Ford 999cc 3 cyl turbo (Ford Focus)

2) Green Engine: Chevrolet Volt / Vauxhall Ampera 1.4 range extender

3) Performance Engine and Above 4.0 winner: Ferrari 458

4) 1.0 to 1.4: VW 1.4TSI Twincharger

5) 1.4 to 1.8: BMW/PSA 1.6 Turbo Petrol 

6) 1.8 to 2.0: BMW 2.0 twin turbo, 4 cyl petrol

7) 2.0 to 2.5: Audi 2.5L 5 cyl turbo (Audi TTRS, RS3 Sportsback)

8) 2.5 to 3.0: BMW 3-litre turbo in-line 6 cyl petrol

9) 3.0 to 4.0: BMW M 4L V8 (BMW M3)

Consumer Reports' top picks of 2012

By Consumer Reports Staff | ConsumerReports.org
SOURCE: CLICK ME!

A redesigned, significantly improved Camry Hybrid has helped Toyota capture five of the 10 spots on this year’s Top Picks list. Toyota’s ability to maintain its competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year’s list. But another factor is today’s weaker minivan field. The current Sienna scored lower in our tests than its predecessor, but the front-wheel-drive version is the only minivan that didn’t have below-average reliability in our latest survey. So it’s the only minivan we recommend.

Our Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from the more than 260 vehicles we’ve recently tested. For car shoppers, they are a great place to start.

Click through to see the full list...How we decide

Top Picks must meet our criteria in three areas:

Road test
Each must rank at or near the top of its category in overall test score.

Reliability
Each must have earned an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported on 1.3 million vehicles in our latest Annual Auto Survey.

Safety
Top Picks must perform well if included in crash- or rollover tests conducted by the government or the insurance industry.

Each model’s report card shows its overall road-test and predicted-reliability Ratings, as well as its overall fuel economy in our tests. If multiple Ratings are displayed, they apply to different versions of a model. Prices reflect the sticker prices when we bought our test cars. You can find more details on all of the Top Picks in our vehicle ratings.


Family sedan: Toyota Camry Hybrid

With its 2012 redesign, the Camry Hybrid jumped to the top of the family-sedan category. One eye-opener for a car of this size is its impressive 38 mpg overall fuel economy, the best in class and even better than some smaller hybrids that lack the Camry’s performance. Other high points include a comfortable ride; a roomy, quiet cabin; fairly quick acceleration; and for 2012, a nicer interior and somewhat crisper handling (although the Camry is still no sports sedan). 

Price: $29,052

Sporty car: Ford Mustang

The heart of this iconic sports car has always been its strong acceleration and rumbling V-8 power. And the 5.0-liter V-8 in our GT coupe and convertible test cars doesn’t disappoint, providing scorching acceleration, a great exhaust sound, and good fuel economy for this class. Even the 3.7-liter V-6 is punchy and refined, and it’s more fuel efficient than the V8. But now there’s more to the Mustang than power. Agile handling, a decent ride, comfortable front seats, and very good fit and finish make the current version an inviting package. The rear seat is tight but usable in a pinch.

Price: $28,880 to $43,880

Affordable family sedan: Hyundai Sonata

With last year’s family-sedan pick, the Nissan Altima, due for a redesign soon, we chose the four-cylinder Sonata as a more affordable alternative to the Camry Hybrid. For less than $22,000, the Sonata provides a roomy, well-equipped cabin, supple ride, nimble handling, and thrifty 27 mpg overall. And despite its swoopy, coupe-like styling, the Sonata still provides decent rear-seat room and rear visibility, unlike many other cars today.

Price: $21,800

Small SUV: Toyota RAV4

With its inviting blend of performance, fuel economy, and versatility, the RAV4 continues to set the pace among small SUVs. It also provides a roomy interior, comfortable ride, and responsive handling, as well as excellent reliability. With a four-cylinder engine, the RAV4 delivers some of the best gas mileage in its class. The spirited V-6 version accelerates as quickly as many sports sedans and gets only 1 mpg less than the four-cylinder model. Its optional third-row seat is small but useful.

A runner-up is the Subaru Forester. 

Price: $25,405 to $30,328

Family hauler: Toyota Sienna (V-6)

This versatile minivan fits the bill nicely for families looking for a comfortable, roomy interior, plenty of features, and the ability to carry up to eight people. Among its high points are lively performance, decent fuel economy, and a comfortable ride, although the handling is rather lackluster. The Sienna is the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. But that version has had below-average reliability, according to our latest survey, so we recommend only the front-wheel-drive version. 

Price: $35,810

Sports sedan: Infiniti G

With its inviting blend of luxury and driving fun, the G37 stands out from the crowd. Its agile handling, blistering acceleration, and comfortable, well-crafted interior make it one of our highest-scoring sedans and have earned the G a spot on this list for the sixth straight year. This sports sedan feels at home whether tackling a twisty back road or cruising on the highway. A snug cabin and small trunk are the only notable weaknesses. The less expensive G25 model isn’t as quick, but it shares much of the G37’s inviting package and provides 3 more mpg. Both are available with rear- or all-wheel drive.

Price: $34,225 to $37,225

Green car: Toyota Prius

In this dawning age of automotive electrification, the Prius still sets the standard for its blend of fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. The 44 overall mpg we measured in the hatchback is still the highest of any five-passenger, non-plug-in vehicle we’ve tested, and the 41 mpg of the new Prius V wagon easily tops its class. Moreover, its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and hatchback versatility make it easy to live with. Crash-test results are excellent. New electric cars have gotten the energy equivalent of higher mpg figures, but they’re less practical and affordable. 

Price: $26,750 to $28,217

Small car: Subaru Impreza

Redesigned for 2012, the all-wheel-drive Impreza is a well-rounded sedan with nimble handling and a compliant, absorbent ride that rivals some luxury sedans. Fuel economy of 27 mpg overall is impressive for an AWD car. The roomy interior includes a relatively spacious rear seat, simple controls, and refreshingly good visibility. The only real shortcoming is so-so noise isolation. Based on the previous Impreza, we expect above-average reliability. Last year’s pick, the Hyundai Elantra, remains an excellent alternative that costs several thousand dollars less and provides slightly better gas mileage but no AWD.

Price: $21,345

Pickup truck: Chevrolet Avalanche

The Avalanche provides the best combination of utility and versatility of any pickup we’ve tested. Its unified bed and cab help give it a steady, comfortable ride, and the cabin is quiet. The innovative partition in the rear of the cab can be folded down, so longer cargo can extend into the back of the cab. A three-piece bed cover provides a weather-tight and lockable cargo area. We recommend getting the optional backup camera to compensate for the large rear blind zone. 

Price: $47,435

Family SUV: Toyota Highlander

The Highlander returns to our list after last year’s pick, the V-6 Kia Sorento, dropped to below average in predicted reliability. This refined, comfortable, and quiet SUV has consistently ranked near the top of its class in our road-test scores and has had above-average reliability. Its interior is nicely finished and versatile, with a roomy second-row seat but a tight third row. The V-6 version delivers a decent 18 mpg overall, and the hybrid model tops all SUVs at 27.

Price: $38,578 to $47,255