Friday, January 19, 2018
The 14 finalists from which the winners will be drawn for the 2018 Canadian Car of the Year and 2018 Utility Vehicle of the Year were revealed Thursday at the Montreal International Auto Show.
The top two award winners will be revealed Feb. 15 during Media Day at the Canadian International AutoShow at the downtown Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The AutoShow will open to the public the following day, Feb. 16, and run through the following Sunday, Feb. 25.
The 14 category winners come from seven manufacturers. Mazda and Jaguar Land Rover led with winners in three categories each while Honda/Acura, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Volkswagen each had two winners.
The category winners were chosen by nearly 100 voting members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), who assessed the vehicles throughout the year by driving and testing them in a variety of conditions. They were scored anonymously on a number of attributes, including performance, technology, design, fuel consumption and value for money.
“Our voting policy was changed this year to make it more relevant for today’s car buyers,” said AJAC President Mark Richardson. “Our journalists are all experts in their automotive fields, and I’m very proud of their ability to help people decide on the best new vehicles to buy in 2018.”
The 14 vehicles listed below are eligible for consideration for either 2018 Canadian Car of the Year or 2018 Utility Vehicle of the Year, both of which will be determined by a separate round of voting.
BEST CITY CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Volkswagen e-Golf
BEST SMALL CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Mazda3
BEST LARGE CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Honda Accord
BEST SMALL PREMIUM CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Jaguar XE
BEST LARGE PREMIUM CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Volvo S90 / V90
BEST SPORTS - PERFORMANCE CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Volkswagen Golf R
BEST PREMIUM SPORTS - PERFORMANCE CAR IN CANADA FOR 2018
Jaguar F-TYPE
BEST CONVERTIBLE IN CANADA FOR 2018
Mercedes-Benz SL
BEST SMALL UTILITY VEHICLE IN CANADA FOR 2018
Mazda CX-5
BEST LARGE UTILITY VEHICLE IN CANADA FOR 2018
Mazda CX-9
BEST SMALL PREMIUM UTILITY VEHICLE IN CANADA FOR 2018
Range Rover Velar
BEST LARGE PREMIUM UTILITY VEHICLE IN CANADA FOR 2018
Acura MDX
BEST MINIVAN IN CANADA FOR 2018
Chrysler Pacifica
BEST PICK-UP TRUCK IN CANADA FOR 2018
Ram 1500 (pictured above)
The Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year announcements will be made shortly after 8 a.m. on Media Day. Other AJAC awards celebrating excellence in three categories - Best Safety Innovation, Best Green Innovation and Best Overall Innovation - will be made at the AutoShow on Feb. 21.
The AJAC awards program is one of several special features and attractions that help to set the Canadian International AutoShow apart from other North American shows. Among them:
- 50 Years of Hot Wheels: The No. 1 selling toy in the world is joining with the Canadian International AutoShow to celebrate a half century of one of the most iconic toys of all time. A Hot Wheels super track will be built, a dedicated display area featuring Hot Wheels collectors and their treasures will be set aside and show-goers will be able to get up-close to six life-size Hot Wheels cars, including the Darth Vader car and the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS.
- 70 Years of Porsche: A feature attraction at this year’s AutoShow will be a major display of cars celebrating the “70 Years of Porsche.” The feature area will bring the evolution of Porsche over the past 70 years to life by hosting a selection of classic and historically significant Porsche models.
- Auto Exotica: Lamborghinis, McLarens, Bugattis, Aston Martins and other magical marques will again form the basis of the most exotic and valuable collection of cars showcased anywhere in the country. A record $100m worth of exotics were on display in 2017 and 2018 is set to top that tally with additional aspirational brands scheduled to participate.
Additional details about these and other all-new exhibits for 2018 will be issued as showtime approaches.
Note: Meanwhile, time is running out to purchase tickets at a discount. Available now at the AutoShow’s website, www.autoshow.ca, regular $24 tickets can be purchased at a 10 per cent saving until the show opens on Fri., Feb. 16, at the beginning of the three-day-long Family Day Weekend in Ontario.
Follow news about the AutoShow at www.autoshow.ca, https://www.facebook.com/
