The seven-car shortlist for the Car of the Year competition has been revealed.
The finalists are the Citroen DS5, Fiat Panda, VW Up, Range Rover Evoque, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Ampera/Chevrolet Volt.
The shortlist was drawn up by a jury of 59 judges from 22 countries.
The winner will be announced on the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March.
The Range Rover Evoque drew heavily on style as a selling point, but also possesses the substance to back it up
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Re: Car of the Year finalists revealed
Think it'll be Eurovision judging - least worst
Re: Car of the Year finalists revealed
I agree, I'd choose the Up!
Talking of the Panda, the previous one was a genuine car of the year, this one is a heavy restyling, not a step forward. I drove it and it feels still very similar to the previous one, this is not a bad thing but...
Re: Car of the Year finalists revealed
For me the UP! offers an small package with a genuine solidity and integrity, aimed at trying to get drivers of larger cars to down size.
Yes, the 107 et al all offer similar packages but as fun as they are (and still a car I'd choose over the UP!) there is a general tinniness to their construction, which I believe the VW not to have.
Also, if VW's marketing is to be believed, then the range is likely to balloon with various model options (aka the original Beetle) to be made available, all at a reasonable and everyman obtainable pricing. I suppose it is the cars potential for appealing to a wide spectrum of people that makes me think it is worth of COTY.
The Panda, whilst a good all round package and to quote Fiat, "all the car you'll ever need" will always be a Panda which will limit it's appeal to many.
Don't get me wrong, if the Panda is as much as an improvement over the previous model as we are being told, then it is going to be a fantastic car but not one that really moves things on.