# Car of the Year

Car of the Year (COTY) is a common abbreviation for numerous automotive awards.
The "Car of the Year" phrase is considered to have been introduced by Motor Trend magazine in 1949 when the new publication named Cadillac as Motor Trend Car of the Year.
Other publications and various organizations also have developed COTY recognitions. The Australian automobile magazine Wheels began an award in 1963.
In 1964, a jury of European automotive journalists began selecting the European Car of the Year award.
Many COTY awards focus on regional markets, vehicle types, or market segments. An example is the "tow car of the year" in the UK (for pulling travel trailers). or the COTY AJAC award in Canada.

## Criteria

The COTY is meant to award excellence in automotive design. Criteria vary, but the World Car of the Year are typical:
* eligible cars are all those that have been launched and gone on sale in the past year
* must be available on at least two continents
* juror can borrow the car in question from manufacturer fleet of test cars
* fitness for purpose
* real-world practicalities such as running costs, interior space and comfort, acceleration, handling, roadholding, ride comfort, noise levels, fit, finish, visual and tactile quality of the interior
* Innovation - advance of car design and engineering
The originator of the COTY award, Motor Trend, uses these criteria:
* Advancement in design
* Engineering excellence - integrity of the total vehicle concept and execution and use of technologies that benefit the consumer
* Efficiency - fuel economy and overall operating costs
* Safety - protect occupants from harm in a crash and avoid a crash
* Value - relative to competitors in the same market segment
* Performance of intended function

## Global

* World Car of the Year selected by a jury of 102 international automotive journalists from 30 countries, beginning in 2003

## Regional

* Arab Car of the Year (ARABCOTY) (Middle East) https://www.arabcoty.com/
* European Car of the Year selected by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto (Italy), Autocar (United Kingdom), Autopista (Spain), Autovisie (Netherlands), L'Automobile Magazine (France), Stern (Germany) and Vi Bilägare (Sweden). The voting jury consists of motoring journalists from publications throughout Europe.
* Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) https://www.mecoty.com/ Archived 2020-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
* North American Car of the Year - 60 automotive journalists from the US and Canada

## National

* Drive Car of the Year (Australia)
* Wheels magazine's Car of the Year (Australia)
* Canadian Car of the Year
* China Car of the Year
* German Car of the Year
* Das Goldene Lenkrad (Germany)
* Indian Car of the Year
* Irish Car of the Year
* Japan Car of the Year
* RJC Car of the Year (Japan)
* Korea Car of the Year (KAJA, AWAK)
* Lithuanian Car of the Year
* Qatar Car of the Year - Maqina Magazine (QCOTY) (Qatar)
* Russian Car of the Year
* South African Car of the Year
* UK Car of the Year
* The Car Expert UK Combined Car of the Year Awards (UK)
* Auto Express magazine's Car of the Year Awards (UK)
* Parker's Car Guides Car of the Year Awards (UK)
* What Car? Car of the Year (UK)
* Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best (USA)
* Motor Trend magazine's Motor Trend Car of the Year The magazine continues its COTY award begun in 1949, and has also expanded to separate trophies for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) (USA)
* MotorWeek's Driver's Choice Awards (USA)
* Green Car of the Year selected by Green Car Journal (USA)

## Sample Results

| Year | World Car of the Year | World Performance Car | World Green Car | World Car Design of the Year | World Luxury Car | World Urban Car |
| 2020 | Kia Telluride | Porsche Taycan | | Mazda3 | Porsche Taycan | Kia Soul EV |
| 2019 | Jaguar I-Pace | McLaren 720S | Jaguar I-Pace | Jaguar I-Pace | Audi A7 | Suzuki Jimny |
| 2018 | Volvo XC40 | BMW M5 | Nissan LEAF | Range Rover Velar | Audi A8 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 2017 | Jaguar F-Pace | Porsche Boxster Cayman | Toyota Prius Prime | Jaguar F-Pace | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | BMW i3 |
| 2016 | Mazda MX-5 | Audi R8 Coupe | Toyota Mirai | Mazda MX-5 | BMW 7 Series | |
| 2015 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) | Mercedes-AMG GT | BMW i8 | Citroën C4 Cactus | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (C217) | |
| 2014 | Audi A3 | Porsche 911 GT3 | BMW i3 | BMW i3 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222) | |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf Mk7 | Porsche Boxster / Cayman | Tesla Model S | Jaguar F-Type | | |
| 2012 | Volkswagen up! | Porsche 991 | Mercedes-Benz S250 BlueEfficiency | Range Rover Evoque | | |
| 2011 | Nissan Leaf | Ferrari 458 Italia | Chevrolet Volt | Aston Martin Rapide | | |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Polo | Audi R8 V10 | Volkswagen BlueMotion | Chevrolet Camaro | | |
| 2009 | Volkswagen Golf Mk6 | Nissan GT-R | Honda FCX Clarity | Fiat Nuova 500 | | |
| 2008 | Mazda2 / Demio | Audi R8 | BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics | Audi R8 | | |
| 2007 | Lexus LS 460 | Audi RS4 | Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec | Audi TT | | |
| 2006 | BMW 3 Series | Porsche Cayman S | Honda Civic Hybrid | Citroën C4 | | |
| 2005 | Audi A6 | | | | | |
| Year | European Car of the Year | North American Car of the Year | North American Utility of the Year | North American Truck of the Year |
| 2020 | Peugeot 208 | Chevrolet Corvette | Kia Telluride | Jeep Gladiator |
| 2019 | Jaguar I-Pace | Genesis G70 | Hyundai Kona | Ram 1500 |
| 2018 | Volvo XC40 | Honda Accord | Volvo XC60 | Lincoln Navigator |
| 2017 | Peugeot 3008 SUV | Chevrolet Bolt | Chrysler Pacifica | Honda Ridgeline |
| 2016 | Opel/Vauxhall Astra | Honda Civic | Volvo XC90 | |
| 2015 | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Golf | | Ford F-150 |
| 2014 | Peugeot 308 | Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | | Chevrolet Silverado |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf | Cadillac ATS | | Ram 1500 |
| 2012 | Chevrolet Volt/Opel/Vauxhall Ampera | Hyundai Elantra | Range Rover Evoque | |
| 2011 | Nissan Leaf | Chevrolet Volt | Ford Explorer | |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Polo | Ford Fusion Hybrid | | Ford Transit Connect |
| 2009 | Vauxhall/Opel Insignia | Hyundai Genesis | | Ford F-150 |
| 2008 | Fiat 500 | Chevrolet Malibu | Mazda CX-9 | |
| 2007 | Ford S-Max | Saturn Aura | | Chevrolet Silverado |
| 2006 | Renault Clio | Honda Civic | | Honda Ridgeline |
| 2005 | Toyota Prius | Chrysler 300 | Ford Escape Hybrid | |
| 2004 | Fiat Panda | Toyota Prius | | Ford F-150 |
| 2003 | Renault Mégane | MINI Cooper | Volvo XC90 | |
| 2002 | Peugeot 307 | Nissan Altima | Chevrolet Trailblazer | |
| 2001 | Alfa Romeo 147 | Chrysler PT Cruiser | Acura MDX | |
| 2000 | Toyota Yaris | Ford Focus | Nissan Xterra | |
| 1999 | Ford Focus | Chrysler 300M | Jeep Grand Cherokee | |
| 1998 | Alfa Romeo 156 | Chevrolet Corvette | Mercedes-Benz M-Class | |
| 1997 | Renault Mégane Scénic | Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class | | Ford Expedition |
| 1996 | Fiat Bravo and Brava | Chrysler minivans | | Ford F-150 |
| 1995 | Fiat Punto | Honda Civic | | Chevrolet Blazer |
| 1994 | Ford Mondeo | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | | Dodge Ram |
| Year | Middle East Motor Awards COTY |
| 2013 | Jaguar F-Type |
| 2012 | McLaren MP4-12C |
| 2011 | Volvo S60 |