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about Car of the Year | 2012

All the BRZ S pack components are made by Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru’s performance arm.

THE COTY CREW

Paul Gover - the grizzled and grizzly veteran who first hit the motoring beat in 1978.
Joshua Dowling - The toughest judge in Australian motoring. No more, no less.
Paul Pottinger - Carsguide editor escapes the desk for some hands-on work.
Karla Pincott - Nothing token about this woman, who has been reviewing cars for 14 years.
Neil Dowling - Quietly spoken but nothing slips past him.
Craig Duff - Prefers two wheels but a hard-nosed judge on four.
Stuart Martin - An impartial voter now Mitsubishi is out of business in Adelaide.
Chris Riley - Out of the 'burbs and into the thick of it on his first COTY run.
James Stanford - Whip-crack wit and even quicker in a car, favouring driving over style.


CARSGUIDE COTY HALL OF FAME

2011 Kia Rio
2010 Volkswagen Polo
2009 Volkswagen Golf
2008 Ford Falcon G6E Turbo
2007 Hyundai i30 CRDi
2006 Holden Commodore Calais V
2005 Suzuki Swift
2004 Ford Territory
2003 Honda Accord Euro
2002 Ford Falcon BA
2001 Holden Monaro
2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
1999 Toyota Echo
1998 Holden Astra
1997 Holden Commodore VT

 

CARSGUIDE COTY CRITERIA

 

Value - Design - Engineering - Safety - Relevance

The COTY contest comes down to how well each contender does its job and how it stacks up against its rivals, both in the top-10 shootout and in showrooms across Australia. These are the tough questions:
1. What does it cost to buy, what will it cost to run, and how does its value compare to its rivals?
2. Does the design work, both inside and out, make a significant advance and how well is it finished?
3. Is the engineering, in every area from the engine to the road, best in class and right for Australia?
4. Would you trust your family to the safety package, from the airbags to the spare tyre?
5. Is the car right for our times, right for our roads, and the right choice for ordinary Australians?