Best Cars award goes to…

European imports dominated the new faces at Australia's Best Cars awards last night.

Two BMWs, a Volkswagen and Ford's Belguim-built Mondeo were among the five cars that toppled last year's winners.

BMW's M3 scooped the award for best luxury sportscar and its second-generation X5 SUV picked up the luxury 4WD prize.

Lexus and Volkswagen also won two awards each and between them scooped all the premium categories, with Mercedes-Benz and Audi going home empty handed.

The VW Golf R32 captured the award for best sportscar, while the Lexus IS250 and GS450h held on to the luxury and prestige categories.

The other new entrants were Ford's mid-size Mondeo, which rejoined the Blue Oval range after an absence of five years, and the second-generation version of Nissan's popular X-Trail compact SUV.

“The Mondeo reflects all the shifts in the market in one car,” the chief judge of Australia's Best Cars contest, Ernest Litera of the RACV, said.

“This is a vehicle that has the space and comfort we've traditionally found in a large car, and it is available with a diesel engine.

“The market is shifting to quality mid-size cars.”

The Mondeo's win also underscores the shift to imports and the threat to the local industry as Ford prepares to launch a new Falcon early next year.

But in a boost for Toyota's commitment to car-making in Australia, its Aurion repeated last year's success in the large car category.

The move to diesels was underlined with four winners among the 12, including the Mondeo, while the only hybrid winner was the Lexus GS450h.

The Best Cars judging is now in its eighth year and more than 250 cars were tested before a final assessment of 36 finalists at the Automotive Research Centre at Anglesea, Victoria.

“These awards are not about the automotive industry; they are about the consumer,” Australian Automobile Association executive director Mike Harris said.

“AAA and Australia's automotive clubs represent more than 6.5 million members and these awards provide them; and all motorists; with an independent program.”

The seven repeat champions included four-time winner of the people-mover award, the Honda Odyssey.

Honda also collected the award for best mid-size car under $28,000 for its Honda Civic sedan.

Top wheels

Australia's Best Cars winners

Small car: Volkswagen Polo TDI

Mid-size car under $28,000: Honda Civic VTi

Mid-size car over $28,000: Ford Mondeo TDCi

Large car: Toyota Aurion AT-X

People mover: Honda Odyssey Luxury

Sports car: Volkswagen Golf R32

Luxury sports car: BMW M3

Prestige car: Lexus IS250

Luxury car: Lexus GS450h

Recreational 4WD: Nissan X-Trail ST

Luxury 4WD: BMW X5 Diesel

All-terrain 4WD: Land Rover Discovery 3 SE TDV6