Car of the Year 2012

The Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins that claimed the 2012 COTY has been voted as Australia’s Overall Best car.The car took 21 per cent of the votes in the Carsguide.com.au People’s Choice competition – 14 per cent with people who put the Toyota first as the 86/BRZ and 7 per cent with Subaru fans who preferred to select it as the BRZ/86.From there it was a sizable gap to the Ford Falcon Ecoboost in second place with 11 per cent, and another stretch to the Holden Commodore on 6 per cent. They’d both overtaken the Toyota Camry and also the Mazda CX-5 – which had held second place in the early days of the poll. The Overall Best win crowned a triple success for Toyota, which took out three of the five categories in People’s Choice.It shared again with Subaru in the Sports/Luxury section, where the 86/BRZ held a strong lead from the start in and crossed the line with 31 per cent, leaving the other contenders to jostle for second place. That became a war among the German brands, with positions changing every week and coming down almost to a photo finish with the Audi RS5 on 19.3 per cent – a nose ahead of the BMW M3 on 19.1.Toyota also claimed the Best Trade/Commercial segment with the Hilux getting a whopping 40 per cent of the vote, fending off a late rally from the Ford Ranger/Mazda BT50 which finished on 26 per cent. The newest brand to the ute showroom, Volkswagen, saw fourth place for their Amarok with 17 per cent.Toyota’s Camry forced its way past the Ford Falcon Ecoboost’s earlier lead in the Best Family Car section, with the Camry finishing on 29 per cent to the big Ford’s 27, and the Subaru Liberty on 19 per cent snatching third place from the Holden Commodore on 17.However Ford had a winner – and the biggest margin – in the Fiesta, which blitzed the Best First Car with 46 per cent of the votes. From there it was a long stretch back to the Hyundai i20 on 22 per cent and the Kia Rio on 15 per cent in third.Close voting in the Best SUV/Recreational section saw the Subaru Forester gain on the Mazda CX-5, with the two sitting level at the start of the final week. However the Forester put on a burst in the last few days and nudged ahead with 29 per cent, leaving the CX-5 on 27 and several lengths ahead of the third-placed Mitsubishi Pajero on 16 per cent.BREAKOUTWinner of the $5000It was a hard to choose a winning entry among so many great comments about why particular cars are your favourites.  But in the end, we felt Chris Mitchell of Queensland had written the best justification for his choice (the 86/BRZ) with: Subaru meets Toyota = heart, soul, and speed.WHAT YOU SAIDBEST OVERALL AND BEST SPORTS/LUXURYToyota 86/Subaru BRZIt is hard to go past this pairing as they are arguably the most complete package to enter the market. - Pete PetrassDriving pleasure and value for money at a price that is affordable to all. - Puay SimIt’s quite simply the car we have been begging for since the turn of the century. - Ryan ReynoldsBEST FIRST CARFord FiestaEconomical, affordable, attractive, easy to drive, easy to park and reliable. - Karen EkholmCute, easy, can still carry a full load and so easy to drive. The perfect car. - Courtney DettmanGreat fuel economy, stylish little car. Very zippy & full of great options. - Baden KellyBEST FAMILY CARToyota CamryTotal reliability. Outlasts competitors. Years of trouble-free motoring. Overall outstanding. True value. - Nichole MealingThe Camry has very well thought out features that make driving safer and more enjoyable. - Tony John WaiteReliable, family friendly and economical. - Lisa-Marie SanderyBEST TRADE/COMMERCIALToyota HiluxUnhook boat, hose the fish smell off (yourself too)...and this fancy pants is ready for the ball.  - Elizabeth ELlisWork, Play, Family. Hilux gives me versatility, flexibility and reliability. - Paul JarmanIt’s the best of both worlds: a family car and a workhorse.  - James McDonnellBEST SUV/RECREATIONALSubaru ForesterSuperb Urban Beast, All Round Ultimate winner. - Caroline ShanksSmart choice for a go anywhere vehicle for anytime. - Richard LwinBecause it’s a great family car as well as a car to take out bush. - Rebecca Costa 

Now it’s your turn - and you could win $5000 + Oscar Natural. Have your say about the best cars of the year.The Carsguide judges have chosen their Car of the Year for 2012. Now it’s your turn to judge. We want to hear what you think of the current crop of cars in Australian showrooms. Every Carsguide reader across Australia can voice their own opinion on the best cars of 2012 thanks to the People's Choice award.And by voting for a favourite car from five individual categories, you could win $5000 and a year’s supply of Oscar Natural shaving gels and oils, created from pure plant extracts.People’s Choice voting in previous years has been as hotly contested as the battle for the Australian car buyer’s attention and wallet. There have been battles between the three big brands that build locally, face-offs between home-grown vehicles and popular imports – and even skirmishes between front and rear-wheel driveIn addition to the overall People's Choice winner, voting will decide your favourite cars in the five categories:Best Family CarBest First CarBest SUV/RecreationalBest Sports/Luxury CarBest Trade/CommercialHow to vote?To enter Carsguide Car of the Year People’s Choice, vote for a car in each of the five categories. When you choose your overall favourite tell us in about 25 words why it won your vote, and be sure include your contact details. You’ll be judged on the quality of your answer, and you can still win even if the car you choose doesn’t win People’s Choice.Our team of experts has culled the field to five contenders in each of the categories. Now it's up to you, Australia. Which cars will you vote for?Click here for your chance to win $5000 

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are joint winners, edging out the Hyundai i30 after an intensive three-day round of judging and more than 6000km of evaluation by nine COTY judges with more than 100 years of combined motoring experience.The result is no surprise, because the Japanese sports car twins have been COTY favourites since the day they were unveiled. They also embody the Carsguide mantra and COTY methodology: "Real cars, on real roads, for real people".The 86/BRZ is a landmark collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, classy engineering with a concentrated focus on driving enjoyment, and value packaging by both brands. That means a $29,990 starting price for the Toyota and driveaway pricing with free servicing on the Subaru."This is the era of the SUV and that makes the BRZ and 86 quite remarkable. It's a ground-breaking car, regardless of the badges it wears," says Carsguide editor, Paul Pottinger. "This car is a gift. Has anyone got out of either one without a smile on their face?" says James Stanford, summing up the majority feeling.The performance of the i30 is a surprise, as it edges the new Toyota Corolla to make the final four showdown alongside the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V, which fly the flag for the SUV stars of 2012. "I really like the i30, and would give it my number one vote," says Chris Riley.The COTY showdown for 2012 involves 11 cars including The Twins -- as we dub 86 and BRZ -- nine judges, video and backup crews, and the photographer who insists on a 5am start on Day Two. The judging starts with a 120km run west from Sydney into the Blue Mountains, then laps around a testing and varied 44km loop from Mount Victoria.Each car has been chosen to reflect the best value and strongest sales, not just for the way it would look if it was fully loaded with an unrealistic bottom line. From the start, the troubled Ford Falcon is in trouble again. Its sales have slumped this year and, despite the addition of the excellent EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, it is still too old in too many ways to make much of an impact.But by even making the Top 10 COTY contest, it's a winner. It's a pity Ford has not done nearly enough to promote the car, and not enough people have driven a package that makes it the best riding and handling Falcon of its generation. The Ford Ranger, too, struggles. It's a pickup that can do double duty as a family car, and it led the world with five-star ute safety, but it cannot compete in such a classy field.From the Holden camp, the plug-in electric Volt is a window on the future that's not good enough for the present. We could live with the cramped back seat and the crimped boot and the confusing dashboard if the car was priced at around $35,000. But it's $59,990. "It's trying to be the car of the future but it falls down today," says Karla Pincott.The COTY crew is doing lots of laps on day one, cycling through the cars and usually going back-to-back with direct rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. This is one mini-contest that produces a surprising bias towards the Honda, as the Mazda is beaten on boot space with a lower loading lip, value and the little things that make a difference to families.At the end of the day, as push comes to shove and the preliminary scores are tallied, the four finalists become clear -- although The Twins make it five if you're getting picky. Leading the near misses is the Corolla, which is narrowly trumped by the i30. The CX-5 also falls, and we lose the fun little Volkswagen Up."The Up is a great city car. But there is no auto and you really can't drive it with any comfort beyond the city,'' says Pottinger. Day two begins early but the focus has shifted, even if some of the judges cannot resist more driving time in cars like the Falcon and the CX-5, and even the Up and Ranger."This is a great chance to cover some miles," says James Stanford. By Day two the judges are separating into two camps, as the shortcomings of the Sorento and CR-V take them out of the final fight. The Honda is not strong enough in the engine room for most. Despite the classy Australian suspension settings, the Sorento is not good enough to claim a COTY crown.The i30 scores for its classy cabin, its affordable starting price, and an overall package which edges the Corolla despite the Toyota's impressive $19,990 starting point. The result comes down to the final voting, with each of the cars scored 4-3-2-1 by each of the nine judges. The Twins win. "This car is brilliant, and it's such a great drive," says Stanford. The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ are also real cars, on real roads, for real people.PAUL POTTINGER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VPAUL GOVER1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VKARLA PINCOTT1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCRAIG DUFF1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VSTUART MARTIN1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJAMES STANFORD1) BRZ/862) Hyundai i303) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VCHRIS RILEY1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VNEIL DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) BRZ/863) Kia Sorento4) Honda CR-VJOSHUA DOWLING1) Hyundai i302) Honda CR-V3) Kia Sorento4) BRZ/86 

An impressive revitalisation of a global SUV favourite. The cabin is bigger and more flexible, although the engine lets it down a little. "The load space is excellent and it drives well," Stuart Martin said at the COTY judging.Despite a smaller footprint, the updated SUV (which sits on the old car's platform) has enough space to sit behind my own driving position, although the lowered rear bench does put the knees a little higher than ideal. Cargo space is ample - aided by one-touch fold-down seats - and it has a full size spare across the range. The console and instrument layout is easier to decipher and use, as well as being informative - two centrestack screens display trip and infotainment info, as well as the satnav display, while a third screen in the instrument binnacle adds to the information on hand for the driver.The interior is let down a little by some hard plastics and overly-firm leather seats, but the cabin is quiet and the ride quality is good. The powerplant is willing but needs revs on board, something the driver can dictate using paddleshifters.Press-ahead driving is not this car's forte but up to a point it is comfortable in corners, without excessive bodyroll, but dynamically the CX-5 remains unassailed as the segment leader for on-road dynamics.The electric power steering feels over-assisted and doesn't give much feedback to the driver about what's going on under the nose - it's not as much of an issue in an SUV as it is in a sportscar, but back-to-back drives in the old car displayed the differences in steering, as well as improved ride quality and insulation.Missing? Some of the active safety features that are in the car in other global markets, but also there's no stop-start fuel saver on offer here, something that is also in the CR-V elsewhere.Another disappointing discovery was roof-mounted child seat anchor points - as well as the strap for the centre lap-sash seatbelt in the rear seat. A full boot of luggage behind a cargo barrier is not tether-strap friendly in this setup.Honda CR-V VTi FWD autoPrice: from $29,790Engine: two-litre four-cylinderTransmission: five-speed automatic, front wheel drivePower: 114kW @ 6500 rpmTorque: 190Nm @ 4300 rpmFuel use/emissions: 7.7 l/100km, tank 58 litres 91RON; 179g/kmBrakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear cameraDimensions: Length 4545mm, width 1820mm, height 1685mm, wheelbase 2620mm, cargo volume 556 litres, weight 1488kgWheels/tyres: 17in alloy wheelsWin $5,000 in our People's Choice competition. 

Ever more families are taking the work-and-play track into utes and the Ranger is best of the bunch. "The Ranger is the most car-like truck out there. The only thing that hurts it is the price, which means it can't be a finalist," Joshua Dowling said at the COTY judging.With a broad, squared off snout that says ‘I’m a truck and proud of it,’ its no surprise it’s not being sold in the US, as it would take plenty of sales from the F-Series. The big front-end isn’t pretty but it has presence and purpose, the latter being carried through its 5.3m of overall length to the high-sided and lined rear tray, which has tie-down points. The cabin is roomy enough for four adults, and the engineering teams efforts to keep it well-insulated and quiet paid dividends. While the seats are a little flat there is good storage in the doors, centre console and beneath the rear seats. The big Ford was engineered for the globe by the boffins at Broadmeadows and it shows as soon as you go for a drive. It has a decent ride quality, good body control and steering that doesn’t leave you wondering anywhere near as much as its predecessor, or some of its competition. Only severe bumps unsettle an unladen rump and send a judder through the frame, but it all feels tighter and stronger. Twisting country roads (sealed or unsealed) are not beyond it either.The six-speed automatic is the preferred transmission - the poor cousin to the Falcons ZF six-speed has a manual shift option but it was rarely required as the Sports mode acquitted itself well, removing much of the ‘snatch’ in the driveline that sometimes marred the manual.For towing or off-roading, there’s a mass of grunt, with the rear diff lock equipped 4WD system making short work of most terrain. With 237mm of ground clearance, it’s only the compromised tyres that let it down in on some slipperier surfaces. More purposeful rubber would be a good replacement for the Jack of All Trades tyres that come standard.Ford's new Ranger will give the HiLux some genuine competition, with passenger car safety and connectivity, as well as genuine off-road ability and muscular towing capacities some tough decisions to make.Ford Ranger XLT dual-cab autoPrice: from $55,390Engine: 3.2-litre turbodiesel five-cylinderTransmission: six-speed automatic, four wheel drivePower: 147kW @ 3000rpmTorque: 470Nm @ 1500rpmFuel use/emissions: 9.2 l/100km, tank 80 litres; 246g/kmBrakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control, trailer sway control), rear parking sensorsDimensions: Length 5351mm, width 1850mm, height 1821mm, wheelbase 3220mm, weight 2159kgWheels/tyres: 17in alloy wheelsWin $5,000 in our People's Choice competition. 

It's easy to get into, the cabin is spacious, well-equipped and comfortable - the driver is well accommodated for as well, with most things falling easily to hand. A runaway best seller thank to its convenient size and the Mazda badge. "It's a good car, but not great. And the CR-V is a better package for its price,'' Paul Gover said at the COTY judging. The steering wheel has key controls and there's good connectivity - the touchscreen satnav infotainment screen is easy to see but it's quirky map-rotation habits were disappointing. The rear passengers will notice the lack of rear vents in summer. A rear seat 12-volt outlet wouldn't go astray either, but apart from those two issues the rear seat occupants have good leg, foot and headroom. The ride is tending towards firm but doesn't cause complaints, the payoff coming in good body control and composed road manners in the bends - the Mazda3 on stilts analogy is apt. Steady pace can be maintained by the petrol engine but it's no fireball - the genuine manual change mode of the six-speed auto makes better use of the reasonable flexibility on offer by the little four-pot. Alternatively, you can wring its neck, but that's going to take the fuel economy north of the nine litres per 100km that was returned during our stint. The little Mazda has what it takes to re-define one side of the compact SUV segment, the on-road runners. In front-wheel drive guise it's not set-up for dirt work, but the CX-5 FWD is smooth, quiet and comfortable, but it's not perfect. No rear vents is an oversight, the satnav quirk was annoying and the diesel AWD promises to be the drivetrain of choice (and worth the $5500) if you want a decent amount of grunt under your right foot. Mazda CX-5 Maxx FWD petrol auto Price: from $29,880 Engine: 2.0 litre16-valve direct-injection DOHC four cylinder with i-Stop Transmission: six-speed automatic, front wheel drive Power: 114kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 200Nm @ 4000rpm Fuel use/emissions: 6.4 l/100km, tank 56 litres 91RON; 201g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear camera, tyre pressure warning Dimensions: Length 4540mm, width 1840mm, height 1710mm, wheelbase 2700mm, cargo volume 403 litres, weight 1475kg Wheels/tyres: 17in steel wheels Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

The world's favourite car is better than it was, but still has a few flaws. The starting sticker, though, is a winner. "I'd rather spend five years in the i30 than three years in the Corolla,'' Paul Pottinger said at the COTY judging. And the cabin reflects a totally different design approach. It's still Toyota efficient, but it breaks away from the blandness with the potential for some personalisation. Visibility is great, despite a slightly pinched view through the rear window, but the real delight comes in the new driving position. Toyota has finally recognised that people don't like to sit with their hair brushing the roof or jammed up against the dash, which means you can sit back in comfort and also enjoy front seats that are nicely shaped and padding that's just right. The steering is light, the car is easy to park and even thought the boot is no bigger it is easier to load. It's also good to find. Full sized spare in the starting price car. So, how does it drive? It's very, very good for a Corolla, and good for a Japanese car. But I've just been spoiled by Golf 7. The Corolla gets along nicely enough, promises great fuel economy and is pretty quiet on all but the worst surfaces. But it doesn't have the limo-like cushiness or the library-quiet cabin of the Volkswagen. Now we come to the gearbox... And I have to say that CVTs are about as popular as brussel sprouts with the Carsguide crew. But Toyota's engineers have added bearnaise sauce with a system that almost -- but not quite --eliminates the horrible flaring and slipping clutch sound while also giving a seven-speed drivers mode that's not as bad as a fake manual. The overall impression is a car that's more complete, and returns the Corolla to the top of the small car heap. Toyota Corolla Ascent auto Price: from $21,990 Engine: 1.8-litre 16-valve four-cylinder Transmission: CVT (with seven-speed “manual” mode), front wheel drive Power: 103kW @ 6400rpm Torque: 173Nm @ 4000rpm Fuel use/emissions: 6.6 l/100km, tank 50 litres 91RON ULP; 152g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side, driver’s knee and curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control). Dimensions: Length 4275mm, width 1760mm, height 1460mm, wheelbase 2600mm, cargo volume 280 litres, weight 1270kg Wheels/tyres: 16in steel wheels Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

The most significant sports cars since the original Mazda MX-5 in 1989 and by far the most affordable. "There too many grey cars in the world. The Twins are technicolour and 3D'' says Paul Gover. Marketing puffery is often ludicrous -- especially when it’s Toyota promising passion. But for the 86 just about every box has been ticked and promise delivered – many more than we expected. The 86 is alive and kick-arse. The most significant sports cars since the original Mazda MX-5 in 1989 and by far the most affordable. "There too many grey cars in the world. The Twins are technicolour and 3D'' says Paul Gover. Steering feel is excellent, with good weighting and feedback. The car feels taut and agile, turning in nimbly and gripping the road aggressively. The six-speed manual is one of the best around: short, sweet and snickety. Even hardened stick-shunners could be won over by this one. It gets off the line smartly, and delivers decent in-gear acceleration, despite there not being any sense of huge torque on tap. The in-car soundtrack improves once you push it up above 3500rpm, but apart from that the engine noise is subdued and it’s the tyres you hear. That aside, the Toyota 86 is nearly everything most people could want in terms of bang for the buck. The BRZ is brilliant, addictive and deeply depressing. You need to drop six figures to find something comparable or better - Mazda's able but aging MX-5 is finally surpassed, but then so for sheer driving pleasure are cars with badges like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Embracing an old formula - light weight, small and willing atmo engine, manual trans and rear wheel drive - it feels fresh and invigorating against a field of ever more sophisticated and heinously expensive sports cars, devices  that are technical tours de force but which can be emotionally bereft. No track day intro for the BRZ, so no lurid power sliding. But during a nocturnal fang on one of the nation's best bits of sinuous blacktop, the Soob more than fulfills its part of the two-brand partnership. Swarm into a tight bend, the note of that chuntering four rises to a wail, the merest throttle input shifts to impetus from nose the tail.  Yet there are acres of space and ample signals between control and untidiness. The BRZ is highly sensitive and entirely intuitive. Toyota 86 GT manual four-seater/Subaru BRZ Price: from $29,990 (BRZ - $37,150) Engine: two-litre variable-valve direct-injection DOHC flat-four-cylinder Transmission: six-speed manual, rear wheel drive Power: 147kW @ 7000rpm Torque: 205Nm @ 6600rpm Fuel use/emissions: 7.8 l/100km, tank 50 litres 95-98 PULP; 181g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side airbags, curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear parking sensors Dimensions: Length 4240mm, width 1775mm, height 1285mm (BRZ -1245mm), wheelbase 2570mm, cargo volume 217 litres, weight 1222kg (BRZ 1216kg) Wheels/tyres: 16in alloy wheels (BRZ 17in alloys) Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

The car Ford should have had in the noughties. The four-cylinder engine enhances economy and driving enjoyment. "It's the Falcon of the year. It's what Ford needed to do, but four or five years ago," Karla Pincott said at the COTY judging.It’s an unpalatable fact of life for our local carmakers that big sedan sales are slumping everywhere from Germany to Geraldton as buyers scale down and step up.What the EcoBoost mill does prove is just how good Ford’s new generation of engines are. Ironically, that’s one of the reasons why the Focus will supplant the Falcon as the Blue Oval’s biggest seller this year.But for those who can’t fit in a Focus, the Falcon’s ride and handling makes it a better option than an SUV. The EcoBoost makes the six-cylinder redundant, unless buyers need the extra towing capacity - 2300kg against 1600kg.The four-cylinder prefers premium leaded, in which case sub-seven second times to 100km/h are easily within reach. More impressive is the mid-range acceleration and the way the six-speed auto has been calibrated to bring out the EcoBoost’s best.It lopes along at under 2000rpm at 100km/h and a quick dab of the pedal provides instant overtaking response. It's the same at 60 and 80km/h and at any speed this car turns-in better than bigger-engined Falcons, courtesy of the 60kg weight cut over the front wheels.The ride is also near XR levels of firmness but never feels unsettled. The seats need upgrading though - bolstering support is marginal at the cornering speeds the EcoBoost is capable of.The EcoBoost Falcon makes sense at a time when big cars don’t. It has the interior space to deal with a mushrooming family and the baggage that comes with them, backed by decent fuel economy and well-sorted road manners.Ford Falcon EcoBoost G6Price: from $40,835Engine: two-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinderTransmission: six-speed automatic, rear wheel drivePower: 179kW @ 5500rpmTorque: 353Nm @ 2000rpmFuel use/emissions: 8.5 l/100km, tank 68 litres; 201g/kmBrakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side/thorax, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear parking sensorsDimensions: Length 4966mm, width 1868mm, height 1483mm, wheelbase 2838mm, cargo volume 535 litres, weight 1648kgWheels/tyres: 17in alloy wheelsWin $5,000 in our People's Choice competition. 

Better than the Corolla in many ways and proof that the Koreans now do better Japanese cars than most Japanese makers. "It's a typical Hyundai. They get better every time a new one comes out of the box," Craig Duff said at the COTY judging If you like the current i30 you're going to love the new one. It does everything the old one does and more, with a quality, big car feel and more lavish interior. The new i30 is the first of Hyundai's new genre to move to a second generation and just like the first i30 the newcomer is a standout. It looks fresh and attractive, with the same flowing lines as the Elantra sedan, and a stylish new interior that is a huge step forward from its functional but rather plain predecessor. The i30 is Hyundai's biggest selling car and it competes in the mostly fiercely contested segment of the market. The restyled body brings it into line with the "fluidic'' design that characterises Hyundai's other offerings.  The front is sharper and more aggressive with a dominant hexagonal radiator grille, and those huge taillights have gone from the rear, replaced by a more contemporary horizontal design. Hyundai i30 Active petrol auto Price: from $20,990 Engine: 1.8-litre 16-valve variable-valve DOHC four-cylinder Transmission: six-speed automatic, front wheel drive Power: 110kW @ 6500rpm Torque: 178Nm @ 4700rpm Fuel use/emissions: 6.5 l/100km, tank 53 litres; 156g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side, driver’s knee, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear parking sensors Dimensions: Length 4300mm, width 1780mm, height 1470mm, wheelbase 2650mm, cargo volume 378 litres, weight 1240kg Wheels/tyres: 16in steel wheels Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.