xcel
11-23-2006, 12:32 PM
Honda's Fit won here, and we predicted it would be the Nissan Versa, or barring that the Toyota Yaris sedan. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061122.wh-winners23/BNStory/Technology/?page=rss&id=..wh-winners23)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/07_Honda_Fit_Sport1.jpgMichael Bettencourt - Globe and Mail - Nov. 23, 2006
The winners of the 2007 AJAC Best New Vehicle awards came out this week and, out of 13 categories, Globe Auto correctly predicted seven, barely a passing grade in high school, but a triumphant success rate for professional stock pickers.
In a former position as an editor at Carguide magazine, I was part of an annual fall pool around who could guess best which AJAC TestFest vehicles would come out on top in their respective groups.
Invariably, no one came close to picking them all, and getting half of the categories right was often enough to be named winner.
In fact, the most successful TestFest picker the last few years was the only person there who had never attended the annual gathering of all-new vehicles and auto critics from around the country, nor had ever been a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
So along with the winners, here's how our picks fared, and why:
Small cars under $18,000: Honda's Fit won here, and we predicted it would be the Nissan Versa, or barring that the Toyota Yaris sedan. Sales figures don't count for anything in this competition, as the Yaris is by far the biggest seller in the group, but didn't crack the top three.
Small cars over $18,000: Nailed this one, as we picked the Volkswagen Rabbit as it was simply more fun to drive than the others.
Family Car ($22,000-$30,000): We predicted the Toyota Camry would nudge ahead of the Nissan Altima, which it did, despite nicer quality interior materials for the Altima, a switch over the previous generation versions of each.
Family Car (over $30,000): Toyota again took this one with the Camry, this time with the Camry Hybrid, even up against all conventionally powered vehicles. Our prediction had been the Saturn Aura would triumph over the Nissan Maxima.
Sports/Performance under $50,000: The Mazdaspeed3 took this one in a fierce fight with the VW GTI, in another one of our correct predictions, in the battle of the hot hatches.
Sports/Performance (over $50,000): BMW took two of the top three positions here with its 335i Coupe and M Coupe, with the Audi RS 4 working hard to spoil the Bimmer party. In the end, the RS 4's higher price likely led to the 335i's triumph, as we predicted.
Luxury Car (under $50,000): Supreme luxury prevailed over supreme performance in this group, contrary to what we had forecast, with the Lexus ES 350 winning over the Infiniti G35x.
Prestige Car (over $75,000): A new record was set here for the most expensive vehicle to ever win an AJAC award, when the $150,250 Audi S8 claimed victory over the Lexus LS 460L and Mercedes-Benz S550. And another check mark in our future gazing ability. Until our unimpressive run of SUV predictions came up.
SUV/CUV (under $35,000): We and many others picked the Hyundai Santa Fe to take this group, but it didn't even crack the top three. In the end, the Toyota RAV4 took it over the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-7.
SUV/CUV ($35,000-$60,000): We were way off base on this prediction, since the Lincoln MKX didn't make the podium, never mind the gold medal. The Acura RDX won out in the end over the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Suzuki XL7.
SUV/CUV (over $60,000): The Mercedes-Benz GL 450 edged out the Audi Q7, thus salvaging at least some collective pride in nailing one SUV prediction, the only one where our pick made the top three.
Convertibles: Not much doubt over this one, as the Volkswagen Eos has the best folding hardtop roof in the business, bar none, and is still one of the least expensive convertibles on the market.
Pickup: The Chevrolet Avalanche took this segment, although our bet was on Ford's Sport Trac. The real battle of the true workhorses will happen next year, when the Toyota Tundra goes up against all-new, full-size pickups from GM and Ford's F-150.
AJAC members now vote for 2007 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year. The winners will be announced Feb. 14, just before the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/07_Honda_Fit_Sport1.jpgMichael Bettencourt - Globe and Mail - Nov. 23, 2006
The winners of the 2007 AJAC Best New Vehicle awards came out this week and, out of 13 categories, Globe Auto correctly predicted seven, barely a passing grade in high school, but a triumphant success rate for professional stock pickers.
In a former position as an editor at Carguide magazine, I was part of an annual fall pool around who could guess best which AJAC TestFest vehicles would come out on top in their respective groups.
Invariably, no one came close to picking them all, and getting half of the categories right was often enough to be named winner.
In fact, the most successful TestFest picker the last few years was the only person there who had never attended the annual gathering of all-new vehicles and auto critics from around the country, nor had ever been a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
So along with the winners, here's how our picks fared, and why:
Small cars under $18,000: Honda's Fit won here, and we predicted it would be the Nissan Versa, or barring that the Toyota Yaris sedan. Sales figures don't count for anything in this competition, as the Yaris is by far the biggest seller in the group, but didn't crack the top three.
Small cars over $18,000: Nailed this one, as we picked the Volkswagen Rabbit as it was simply more fun to drive than the others.
Family Car ($22,000-$30,000): We predicted the Toyota Camry would nudge ahead of the Nissan Altima, which it did, despite nicer quality interior materials for the Altima, a switch over the previous generation versions of each.
Family Car (over $30,000): Toyota again took this one with the Camry, this time with the Camry Hybrid, even up against all conventionally powered vehicles. Our prediction had been the Saturn Aura would triumph over the Nissan Maxima.
Sports/Performance under $50,000: The Mazdaspeed3 took this one in a fierce fight with the VW GTI, in another one of our correct predictions, in the battle of the hot hatches.
Sports/Performance (over $50,000): BMW took two of the top three positions here with its 335i Coupe and M Coupe, with the Audi RS 4 working hard to spoil the Bimmer party. In the end, the RS 4's higher price likely led to the 335i's triumph, as we predicted.
Luxury Car (under $50,000): Supreme luxury prevailed over supreme performance in this group, contrary to what we had forecast, with the Lexus ES 350 winning over the Infiniti G35x.
Prestige Car (over $75,000): A new record was set here for the most expensive vehicle to ever win an AJAC award, when the $150,250 Audi S8 claimed victory over the Lexus LS 460L and Mercedes-Benz S550. And another check mark in our future gazing ability. Until our unimpressive run of SUV predictions came up.
SUV/CUV (under $35,000): We and many others picked the Hyundai Santa Fe to take this group, but it didn't even crack the top three. In the end, the Toyota RAV4 took it over the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-7.
SUV/CUV ($35,000-$60,000): We were way off base on this prediction, since the Lincoln MKX didn't make the podium, never mind the gold medal. The Acura RDX won out in the end over the Toyota FJ Cruiser and Suzuki XL7.
SUV/CUV (over $60,000): The Mercedes-Benz GL 450 edged out the Audi Q7, thus salvaging at least some collective pride in nailing one SUV prediction, the only one where our pick made the top three.
Convertibles: Not much doubt over this one, as the Volkswagen Eos has the best folding hardtop roof in the business, bar none, and is still one of the least expensive convertibles on the market.
Pickup: The Chevrolet Avalanche took this segment, although our bet was on Ford's Sport Trac. The real battle of the true workhorses will happen next year, when the Toyota Tundra goes up against all-new, full-size pickups from GM and Ford's F-150.
AJAC members now vote for 2007 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year. The winners will be announced Feb. 14, just before the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.