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By
EWAN KENNEDY
24 December 2007
The Australia's Best Car (ABC) awards differ from others of
their type in that any vehicle currently on the new-car market is
eligible, not just the latest releases. This is a more sensible way of
doing things as buyers of new cars may not necessarily look only at
recently introduced models, choosing to survey the entire field.
This has really shown up in the 2007 awards, with no fewer than
six cars backing up on their wins in 2006 to again take out the
honours for 2007.
The little VW Polo TDI, with its miserly turbo-diesel engine
took the prize for Australia's Best Small car for the second year
running.
Likewise with the Honda Civic VTi, another carryover winner in
the Best Mid-Size car under $28,000.
Ford's brilliant new Mondeo received the nod as the Best
Mid-Size Car in the over $28,000 segment, the judges pointing out
that a specific model, the Mondeo TDCi turbo-diesel, was their
vehicle of choice.
The ABC Large Car Award is always watched with keen interest
because it’s the territory or the Commodore and Falcon in their
endless battles for customers’ hearts. Except that the 2007
winner was neither, the Toyota Aurion in AT-X format being
declared the winner. Aurion was yet another two-time winner
following on from its 2006 success.
Honda's very practical Odyssey people mover, received the
trophy in its category for the fourth (that’s right, fourth)
year running, in the People Mover category. And that repeat win
came despite increased competition from new releases like the
Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe which are in the People Mover
class when fitted with 2WD rather than 4WD.
Volkswagen's Golf R32 elbowed its brother Golf GTi out of the
top spot in the Best Sports Car category.
BMW M3 took out the gong for the Best Luxury Sports Car, a
slightly odd category, all the more so since many would class the
new M3 with its V8 powerplant as a hard-edged rather than
luxurious machine.
The Best Prestige Car for 2007 (and 2006) was the Lexus IS250
sedan, scoring judges votes on build and finish quality, as well
as smoothness and quietness.
The Lexus GS450h hybrid was voted the Best Luxury Car for the
second year running, being praised for its combination of
performance and social responsibility.
Nissan proved it had done the right thing by sticking with the
original formula in its new X-Trail SUV, taking out the ABC award
with the ST variant of that model in the Best Recreational 4WD
segment.
Similarly with the Best Luxury 4WD winner, the new BMW X5. It
too has stuck to its roots, though it’s a little larger than the
superseded model and can now be purchased as a seven-seater for
the first time.
Best All-Terrain 4WD went to Land Rover's Discovery 3
turbo-diesel V6. The judges praising it for being in the most
rugged class of all. Like many vehicles in other ABC classes the
Disco 3 was a repeat winner.
Australia's Best Cars awards are increasingly being regarded by
industry gurus, and the buying public, as being the best in the
business. The winners are rigorously tested by experts from the
state and territory motoring associations: the AANT, NRMA, RAASA,
RACQ, RACT, RACV and RACWA.
Full details of the awards can be found at
www.australiasbestcars.com.au/.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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