The list of candidates had originally been 33 cars long but that was whittled down to 7 on November 2nd.
The winner will now be selected from one of the following:
- Volkswagen Polo
- Toyota IQ
- Skoda Yeti
- Peugeot 3008
- Opel/Vauxhall Astra
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Citroen C3 Picasso
Interestingly, none of the BMW models eligible made the grade and the Porsche Panamera also fell by the wayside.
The Mercedes E-Class is currently the only one of these top seven currently available in North America but is by no means a certainty to pull off the victory. A lot has been made of its appearance with many loyal drivers complaining its headlamps make it look ugly. However, performance remains and its smooth, sculpted body still make it an attractive buy in my book.
Another fine ride is the Volkswagen Polo. Bigger but lighter than its predecessors with an improved drivetrain give this motor a lot of personality. Reviews of this car have been not just good but great and it’s no wonder the Polo’s launch in Italy was looked over by none other than Prof Martin Winterkorn, head of the board at VW Group; A definite contender for this year’s prize.
Although, in my opinion, not the best looking car ever made the Peugeot 3008 should not be underestimated. This is Peugeot’s first hybrid vehicle and features a Land Rover Terrain Reponse-rivalling Grip control system (whatever that is!). The 3008 still provides ample passenger room due to there being no connection between the front engine and rear electric motor. Certainly a car to look out for in the future if you value low CO2 emissions, and high mpg (estimated 65-70mpg).
I’m not going to run through all seven cars in the running but I do want to mention the Citroen C3 before I sign off. Fitted with 1.6-litre diesel engine it emits 119 g/km of CO2. This means the C3 qualifies its drivers for the £35 tax band, saving £120 compared with drivers of similar models. It’s also deceptively spacious however, doesn’t quite deliver the same sort of punch that the Volkswagen Polo does. An outside shot for top honours.
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