2013 Euro COTY nominees

Perhaps we were spoilt by 2012’s decent group of contenders, but it doesn’t look like 2013 is going to be a vintage year for the European Car of the Year award.

The list of eligible vehicles is restricted by the contest rules, which state that entrants have to be new, be available in at least five European markets and be expected to hit a minimum of 5,000 sales annually.

So, on that basis, thirty-eight candidates were initially selected, among them some very worthy models:
  • Audi A3
  • BMW 3 Series
  • Chevrolet Malibu
  • Citroën C4 Aircross / Peugeot 4008
  • Dacia Lodgy
  • Dacia Sandero
  • Fiat 500L
  • Fiat Viaggio
  • Ford B-Max
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai i30
  • Hyundai SantaFe
  • Kia Cee’d
  • Kia Optima
  • Lancia Flavia
  • Land Rover Range Rover
  • Lexus GS
  • Mazda 6
  • Mercedes-Benz A-Class
  • Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  • Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Peugeot 208
  • Porsche Boxster
  • Renault Clio
  • Renault Zoë
  • Škoda Rapid / Seat Toledo
  • Smart Electric Drive
  • Subaru Impreza
  • Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86
  • Tata Vista
  • Toyota Auris
  • Toyota Prius Plug-in
  • Toyota Prius Plus
  • Volkswagen Golf
  • Volvo V40
  • Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid
  • Vauxhall / Opel Adam
  • Vauxhall / Opel Mokka
The first round of jury voting has just taken place and the outcome, which determines the eight nominees that’ll go forward to a second and final ballot, is disappointing.

Anything remarkable or interesting seems to have been ignored, thereby producing a dull assortment that wouldn’t be out of place sitting in an airport car rental yard:
  • Ford B-Max
  • Hyundai i30
  • Mercedes-Benz A-Class
  • Peugeot 208
  • Renault Clio
  • Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86
  • Volkswagen Golf
  • Volvo V40
There is of course one glaring exception to the mediocrity - the Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 joint entry. Its blend of affordability, low weight, rear-wheel drive and fun surely makes the compact coupé the only deserving winner.

Subaru BRZ (2012) Front Side
The Subaru BRZ...
Toyota GT86 (2012) Rear Side
...and the Toyota GT86.

Whether the jury thinks the same way remains to be seen, of course. The final result will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show on the 4th of March 2013.

Related posts:
2013 NACTOY finalists
2012 Euro COTY winner

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