The ballots are in and counted and the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada has chosen the top vehicles for 2005 in 12 categories.
From that list, announced Tuesday, the voters/testers will also pick an overall Canadian Car of the Year and Truck of the Year, to be revealed at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto on Feb. 16.
At the end of October, about 60 auto journalists from across Canada spent up to four days testing all the new models and then cast their ballots in the 12 categories. The votes were tabulated by an accounting firm according to a complicated system that weights the results based on pricing.
AJAC members assess vehicles based on such things as quality, styling, interior comfort and usefulness, on-road noise, vibration and harshness, performance, road dynamics, safety features, market significance, value and, for trucks and sport-utility vehicles, off-road and cargo/load capability.
Each vehicle is scored on a scale of 1-10 in each area.
In the Nov. 4 issue, Globe Megawheels featured Jeremy Cato's picks.
The AJAC 2005 winners in the 12 vehicle categories are:
Economy car
The winner: Kia Spectra LX Sedan
The contenders:
Chevrolet/Pontiac Pursuit
Hyundai Accent 5-Door
Smart Coupe and Cabriolet
Cato's pick: Kia Spectra LX Sedan
Family car
The winner: Mazda6 Sport
The contenders:
Buick Allure
Ford Five Hundred
Pontiac G6
Subaru Legacy
Cato's pick: Ford Five Hundred
Luxury car
The winner: Chrysler 300C
The contenders:
Acura RL
Cadillac STS
Infiniti G35X
Kia Amanti
Volkswagon Phaeton
Cato's pick: Acura RL
Sport utility vehicle
The winner: BMW X3 3.0i
The contenders:
Infiniti QX 56
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover LR3
Lexus GX 470
Nissan Pathfinder
Cato's pick: Land Rover LR3
Crossover
The winner: Hyundai Tucson
The contenders:
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Freestyle SEL
Nissan X-Trail
Subaru Outback
Cato's pick: Ford Freestyle SEL
Sports compact
The winner: Volvo S40
The contenders:
Ford Focus ST
Kia Spectra5 Pkg. 1
Mazdaspeed MX5 Miata
Saab 9-2X
Saturn Ion (Red Line)
Toyota Corolla XRS
Cato's pick: Toyota Corolla XRS
Sports/performance car
The winner: Ford Mustang Coupe
The contenders:
BMW 645Ci Coupe
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster
Mercedes C55 AMG
Cato's pick: Cadillac CTS-V
Minivan
The winner: Honda Odyssey
The contenders:
Dodge Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Saturn Relay/Buick Terraza
Cato's pick: Honda Odyssey
Station wagon
The winner: Mazda6 Sportwagon
The contenders:
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
Chevrolet Optra Wagon
Dodge Magnum RT
Jaguar X-Type Wagon
Subaru Legacy
Volvo V50
Cato's pick: Dodge Magnum RT
Pickup
The winner: Toyota Tacoma
The contenders:
Dodge Dakota
Ford F-250 Super Duty
Nissan Frontier
Cato's pick: Ford F-250 Super Duty
Convertible
The winner: Mercedes SLK350 (See review, G4)
The contenders:
Audi S4 Cabriolet
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler PT Touring Convertible
Mini Cooper S Convertible
Saab 9-3
Toyota Solara
Cato's pick: Chevrolet Corvette
Alternative power
The winner: Honda Accord Hybrid
The contenders:
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra
Ford Escape Hybrid
Jeep Liberty Diesel
Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI
Cato's pick: Honda Accord Hybrid
