Drive Car of the Year 2009
It's on again. Six days, 20,000 kilometers, 46 cars, 14 categories and one grand prize. Drive will be presenting all this year's contenders in detail, read on for the first batch of the best of the best.
Drive's annual Car of the Year testing begins this weekend in Victoria, with results announced on Friday, November 27.
Over the next three weeks we'll look at each of the contenders in detail. When the process is finished, the results will provide the ultimate new-car buyers' guide, covering everything from small city runabouts and workhorse utes to luxury limousines and rugged off-roaders.
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Small car under $20,000
They might be the cheapest cars on the market but the sub-$20,000 small cars make a compelling argument thanks to features that can include Bluetooth and iPod connectivity. Even stability control is sneaking into the types of vehicles that appeal to so many first-time drivers.
The new Ford Fiesta is a case in point. Based on the underpinnings of the Mazda2, the latest Fiesta starts with good credentials. It also brings a long equipment list on some models, as well as an impressive interior and proven driving ability, not to mention sharp pricing. The option of seven airbags and stability control will also mean it does well when measured against the gruelling Drive Car of the Year criteria.
For the first time in DCOTY history, though, we've opted to bring both the auto and manual version of a single model to the contest. That's because the manual comes with a larger, more powerful 1.6-litre engine, making it a standout in the class. Opt for the auto, though, and the engine reverts to a less impressive 1.4-litre.
Judges will drive both over the six days of testing but the award could conceivably go to just one Fiesta. The judges' conundrum will be deciding whether the auto is up to the task and whether a manual gearbox is relevant to increasingly auto-centric small-car buyers.
Those issues don't translate to the defending champion in the class, the Mazda2, which convincingly took out last year's title and with good reason.
Its enjoyable and competent driving dynamics with a generous features list, good looks and a practical interior made it a winner in a competitive category. Class-leading safety at the time also didn't go unnoticed by DCOTY's judges. The 2 is unchanged for 2009 but remains a solid package.
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Small over $20,000
The Mazda3 has won the hotly contested small-car category for the past three years. Even as the car approached the end of its model life last year, its newer competitors still couldn't unseat the champ.
This year, its rivals — the new Volkswagen Golf and diesel Ford Focus — have an even tougher assignment.
The Mazda3, Australia's most popular car with private buyers, has been comprehensively updated for 2009, with a new body that improves driveability. The old model's biggest flaw was road and tyre noise and the new version addresses that. It also gets a new five-speed auto and an impressive safety armoury that includes six airbags and stability control.
The car gets more standard equipment as well, with Bluetooth and satellite navigation standard on the Maxx Sport we've picked out.
But the car is not without its foibles. It sits on a platform that is five years old and legroom in the rear is not as generous as some rivals.
Volkswagen's sixth-generation Golf is a worthy adversary. Like the Mazda, the new Golf looks and feels a lot like the previous model. But look beneath the surface and you'll find a car improved in every key area.
The 118TSI model we've chosen comes with one of the best engines in the business — a 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged unit that delivers strong performance and fuel economy.
The new model also comes with a more generous list of equipment, some of the best small-car dynamics in the business and a classy, flexible interior. Seven airbags, stability control and a five-star crash rating complete a compelling package. The Golf's value-for-money equation isn't as strong as others in the class, however.
Ford's Focus has long been an impressive small-car contender, let down by a drab interior and notable equipment omissions.
The latest Focus has new front-end styling and a slightly more attractive cabin, with a redesigned dash and new instrument panel. But the headline act for the new model is an impressively efficient diesel model that features a dual-clutch automatic transmission for the first time. On the road, the Focus delivers an impressive balance between a comfortable ride and sharp handling, helped by accurate, well-weighted steering. It also carries a five-star crash rating, courtesy of a safety package that includes six airbags and stability control.
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Medium
The mid-sized car market is one of the most cut-throat in the business, highlighted by the fact that the best-selling car in the segment, the Toyota Camry, doesn't get a look-in this year, despite a minor facelift.
Instead, the carry-over champ, the Ford Mondeo, faces off against a slightly revised Mazda6, the all-new Subaru Liberty and the wildcard, the hybrid Toyota Prius.
The Mondeo was a surprise winner. Its roomy cabin, safety package and value for money got it across the line. For its size, the Mondeo is nimble through corners, with the ride comfortable and controlled.
This year, the Mondeo is $2000 more expensive but gets more equipment, including voice-activated Bluetooth and cruise control as standard on the LX model.
Its cabin is, however, starting to look a bit dated, while the 2.3-litre petrol engine is underpowered against new rivals.
The Mazda6 lost out to the Mondeo in last year's DCOTY awards but has a return shot because it now takes the more affordable regular unleaded fuel. There's also some extra equipment that makes the 6 a better-value package.
The Mazda's engine is strong, if a little noisier than its rivals, while it uses less fuel than the Mondeo. On the road, the Mazda is poised through corners, with well-weighted steering and sharp handling.
Subaru's new-generation Liberty has addressed many of the criticisms of the old model. It has more rear legroom and headroom, while the new continuously variable transmission (CVT) improves fuel economy while providing a significant step forward in performance. All-wheel-drive and an array of safety features make for an impressive all-round package.
Cabin materials haven't improved greatly, although the electronic park brake, brushed metal accents in the cabin and new display screens have lifted the ambience.
The third generation of Toyota's trailblazing Prius hybrid is a far more convincing effort than previous models.
Performance is improved, thanks to a larger 1.8-litre engine, while the interior has plenty of gadgets. It also uses less than half the fuel of its mid-sized rivals. Weighing against it will be a higher sticker price and less-than-involving driving dynamics.
However, the claim of being Australia's greenest car will certainly play a role come judging time.
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Large
Australians take a particular interest in the sedans that shaped our large-car culture: the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore.
Last year's Drive Car of the Year testing delivered a shock result, though. The made-in-Thailand Honda Accord V6 beat the local large cars at their own game, using its cylinder deactivation system, up-market interior and competent road manners to take a decisive category victory and the overall award. It won because it felt a class above the opposition.
No surprises, then, that the Accord V6 returns to DCOTY as a favourite. Nothing's changed on the sizeable Honda sedan but its value looks better than ever.
It has some fresh competition, however, in the form of the sharply priced Nissan Maxima ST-L. The 2.5-litre V6, matched with a CVT, delivers a good balance of power and efficiency. The Maxima has never been regarded as a driver's car but Nissan has tweaked the suspension and handling for a sportier feel.
The updated Commodore might look no different but it houses arguably the biggest change to a locally made large car in decades. Its V6 engine has shrunk in size to just 3.0 litres but it gets more power and claimed economy gains of up to 12 per cent.
Combined with a six-speed transmission, the recently updated Commodore answers the concerns judges had last year and remains a strong package.
While the Falcon has changed little over the past 12 months, the fact it beat the Commodore in a recent Drive fuel-economy challenge earned it dispensation into the 2009 field.
The Falcon is surprisingly frugal for its size and the combination of a torque-laden six-cylinder and slick (optional) six-speed auto transmission makes for a rewarding drive. The Falcon steers and handles impressively, without sacrificing comfort. Inside, there's plenty of room, although still no curtain airbags for rear passengers, something we've begged Ford to fix.
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Luxury under $60,000
The Volkswagen Group provides three of the four entrants in this category, each representing a different take on the luxury theme.
The impressive Audi A4 was a convincing winner in its DCOTY category last year with its great engine and transmission combination, impressive driving dynamics and equipment list.
The A4 hasn't changed so it will be interesting to see if fresher, newer metal can knock it off. We've again chosen the sharply priced four-cylinder turbo version of the A4.
Up against the A4 this year is the unconventional Volkswagen Passat CC, a four-door with a coupe-like profile similar to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The sleekly styled coupe costs $10,000 more than a regular Passat but has more standard equipment, such as adjustable suspension, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and 18-inch alloy wheels. The V6 breaks our $60k limit but the front-driven, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel sneaks under it.
If Volkswagen is a poor cousin to Audi, then Skoda is destitute. But the Skoda Superb has the credentials, especially in the V6 form we've chosen. The Superb is a genuine large-car contender and comes with a trick rear hatch that can switch from a sedan to a liftback. The V6 model is the flagship version and will rival local offerings such as the Holden Calais and the Falcon G6E.
There's a long list of features that come with the $57,000 price tag, along with an impressive safety story that includes nine airbags.
The Holden Calais also gets a place this year thanks to a new, more efficient direct-injection 3.6-litre V6 that brings more power and up to 12 per cent better economy than its predecessor. Nothing else has changed on this up-market version of the Commodore but the car still provides an impressive blend of space, comfort and value. It's also accomplished on the open road, with confidence-inspiring handling and a comfortable ride.
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Luxury over $60,000
In many ways, luxury cars offer a glimpse of the technology that will filter to the cars most of us can afford.
In 2009, the Drive Car of the Year field is as diverse as it is competitive.
Defending its title is the Jaguar XF diesel. But it comes with a tweak, of sorts. Earlier this year the XF received a more powerful 3.0-litre version of its twin-turbocharged V6 diesel.
The new 3.0-litre diesel is smoother than its predecessor, with less hesitation (or turbo lag) off the mark. It also attracts less luxury car tax because it uses less than seven litres of fuel per 100 kilometres but that hasn't stopped Jaguar pumping the price up by $8000 (that will work against it in the DCOTY criteria).
Inside, the XF retains its sense of theatre, while on the road it expertly balances comfort with agility.
No doubt the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class will create judging fireworks, with its cutting-edge technology and sharper, more driver-focused dynamics.
For 2009 we've chosen the frugal twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel that delivers value and performance.
Safety equipment includes blind-spot warnings, technology that tells you if you've drifted out of your lane and high-beam headlights that dip automatically as traffic approaches. Inside, there are acres of space and a blend of elegance and practicality.
Rounding out our three top-end luxury finalists for 2009 is a car that sits at the pinnacle of the BMW range. The new BMW 7-Series passes on the Government's controversial luxury tax savings with an impressive (for a large, well-specified limousine) $200,000 price tag.
Inside, the cabin is comfortable and spacious, while the controversial iDrive cabin controls are vastly more user-friendly.
The 730d's engine has the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car but accelerates with the pace you'd expect of a luxury express.
Happy Motoring
duglet
