Japan Car of the Year 2008/2009

Toyota iQ

Toyota’s innovative little iQ – the world’s smallest car which can accommodate 4 persons – has won the Japan Car of the Year  (JCOTY) Award for 2008/2009. Its total score of 526 points was a massive 303 points ahead of the second-placed model, the Citroen C5 which also won the Import Car of the Year Award. This is the first time that a Toyota model has won an overall JCOTY award since 1999/2000 when the Yaris/Vitz won.

The Nissan GT-R was third overall and impressed the judging panel with its engineering that it also won the 'Most Advanced Technology' award. Other new models which won special awards were the Honda Freed MPV for the 'Best Value' and the Subaru Exiga for the 'Most Fun'.

Nissan GT-R	Honda Freed

Citroen C5 chosen as Import Car of the year

Besides, the C5, the other non-Japanese models which were among the top ten were the Audi A4, Fiat 500 and Jaguar XF

The rest of the models classified in the overall top ten were (in order of points): the Audi A4, Jaguar XF, Daihatsu Tanto, Fiat 500, Honda Freed, Mazda Atenza (Mazda6), and Suzuki Wagon R. The Subaru Exiga was ranked 11th overall. Over 40 new models were chosen as Finalists for this year’s JCOTY.

PAST JAPAN CAR OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
1980/1981: Mazda Familia (323)
1981/1982: Toyota Soarer
1982/1983: Mazda Capella (626)
1983/1984: Honda Civic
1984/1985: Toyota MR2
1985/1986: Honda Accord
1986/1987: Nissan Pulsar
1987/1988: Mitsubishi Galant
1988/1989: Nissan Silvia SX
1989/1990: Toyota Celsior
1990/1991: Mitsubishi Galant
1991/1992: Honda Civic
1992/1993: Nissan March
1993/1994: Honda Accord
1994/1995: Mitsubishi FTO
1995/1996: Honda Civic
1996/1997: Mitsubishi Galant
1997/1998: Toyota Prius
1998/1999: Toyota Altezza (Lexis IS250)
1999/2000: Toyota Vitz (Yaris)
2000/2001: Honda Civic
2001/2002: Honda Fit/Jazz
2002/2003: Honda Accord
2003/2004: Subaru Legacy
2004/2005: Honda Legend
2005/2006: Mazda MX5
2006/2007: Lexus LS460
2007/2008: Honda Fit/Jazz