Toyota Prius is Japan's Car of the Year

 

Toyota Prius	First generation of Prius was also JCOTY winner

The world's best-selling hybrid model, the Toyota Prius, has again won the Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) award for 2009/2010. Back in 1997, the first generation of the model also won the same award which gave recognition to a major innovation in automobiles.  

Another hybrid model, the Honda Insight, was runner-up, an indication of the increasing significance of hybrid models which were first offered by Toyota and Honda from the late 1990s.

 

Honda Insight	Alfa Romeo Mito (right) and Volvo XC60

The third-placed model in the annual event was the latest generation of the Volkswagen Golf, which was also the top-ranked Import Car of the Year. Other imported models among the top 10 were the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class (5th), Volvo XC60 (7th) and Alfa Romeo Mito (8th).

 

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Nissan Fairlady Z (370Z)

The Mitsubishi i-MIEV, which runs on lithium-ion batteries, was ranked 4th and also won the award for the Most Advanced Technology. It was considered to be a breakthrough model which offered practicality from an electric vehicle which could be mass produced.

Not surprisingly, the Nissan Fairlady Z, also known as 370Z in markets outside Japan, was given the 'Most Fun’ award. The judges found it to achieve the sort of performance expected for a sportscar while being safe. This is the second time the model has won the 'Most Fun’ title.
 

For the 'Best Value’, award, the Subaru Legacy was the winner and among the reasons it was chosen was because of its horizontally-opposed 'boxer’ engine which has reached maturity and the all-wheel drive system which Subaru offers at reasonable prices.
 

The organizers of the JCOTY also gave a special award this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the event and it went to the Honda Fit/Jazz (overall winner in 2001/2002 and 2007/2008). The model had won various awards no less than 22 times and was highly regarded for its interior packaging and high fuel efficiency.

39 models were nominated for this year’s JCOTY with Toyota and Nissan having four each, the most among the 20 brands (including foreign makes).

 

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 (Lexus LS)
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 (Lexus 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 MX-5
2006/2007: Lexus LS460
2007/2008: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2008/2009: Toyota iQ