2011 Drive Car of The Year Announced

The Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI BlueEfficiency has beaten a field of 45 other cars to win the prestigious 2011 Drive Car of the Year. It was one of the many German cars that claimed an accolade.

The car was also named the Best Luxury Car Under $80,000, spearheading a strong showing at the awards for European cars.

It is the first time a diesel-powered car has won the Drive Car of the Year award. The Mercedes-Benz sedan also gets an advanced stop-start system to save fuel when the car is stationary.

The expert judging panel took part in the biggest vehicle test of its kind in Australia, which covered more than 20,000km in a range of driving conditions, from freeway and stop-start suburban driving to dynamic exercises in a controlled environment. Each contender was assessed on value, quality, safety, comfort, practicality, performance and handling.

Head judge and National Drive Editor Toby Hagon said the C250 CDI BlueEfficiency stood out for its frugal four-cylinder diesel and advanced fuel saving and safety technology. The winner of Car of the Year and 13 category winners was announced at a breakfast hosted by Tim Webster in Sydney this morning.

"The C-Class has always been a great car, but the addition of a punchy, fuel efficient new diesel engine in the C250 CDI combined with additional standard equipment make it a standout in a hotly contested part of the luxury car market," Hagon said.

"The C250 diesel is loaded with technology, including an engine stop-start system and various optional safety features. At less than $70,000 it shows how quickly some of the most advanced safety and fuel-saving technology is working its way into more mainstream cars. It won’t be long until these sorts of technologies become commonplace on everyday cars. "

The Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab and the Ford Ranger Double Cab shared victory in the Safety Innovation Award for bringing passenger car-levels of safety to the increasingly popular dual cab ute segment. With six airbags and stability control the Ranger and BT-50 lead their class for occupant protection.  

Showing a move towards greater fuel efficiency, six of the 13 category winners, including the Car of the Year and the Best Luxury Over $80,000, the Audi A6 3.0 TDI, run on diesel.

"It’s the first time a diesel-powered car has won Drive Car of the Year, which is indicative of the shift towards more fuel efficient vehicles. Diesel has come a long way and is no longer just a truck fuel," Hagon said.

 

European cars won nine of the 13 categories, with the Ford Territory the only locally-built winner.

Mazda3 SP20 won the Green Innovation Award for its advanced new engine that brings fuel-saving stop-start technology to a mainstream small car that sells for less than $30,000.

The annual Drive Car of the Year Awards provide the ultimate consumer guide to the best cars in Australia, awarding winners across 13 major vehicle categories.

Drive Car of the Year 2011 Winners

·         Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI BlueEfficiency

·         Best City Car: Volkswagen Polo 77TSI (for the second consecutive year)

·         Best Small Car: Ford Focus Trend hatch

·         Best Family Car: Ford Mondeo Zetec EcoBoost

·         Best SUV Under $40,000: Skoda Yeti 103TDI

·         Best SUV Over $40,000: Ford Territory TS RWD

·         Best 4WD: Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo diesel

·         Best Ute: Mazda BT-50 XT 4x4 Dual Cab

·         Best Luxury Under $80,000: Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI BlueEfficiency

·         Best Luxury Over $80,000: Audi A6 3.0 TDI

·         Best Performance Under $60,000: Megane Renault Sport 250 Cup Trophee

·         Best Performance Over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

·         Best Convertible: Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

·         Best People Mover: Honda Odyssey

·         Safety Innovation Award: Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab and Ford Ranger Double Cab

·         Green Innovation Award: Mazda3 SP20

·         People’s Choice Award: Audi A6 3.0 TDI