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Wheels magazine has always had a passionate audience, with a thriving letters section. Here's the latest from our readers.
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Worthy winner?
A very polarising COTY result.
What this does show is that Wheels staff assess cars objectively – so the trolls who hurl insults whenever an EV gets a good review are clearly wrong.
The Everest isn’t a car I would consider, but the people involved in creating it deserve to be heartily congratulated.
Perhaps they were lucky that the competition was possibly not as strong as, say, last year? Will this be the last ICE to win?
Robert not a Robot, via WhichCar.com.au
🛞 Editor Andy
We knew that the Everest wasn’t going to be to everybody’s taste but that tends to be the way of Wheels Car of the Year. Only one car wins. Was the competition as strong as last year? That’s a very good question. The Kia EV6 emerged victorious in 2022, edging a win by the narrowest of margins over the Hyundai Ioniq 5. If the Ioniq 5 had been in this year’s competition instead, it would have given the Everest a very hard time.
Had it prevailed, the mailbag would likely have been rammed with comments proclaiming that EVs don’t work in Australia. I sincerely hope Everest’s not the last ICE winner, as I still see a valuable place for such cars, especially in the specific conditions of the Aussie market.
I also know that many members of the COTY judging panel feel exactly the same way.
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What the tuck?
I have been reading Wheels for 44 years and only once have I disagreed with the COTY decision: the VR Commodore.
Sadly, I must add the Ford Everest to my dissent.
Thirty years ago, Wheels was burning the E-series Falcon at the stake for not having IRS. Yet the Everest, with its Model T-style ladder chassis and live axle, as well as its ‘ancient’ V6 burning dirty, DPF-clogging diesel, is a worthy winner?
Bill Tuckey must be spinning in his grave. His key COTY criteria – Advancement In Design and Engineering Excellence – are nowhere to be seen. They have been replaced by, and reduced to, a popularity competition based on sales figures.
Ross Larcombe, Queanbeyan ACT
🛞 Editor Andy
I certainly can’t speak for Tuckey, but the Everest brings a heap of advancements in design and no small serving of engineering excellence. What’s more, I commend you for agreeing with us on the other 42 decisions. You have, by and large, impeccable judgment.– Ed
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Point...
Unbelievable! I understand that the Everest is better than Prado and the other ladder-frame SUVs, and had some Australian input into its design, but really! Car of the Year?
Especially when you stated that it is near the bottom of the list when it comes to braking and handling!
So it’s good on dirt. That’s great, because the vast majority of these things will never leave the bitumen, and spend their days dropping kids at school, doing the shopping and clogging up the car parks. Is this a case of just handing the award to a type of vehicle that so many people seem to like because it will make you popular with the punters?
I’ve been reading Wheels since 1969, so that’s over 50 years of reading about the importance of some sort of dynamic ability in a car. Until now. Sorry, You’ve lost me.
Bill, via WhichCar.com.au
🛞 Editor Andy
Go out and drive a new Everest. It ought to cause you to revisit your stereotypes of who it’s for, what it’s capable of and why it might prove popular with Aussie buyers.
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Counterpoint
Congratulations for coming up trumps with a COTY winner that is in keeping with the current market trend of SUVs.
This is what people are buying, but up to now have had to put up with the usual under-engineered, over-priced Prado and the likes with their underpowered, antiquated four-pot diesels.
Everest is what this segment is crying out for. A fully kitted, good- looking and capable SUV with style and engineering that is spot-on for Australian conditions.
Peter Steele via WhichCar.com.au
🛞 Editor Andy
Cheers, Peter. We loved that the Everest advanced its segment possibly further than any new vehicle in the last five years.
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Adventure
Makes sense for the Everest to win COTY. Been looking at a true 4x4 that can handle sand dunes, rocks and winding paved roads and this is the standout. Locking diffs, 18-inch tyres, lots of power.
The only contender against the Everest is the Prado and that’s out because of its dated interior, its on-road handling and that Toyota has been actively pushing against emissions standards globally (some of us keen on the outdoors and wanting a real 4x4 as a result also do care about our environment).
Bring out the plug-in hybrid Everest and we’d have the perfect Australian adventure vehicle.
Fil, via WhichCar.com.au
🛞 Editor Andy
I’ve run an Everest V6 for many thousands of km and can attest to its inherent fitness for local conditions. It’s worth noting too that it has returned way, way better economy than Peter Robinson’s old Focus 2.0 long termer too. Progress, eh?
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The Wheels question to you
Gen3 Supercars: Hit, miss or maybe?
For
- Allan Barton, Vic: The cars looked great and seemed a proper handful, the racing was fairly close and, amazingly for a series having undergone such a shake-up, it wasn’t stricken by mechanical attrition. A cautious thumbs up here.
Cons
- Cam Williams, Qld: Yeah, nah. The whole point of Gen3 was to promote cheaper cars and closer racing. The bills for the cars seems to coming in at $750K each and the tyres overheat when following another car. Fail.
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