Wheels Car of the Year 2022: The Contenders

A silver lining of our delayed COTY testing this year is that despite the odds, COTY ’22 features a bumper field of 21 contenders from 14 different manufacturers.

Because we had to massage our dates slightly, it meant we could include exciting heavy hitters like the Kia EV6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class even though they didn’t arrive Down Under until the end of January. Bonus.

2022 Wheels Car of the Year revealed!

COTY class of '22

24

BMW iX

BMW’s imposing and slick EV SUV makes a bold impression, but so does its price tag. It wouldn’t be the first time a car in this segment has made it to the top of the pack, though…

24

Honda Civic

New generation of Honda’s hatchback darling. A single, high-spec variant with a steep entry price take aim at Europe under Honda’s new sales model. Will the value equation stack up at COTY?

24

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Probably the bookie’s favourite to take out our gong, providing it can edge out its sibling from Kia. Stacks up well against our criteria for Function, Efficiency, Safety and Technology while also offering plenty in the way of X-Factor thanks to its adventurous exterior and interior design. Our first taste at the local launch did raise a few question marks around its ride quality, and its value equation will be thrown under the COTY microscope, yet there’s no escaping this is Hyundai’s best shot yet to win its first Wheels COTY trophy.

24

Hyundai i20 N

Distilling much of the brilliance of its bigger brother – the excellent i30 N – into a smaller and more affordable package makes the i20 N one of 2022’s most exciting hot hatches. It makes a convincing on-paper case against COTY’s Function and Value criteria, too, meaning Hyundai’s pint-sized contender is tipped by many to feature at the pointy end of the process. Translating that on-paper promise into the real thing is no small feat, however, but there’s no obvious hole in the i20 N’s armour. Let’s see if it remains that way...

24

Hyundai Palisade

A clever use of a lot of space, and an all-round impressive bit of machinery on paper, but will the big diesel seven-seater impress our judges with its premium angle?

24

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai number four is a sensible, family-friendly offering, but is there anything about the Tucson, aside from proven competence, to set it apart from the crowd?

24

Genesis GV70

The new kid on the premium South Korean block, and one Genesis hopes will dig into the ever-popular medium SUV market.

24

Kia Carnival

The new-gen Carnival has reviewed well so far, and it's not like a van hasn’t taken out COTY before – we’re looking at you, Tarago. Believe us, the Carnival deserves to be here.

24

Kia EV6

A benefactor of our later-than-usual testing schedule and a genuine ‘on-paper’ contender when considered against the COTY criteria. EV6 is a close relation to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 yet offers several crucial distinctions, including a sportier intent both in how it looks and drives. More odds-on favourite than dark horse.

24

Kia Sportage

Flagship-spec Sportage has all the bells and whistles, and is a huge leap for the badge. Kia hopes it’s enough to convince buyers… and judges.

24

Lexus NX

The new generation of Lexus’ most popular model, comes with an overhauled infotainment system and some new tricks for Lexus.

24

Mazda MX-30

Mazda’s first EV is quirky and niche, but that’s not stopped cars from winning COTY before. But questions around practicality in the real world loom. Let’s test that, shall we?

24

Mercedes C-Class

The C-Class needs no introduction as far as COTY is concerned. The new generation brings tech and luxury from E- and S-Class. One to watch, for sure.

24

Mercedes S-Class

No intro needed, as above. Absolute first-class motoring on wheels, and the way it pioneers tech is just about the only time ‘trickle-down’ has worked.

24

Polestar 2

Not a Volvo. Mostly. This Swede still has some DNA from its sibling brand, but stepping out of the shadow and chasing a more adventurous buyer is bold. Will it work?

24

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Porsche’s impressive EV arrives at COTY in ‘active lifestyle’ wagon spec. It’s still bloody quick, but it’s also still a bit on the pricey side here.

24

Skoda Octavia

Sometimes slightly under the radar, this VW Golf cousin is giving more reasons than ever to choose it over the badge from Wolfsburg. But, boy, is that new Golf good.

24

Subaru BRZ

Pedigree counts for nought at COTY, though there’s no escaping the BRZ arrives at COTY carrying a certain weight of expectation. The first BRZ (with which this 2022 model still shares plenty of DNA) won our gong in 2012 when it shared the trophywith its Toyota 86 twin. There’s no radical departure this time around, either. The new BRZ seeks to retain much of the original’s excellence but offers all-new sheet metal, an improvement in torsional rigidity, a fresh cabin and importantly, a larger capacity engine with more power/torque.

24

Subaru Outback

An all-new Outback is a big deal, both for Subaru sales and for buyers seeking the ruggedness and ability of an SUV without the usual SUV compromises of a higher centre-of-gravity and thirstier consumption. And for this sixth-gen, Subaru has shaken things up. Gone are the six-cylinder petrol and diesel versions, leaving a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol as the only powertrain choice.

Prices are up too, though so are interior space and standard equipment levels. The move to the new billion-dollar ‘Subaru Global Platform’ delivers improved dynamics, while a fresh interior also offers a large tablet-style centre screen. Long a Wheels favourite, let’s see if the Outback can finish at the pointy end.

24

Toyota LandCruiser

An Australian icon, even if its badge isn’t Australian. The new generation is much hyped, but can a 4x4 make a place for itself at COTY? We think it deserves a crack.

24

Volkswagen Golf

Evolution often cops a bad wrap, yet in the car world it often results in excellence. There’s a sound reason icons like the Porsche 911 don’t deviate from their recipe. So while the Mk8 mightn’t offer a giant leap, don’t discount the Golf’s ability to cause a COTY upset. It’s arguably the most polished contender we have.