Wheels Car of the Year 2016: People’s Choice – Group 5

HERE is the fifth and last group of candidates for Car of the Year 2016. Vote here for your Group 5 winner.

This poll closes at noon (Eastern Daylight Saving Time) tomorrow, Friday January 15 – as do the other four.

The cars leading each group at that time will comprise the field for the People’s Choice final.

Last time we looked, the Ford Everest led Group 1, and the Honda HR-V was neck and neck with the Mazda MX-3 in Group 2. The Mazda MX-5 roadster was heading the coupes in Group 3, and the Kia Optima had the jump in Group 4.

If you’ve not voted on those earlier groups, you can still influence the outcome. You’ll find the first four polls on Wheels’ Car of the Year page.

For Group 5, cast your vote on these premium (mostly) Europeans.

You can find a brief explanation of what each brings to the contest in our introduction to the contenders. It presents the full field of 25 cars in alphabetical order, by maker. Or for a more concise description and a look at the cars, just scroll past the poll below.

Remember, this is not a beauty contest. Wheels judges the contestants under five strict criteria, refined over half a century:

Function – how well a car does what it is intended to do.
Efficiency – in all aspects. Use of resources in producing the car and in running it.
Value – both against its rivals and against the wider new car market.
Technology – does it offer a tangible advantage over its rivals?
Safety – We’re talking passive and active.

Thank you for voting, the poll has now closed.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

Just missed last year’s deadline, yet still ready to prove a real BMW can be front-drive

BMW 7 Series

Claimed to be more technologically advanced than an S-Class, which sounds like fighting words

Jaguar XE

The sports sedan we’ve been waiting for, and a car Jaguar desperately needs to succeed

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe

All the technology and opulence of the four-door crammed into a sporting, stunning coupe

Volkswagen Passat

Super-sizes the Golf VII’s DNA for benchmark interior quality and space, and a great drive