Wheels Car of the Year: Class of 2019

THE field for Wheels Car of the Year has rarely, if ever, been stronger than that assembled for the 2019 showdown. Last year’s finalists, the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volvo XC60 subtly morph into the Stelvio, the Karoq and the XC40, so right there you have a trio that many would consider likely to go deep into the competition.

Mass market favourites like the Toyota Corolla and the Ford Focus just can’t be ignored, and the massive 50-car long list contains some cars that could easily come up on the rails and spring a few surprises. The Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Polo have both won big Wheels comparison tests, so we’re aware of their credentials going into the competition.

Would you bet against a victory for BMW with its new X5? Mazda’s CX-8 also demands to be taken seriously, especially given that its sister vehicle, the CX-9, measured up very smartly against the judging criteria of function, safety, efficiency, value and technology to take the win in 2017.

One car will emerge at the end of an intense week and it’ll deserve the accolades. Many extremely good vehicles will have fallen by the wayside. Here are 10 cars that have undoubtedly caught the eye of our testers in the lead-up.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

11

We loved the Giulia and first drives of the Stelvio show it cedes little dynamically to its sedan sidekick yet gains the traction advantage of all-wheel drive. Whether it can overcome the quality issues that saw the Giulia fall at the last could be key.

Alpine A110

11

The notion of a Porsche Cayman rival that’s lighter, cheaper, purer and arguably better to drive is one that ought to wield real clout. Sports coupes don’t always shape up well against the judging criteria but the A110 could prove a riotous exception.

Chevrolet Camaro

11

As much as we love technological innovation, there’s a place in our hearts for a big old V8, especially when it’s wrapped in the bodywork of Chevrolet’s Camaro. HSV’s right-hook handiwork may see the Camaro muscle its way into contention.

Jaguar I-Pace

11

Serious respect to Jaguar for being the first of the big manufacturers to put its money where its mouth is and try to stick it to Tesla. The disruptive I-Pace is an EV with both clout and character and could well win over our hard-bitten judging panel.

Lamborghini Urus

11

Does the world need a Lamborghini SUV? Not really. Do we want to drive one? Hell, yes! A quarter of a century has elapsed since Sant’Agata last built an SUV – and we deliberately use that term loosely – so this one ought to be a belter.

Mercedes-Benz A Class

11

Why can’t small cars be as well finished and equipped as big ones? If customers are willing to pay for the privilege, why shouldn’t an A-Class feel like an E-Class? That was Merc’s logic and its beautifully built baby could well prove a game changer.

Skoda Karoq

11

Distil the qualities of the brilliant Skoda Kodiaq into a smaller package, make it more accessible and give it the same thoughtful attention to detail and you end up with a compact SUV that plugs straight into the meat of the judging criteria.

Suzuki Jimny

11

As long as it’s in the country in time, the Jimny could be a big hit at COTY. Promising the usual cheery indestructibility with a welcome veneer of interior modernity, the little Suzuki could take down some big reputations.

Toyota Corolla

11

What looks likely to be Australia’s bestselling passenger car aims to prove that registrations alone aren’t enough. The Corolla has become sharper and better equipped in its latest generation, indicative of the renaissance underway at Toyota.

Volvo XC40

11

We gave the XC40 the nod in a recent comparo against Audi Q2, Jaguar E-Pace and BMW X2, so we know it’s made of pretty stern stuff. Whether it can go all the way at COTY like its supersized sibling last year is the biggest question left hanging so far.