2017 4X4OTY: Australian Motoring Awards

THE Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series was crowned the 2017 4x4 Of The Year at the 2017 Australian Motoring Awards (AMAs).

On the annual night of nights for the automotive industry, the Wheels Car of the Year (Mazda CX-9), MOTOR Performance Car of the Year (Porsche 911 Turbo S) and WhichCar Style Award (Audi A4) were also presented.

The awards ceremony took place at Crown’s Palladium in Melbourne, with comedian Shane Jacobsen (the bloke from Kenny) hosting the evening.

Australian actor and motoring enthusiast Eric Bana was the special guest, and he took to the stage for a Q&A with Jacobsen to discuss his love for all things automotive.

More than 200 industry folk were in attendance to witness the LandCruiser 79 claim the coveted trophy ahead of the VW Amarok by a solitary vote – the closest result in 4X4OTY history.

The remaining finalists for the 2017 4X4OTY were the Haval H9 (China’s first contestant at the award), Holden Colorado, Holden Trailblazer, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Mercedes-Benz G300.

To qualify for 4X4OTY contention each vehicle had to be all-new or significantly revised during the past 12 months, hence why there is no Ford Ranger (January’s 4x4 sales leader) or Toyota Hilux in the 2017 crop.

Reckon we hit the nail on the head with this year’s result? Or perhaps you couldn’t disagree more? Either way, have your say by voting for the 2017 4X4OTY Readers’ Choice award!