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Wheels Car of the Year

COTY: Past winners

The annual Wheels Car of the Year is one of the world’s longest-running automotive awards, with a history that stretches back to 1963.

That makes our award the grand old age of 60 and in that time a broad spectrum of cars have earned the title, ranging from obvious choices to properly left-of-field. Holden Camira, anyone?

The common thread among all of them, however, is that they were good enough to be judged the best of their time by a panel of Australia’s most seasoned motoring journalists. Here’s the list.

All COTY stories

COTY

Behind the scenes at Wheels Car of the Year

The inside line on how COTY 2022 was run, from the eyes of a first-time judge

COTY

Meet the judges of Wheels Car of the Year 2022

Meet the six experts who put out COTY contenders to the test

COTY

The Criteria for Car of the Year 2022 explained

Our judges viewed the COTY field with these five points in mind

COTY

Wheels Car of the Year 2022: The Contenders

Who made the cut in our hunt for the best new car on sale?

COTY

Welcome to Car of the Year 2022

COTY 2022 is here, and there’s a lot to cover – let’s get started

COTY

Behind the scenes at Wheels Car of the Year 2021

Your glimpse behind the proverbial COTY red curtain

Wheels Car of the Year 2021 preview
COTY

Preview: Welcome to Wheels Car of the Year 2021

We were hellbent on making sure COVID-19 wouldn’t interrupt our annual COTY running

Manufacturer acceleration figures
COTY

Which manufacturers are fudging their acceleration figures?

We have conducted independent testing to find out how realistic the acceleration times on new car brochures are.

COTY

The full scorecards from Wheels Car of the Year 2020

Here’s exactly how every car was rated by the judges at COTY

Wheels 2020 Car of the Year Behind the scenes
COTY

Behind the scenes at Wheels Car of the Year 2020

There is no event like Car of the Year. Here’s how the 2020 running went down

2020 Toyota Supra Wheels COTY
COTY

How the judges rated the Toyota Supra at COTY

Good sportsmanship, yes, but short of true all-round appeal

2020 Volvo S60/V60 Wheels COTY
COTY

How the judges rated the Volvo S60/V60 at COTY

Swedes return to try for the triple; encounter bumps in the road

COTY

How the judges rated the Range Rover Evoque at COTY

Brings the style, but dynamic substance found wanting

2020 Volkswagen Touareg at Wheels Car of the Year
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How the judges rated the Volkswagen Touareg at COTY

Premium options blur the line between mainstream and luxury in Wolfsburg’s latest large SUV

2020 Peugeot 508 - Wheels Mag COTY
COTY

How the judges rated the Peugeot 508 at COTY

This French mid-sizer was infused with sufficient goodness to demand a tie-breaker

2020 Nissan Leaf COTY contender
COTY

How the judges rated the Nissan Leaf at COTY

Meaningful makeover for mother of modest EVs

2020 Genesis G70 COTY Contender
COTY

How the judges rated the Genesis G70 at COTY

Aspirational sedan aims to break Korea’s COTY duck

COTY

BMW Z4: the COTY verdict

The COTY process can be ruthless to a roofless Supra

2020 BMW X5 COTY
COTY

How the judges rated the BMW X5 at COTY

Spartanburg’s finest gains approval but no ticket to the finals

Audi Q3
COTY

How the judges rated the Audi Q3 at COTY

Polished and practical, but 1.4 doesn’t get judges’ motor runnin’

BMW 3 Series COTY
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How the judges rated the BMW 3 Series at COTY

Seventh generation has the form, but not quite the finish

COTY

How the judges rated the Audi A1 at COTY

A photogenic and endearing baby, but demands a premium formula

COTY

How the judges rated the Porsche 911 at COTY

Evolution of an icon brings excellence, and takes it closer than ever to COTY glory

COTY

How the judges rated the Toyota RAV4 at COTY

Value, efficiency and overall family friendliness push a segment pioneer to the pointy end