Motor Trend Car of the Year

The Motor Trend Car of the Year (COTY) is an annual award given by Motor Trend magazine to recognize the best new or significantly refreshed car in a given model year.^[1]

Motor Trend Car of the Year "calipers" trophy

Background

Motor Trend, which debuted in 1949, was the first publication to name a Car of the Year. The inaugural Motor Trend Car of the Year award recognized Cadillac's V8 engine in 1949.^[2]

The earliest awards were given to the manufacturer or division, not for a specific vehicle. The 1958 Ford Thunderbird became the first single model to be selected.^[3] In 1970, the Ford Torino won the COTY while Motor Trend selected the Porsche 914 for its first Import COTY award.^[4]

In 1972, the low-volume imported Citroën SM won the overall COTY award. Between 1976 and 1999, the COTY award was split in two: Domestic COTY and Import COTY.

The trophy was recombined in 2000 because the distinctions between domestic and import cars became increasingly difficult. The award has expanded to include a pickup truck (starting in 1979) and a separate sport utility vehicle (starting in 1999), which are recognized separately from the Car of the Year.

Over time, other publications and organizations have selected various "Car of the Year" awards and COTY is a common abbreviation for numerous trophies. These COTY designations may focus on regional markets, vehicle types, specific market segments, or other criteria. Some examples include the European Car of the Year that began in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines, the Green Car of the Year selected by a panel of automotive and environmental experts, the Tow Car of the Year chosen by selected sponsors in the industry, and the Fleet Car of the Year that is voted by professional fleet managers.^[5][6]

Impact

Motor Trend's Car of the Year is "one of the most prestigious honors bestowed in the auto industry."^[7]

The trophy for the winner, a depiction of calipers, is often used in the winning automaker's marketing and advertising.^[8][9] Most cars that win the award report a spike in sales.^[10][11]

However, receiving Motor Trend's recognition is no guarantee of success. This was the case of the nostalgic 2002 Ford Thunderbird, which did not meet expectations and was pulled from the market three years later.^[12]

Criteria

To be eligible for the award, a car must be an "all-new" or "substantially upgraded" vehicle that has been on sale within twelve months from the previous November, vehicles that have been on sale for over five years are ineligible for the award.

Between the contenders, it is not a comparison test. In 2014 as an example, the Motor Trend judges debated and evaluate each vehicle against six key criteria:^[13]

Criteria	Note
Design Advancement	well-executed exterior and interior styling; innovative vehicle packaging; selection of materials
Engineering Excellence	vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; cost-effective technology that benefits the consumer
Efficiency	low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set
Safety	active: help the driver avoid a crash; secondary: protect occupants from harm during a crash
Value	competitive price and equipment levels, measured against vehicles in the same market segment
Performance of Intended Function	how well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers, and engineers intended

Motor Trend also only considers cars with base MSRPs less than $100,000 in order to avoid expensive luxury and super cars dominating the competition.^[14]

Vehicles are subjected a battery of tests: standard car tests such as skid-pad ratings, acceleration and quarter-mile times, and evaluations of the interiors are combined with a track run conducted by Sports Car Club of America-licensed testers and taking the cars out on normal roads to test their drivability under normal conditions, and fuel economy. Trucks and SUVs add towing capacity and speed, plus an off-road course, to the normal regimen.

Car of the Year listing

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

2015 Volkswagen Golf^[15]

2014 Cadillac CTS

2013 Tesla Model S

2012 Volkswagen Passat

2011 Chevrolet Volt^[16]

2010 Ford Fusion^[17]

2009 Nissan GT-R

2008 Cadillac CTS

2007 Toyota Camry

2006 Honda Civic

2005 Chrysler 300

2004 Toyota Prius

2003 Infiniti G35

2002 Ford Thunderbird

2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser

2000 Lincoln LS

1999 Chrysler 300M

1998 Chevrolet Corvette

1997 Chevrolet Malibu

1996 Dodge Caravan

1995 Chrysler Cirrus

1994 Ford Mustang

1993 Ford Probe GT

1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan

1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ

1990 Lincoln Town Car

1989 Ford Thunderbird SC

1988 Pontiac Grand Prix

1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

1986 Ford Taurus LX

1985 Volkswagen GTI (eligible due to it being built in VW's now-defunct Pennsylvania plant)

1984 Chevrolet Corvette

1983 AMC Alliance / Renault Alliance

1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

1981 Chrysler K Cars, Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant

1980 Chevrolet Citation

1979 Buick Riviera S

1978 Chrysler, Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon

1977 Chevrolet Caprice

1976 Chrysler, Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare

1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

1974 Ford Mustang II

1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year")

1971 Chevrolet Vega

1970 Ford Torino

1969 Plymouth Road Runner

1968 Pontiac GTO

1967 Mercury Cougar

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

1965 Pontiac Motor Division

1964 Ford Motor Company

1963 American Motors (AMC) Rambler (all models: American, Classic, and Ambassador)

1962 Buick Special

1961 Pontiac Tempest

1960 Chevrolet Corvair

1959 Pontiac Motor Division

1958 Ford Thunderbird

1957 Chrysler Corporation (all makes: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial)

1956 Ford Motor Company

1955 Chevrolet Motor Division

1954 No Award

1953 No Award

1952 Cadillac Motor Division

1951 Chrysler Corporation

1950 No Award

1949 Cadillac Motor Division

Import Car of the Year listing

Introduced in 1970 for one year and then brought back in 1976 due to differences between imports and American cars. This was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the line between what is a domestic vehicle and what is not became problematic.

1999 Volkswagen New Beetle

1998 Lexus GS

1997 BMW 5-Series

1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

1995 Nissan Maxima

1994 Honda Accord

1993 Mazda RX-7

1992 Lexus SC 400

1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

1990 Nissan 300ZX Turbo

1989 Mitsubishi Galant GS

1988 Honda CR-X Si

1987 Acura Legend Coupe

1986 Mazda RX-7

1985 Toyota MR2

1984 Honda Civic CR-X

1983 Mazda 626

1982 Toyota Celica Supra

1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel

1980 Honda Civic

1979 Datsun 280ZX

1978 Toyota Celica

1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E

1976 Toyota Celica Liftback

1971-1975 No Awards

1970 Porsche 914

Truck of the Year listing

2017 Ford Super Duty

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax diesel

2015 Chevrolet Colorado

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel

2013 Ram 1500^[18]

2012 Ford F-150

2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty^[19]

2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty^[20]

2009 Ford F-150

2008 Toyota Tundra

2007 Chevrolet Silverado

2006 Honda Ridgeline

2005 Toyota Tacoma

2004 Ford F-150

2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

2001 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty

2000 Toyota Tundra

1999 Chevrolet Silverado

1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

1997 Ford F-150

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe

1995 Chevrolet Blazer

1994 Dodge Ram

1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee^[21]

1992 Ford Van Chateau Club Wagon

1991 Mazda Navajo

1990 Ford Aerostar

1989 Toyota Truck Xtracab SR5

1980-1988 No Awards

1979 Chevrolet LUV

Sport/Utility of the Year listing

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

2016 Volvo XC90

2015 Honda CR-V

2014 Subaru Forester

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2012 Range Rover Evoque

2011 Porsche Cayenne

2010 Subaru Outback

2009 Subaru Forester

2008 Mazda CX-9

2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

2006 Nissan Xterra

2005 Land Rover LR3

2004 Volkswagen Touareg

2003 Volvo XC90

2002 GMC Envoy

2001 Acura MDX

2000 Nissan Xterra

1999 Lexus RX 300

Car of the Year in China

Motor Trend magazine's China-market cousin, Auto Club-Motor Trend, also issues a "Car of the Year" award for that market.

Car of the Year

2011:Bmw-Brilliance 5 Series(Long wheel base)

2010:Shanghai-GM Buick Regal

2009:GAC-Honda Accord

2008:FAW-Volkswagen Magotan(Passat B6)

2007:GAC-Toyota Camry

2006:FAW-Toyota Crown

2005:Changan-Ford Mondeo

2004:FAW-Mazda 6

2003:Shanghai Volkswagen Polo

SUV of the Year listing

2011:FAW-Volkswagen Audi Q5

2010:GAC-Toyota Highlander

2009:Dongfeng-Nissan X-Trail

2008:[GAC-Honda] CRV

2007:countermand

2006:Shanghai GM SRX

2005:[GAC-Honda] CRV

2004:Changfeng Automobile Liebao Feiteng

References

1. Lieberman, Jonny (January 2014). "Motor Trend Car of the Year 2014: The Strong Thrive: The 65th Anniversary of our Signature Award Finds the Automotive Industry Stronger Than Ever". Motor Trend. 66 (1): 42–45. ISSN 0027-2094. OCLC 423854316. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2015-05-18. Our mission was to determine exactly which of this year's 22 new or significantly refreshed contenders is in fact the best.
2. Mueller, Mike (2006). American Horsepower: 100 Years of Great Car Engines. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7603-2327-4. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
3. Gunnell, John (2003). Standard Catalog of Thunderbird, 1955-2004. Krause Publications. p. 7. ISBN 9780873497565. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
4. "The Way We Were: 1970 Motor Trend Import Car of the Year". Motor Trend. May 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
5. "Tow Car Awards". thetowcarawards.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
6. "Fleet Car of the Year". Automotive Fleet. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
7. Fifty Years of Motor Trend. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. 1999. ISBN 978-0-7603-0781-6.
8. Fombrun, Charles J. (1996). Reputation: Realizing Value from the Corporate Image. Harvard Business Press. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-87584-633-0. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
9. "Rambler Wins 1963 Motor Trend "Car of the Year" Award". Life. 54 (10): 105. 1963-03-08. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
10. Dudley, Kathryn Marie (1997). The End of the Line: Lost Jobs, New Lives in Postindustrial America. University of Chicago Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-226-16910-1. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
11. Hyde, Charles K. (2003). Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation. Wayne State University Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-8143-3091-3. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
12. Tast, Alan; Newhardt, David (2004). Thunderbird Fifty Years. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-7603-1976-5. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
13. "Cadillac CTS Scores Second Motor Trend Car of the Year Award" (Press release). Cadillac Pressroom. 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
14. Michael, Floyd (2008-09-25). "2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Contenders Are Revealed, What's Your Pick?". Motor Trend. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
15. Millikin, Mike (2014-11-13). "Volkswagen Golf family named "2015 Motor Trend Car of the Year"". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
16. MacKenzie, Angus. "2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Chevrolet Volt". Motor Trend. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
17. "Motor Trend Names Ford Fusion 2010 Car of the Year" (Press release). Marketwire.com. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
18. "Motor Trend Names 2013 Ram 1500 Truck Of The Year". Autoblog.com.
19. "2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD named Motor Trend Truck of the Year". CheersandGears.com. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
20. "2010 Ram Heavy Duty - 2010 Motor Trend Truck of the Year". Motor Trend. 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
21. "Jeep Grand Cherokee: Motor Trend's 1993 Truck Of The Year". Motor Trend. December 1993. Retrieved 2015-05-18.