The Car ofThe Year (COTY) 2012-2013 test fest consists of nine qualitative test weekends and a three-day technical testing at the Clark International Speedway.”Interesting” doesn’t even begin to describe the test weekends. We’ve had days of big brutes,racer boy days,one-make days,and a slew of other toss-ups. With the weekly model lineup kept secret from the testers,it was always a surprise as to what the week’s car menu would be.
Chinese brands set beside American muscle,Japanese versus Scandinavian, and other such juxtapositions.The contrast between them made us appreciate each car’s and brand’s strong points even more. (A list of our 62 “victims”so far is at the bottom.) It was never a question of”who’s better than whom?” Rather, it was a question of”what is unique about this?” The members of Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) are definitely put in a very special position to set personal bias aside and appraise each vehicle objectively.Throughout the weeks,we have seen underdogs shine,while the popular models have shown some quirks one would have otherwise overlooked had it
not been set beside the competition.
From interior space to headroom clearance,in-car entertainment to taillights, no detail is spared from the scrutiny of CAGI. The 2012-2013 Car of the Year Philippines is supported by ETON Centris, Caltex, RCBC Saving Bank through its Auto Loans Division,Standard Insurance, Dole Juice Drinks,and Krispy Kreme.
The Car Awards Group, Inc. has so far tested the following vehicles as of 12 January 2013:
Chevrolet Colorado 4×2 MT
Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 AT
Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 MT
Chevrolet Orlando LT AfT
Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback AT
Chevrolet Sonic Notchback AT
Chevrolet Sonic Notchback MT
Chevrolet Trailblazer LTZ 4×4 AfT
Chrysler 300C
Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Durango Citadel
Ford Explorer EcoBoost 2.0 XLT
Ford Fiesta 1.4 AT Sedan
Ford Focus 2.0L Sport +
Ford Focus 2.0L Titanium+
Ford Ranger 2.2L Duratorq 4×2 AT
Ford Ranger 2.2L Duratorq 4×2 MT
Foton Thunder 4×2
Foton Thunder 4×4
Great Wall Hover H5
Great Wall Wingle H5
The Car Awards Group, Inc. has so far tested the following vehicles as of 12 January 2013:
Honda Civic 1.8 E AT
Honda Civic 2.0 EL AT
Honda CR-V 2.0 LX
Honda CR-V 2.4 EX
Honda Odyssey 3.5 V6 AT
Honda Pilot 3.5 V6 AT
Hyundai Accent 1.6 GLS CRDi VGT hatchback
Hyundai EON 0.8 GLS
Hyundai Sonata 2.0 GLS 6AT Limited
Hyundai Tucson Theta II T2.0 Limited 4WD
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Jeep Wrangler CRD
Kia Rio 1.2 LX MT sedan
Kia Rio 1.4 EX AT hatchback
Kia Rio 1.4 EX AT sedan
Lifan LF320 EX
Lifan LF6201 Foison
Mitsubishi Lancer EX GLX AT
Mitsubishi Lancer EX GLX MT
Mitsubishi Lancer EX MX AT
Mitsubishi Mirage GLS CVT
Mitsubishi Mirage GLS MT
Mitsubishi Mirage GLX CVT
Mitsubishi Mirage GLX MT
Mitsubishi Montero Sport 3.0 V6 GLS
Peugeot 3008
Peugeot 5008
Peugeot 508
Peugeot RCZ
Range Rover Evoque
Subaru lmpreza 2.0i
Subaru lmpreza 2.0i Sport
Subaru XV 2.0i
Subaru XV 2.0i Premium
Suzuki Alto K1 0
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Avanza 1.3E
Toyota Avanza 1.5G
Toyota Camry 2.5V
Toyota Prius C
VolvoS60 DS
First published in Gadgets Magazine February 2013
Words by Mika Fernandez-David