[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/world-car-year-nominees-revealed\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/world-car-year-nominees-revealed\/","headline":"World Car of the Year nominees revealed","name":"World Car of the Year nominees revealed","description":"It was revealed at the recent Paris Motor Show that 22 cars would be in with a chance of driving away with the prestigious \u2018World Car of the Year\u2019, a title currently held by the Mazda MX-5 and rightly so. Our fondness for the cheeky roadster is well-documented and the fourth generation model is possibly the finest iteration yet. A jury comprising auto journalists from around the world will have to whittle the list down to three finalists before the […]","datePublished":"2016-10-12","dateModified":"2016-10-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/feature-13.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/feature-13.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/world-car-year-nominees-revealed\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":855,"keywords":["Audi","Buick LaCrosse","Chevrolet Cruze","Chrysler","Fiat124 Spider","Genesis G80","honda civic","Hyundai Elantra","Infiniti Q60","Jaguar F-Pace","Kia","Mazda CX-9","Paris Motor Show","Seat Ateca","Skoda Kodiaq","SsangYong Tivoli XLV","Toyota C-HR","Volkswagen Tiguan"],"articleBody":"It was revealed at the recent Paris Motor Show that 22 cars would be in with a chance of driving away with the prestigious \u2018World Car of the Year\u2019, a title currently held by the Mazda MX-5 and rightly so. Our fondness for the cheeky roadster is well-documented and the fourth generation model is possibly the finest iteration yet.A jury comprising auto journalists from around the world will have to whittle the list down to three finalists before the overall winner is named at the New York Motor Show on April 13th.Some of the cars in there haven\u2019t been driven by anyone yet but to take a stab in the dark, we\u2019re guessing the finalists will be Audi\u2019s Q2, Jaguar F-Pace, and the Volkswagen Tiguan. Which do you think?AudiWith the A5, Q2 and Q5 in the running, Audi has a better chance than anyone else. As we already said, it is likely that the Q2 [pictured] will go far in the competition but the A5 and Q5 also have a good chance too.BuickBecause this is a global contest, some models pop up that aren\u2019t sold in the UK. The LaCrosse full-size saloon [pictured] and Envision mid-size crossover are just two of those.Truth is, because these American cars are only available in limited regions (US, Canada, Mexico, China and Taiwan as it stands), they never cause much bother in the World Car Awards. Next!ChevroletAnother American brand that couldn\u2019t\/wouldn\u2019t hack it in the UK. Chevy pulled out of the UK – and the rest of Europe – in 2014 because it struggled to compete on quality, price and drivability. The Cruze has little hope of getting anywhere in the WCAs.ChryslerIs it a minivan or an SUV? It doesn\u2019t matter because there\u2019s little disputing that this thing is nightmare-inducingly hideous! Chrysler also gave up on the UK in 2015, so the Pacifica isn\u2019t available over here either thankfully, offered to just US and Canadian motorists for now.FiatWhen we were guessing our three finalists at the start, we were inclined to say Fiat\u2019s 124 Spider, but it\u2019s kinda cheating.The car is essentially a rebadged Mazda MX-5, so in a way, it is already World Car of the Year, so for that reason, you could understand why the other candidates would cry foul if it went all the way.GenesisFor those who haven\u2019t heard of Genesis, it\u2019s Hyundai\u2019s luxury division and yep, you guessed it, they aren\u2019t on sale over here.The G80 is a luxury mid-size sedan and a rebranded version of the original Hyundai Genesis, which IS available here. Considering you could have a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class for the same money, why would you bother?HondaWe covered the all-new Civic in some depth recently and it\u2019s clear that Honda isn\u2019t messing about this time, redeveloping the hatch from the wheels up. We\u2019d like to see it go far in these awards.HyundaiThe Hyundai Elantra? What? Exactly. Next!InfinitiNissan\u2019s upmarket offshoot is having a tough time making an impressive and even roping in Game Of Thrones\u2019 Kit \u2018Jon Snow\u2019 Harington for the marketing couldn\u2019t help the mediocre Q60.JaguarEverything to come out of Jaguar Land Rover recently has been exceptional and the F-Pace is a prime example of Jaguar\u2019s brilliance.KiaLike Audi, Kia also has three cars in the running: the Rio, Sportage [pictured] and Cadenza. It\u2019s possible that the former two could do well in the awards.MazdaMazda may be the current holder of the World Car of the Year title but it has little chance of defending its crown with this: the US-only CX-9.SeatSeat\u2019s first ever SUV has lived up to expectations. The Ateca is sure to impress much of the judging panel.SkodaThe Kodiaq is the first ever SUV for Skoda too, but nobody outside the Czech company has driven it yet so it\u2019s hard to gauge its chances right now.SsangYongThe standard Tivoli was SsangYong\u2019s first car to win a WCA nomination and the South Korean car maker will be buzzing at being considered yet again with the larger Tivoli XLV. It\u2019s all about the taking part after all…ToyotaThe C-HR hybrid crossover blends coupe and 4×4 styling and it could be on sale in the UK by the time the overall winner is announced. If you fancy having a closer look, it is going on a little UK tour in October, appearing at the Birmingham Bull Ring, London\u2019s South Bank and Newcastle.Volkswagen TiguanThere\u2019s a hefty chance that VW\u2019s mid-size SUV could be named World Car of the Year come April, because jurors tend to have a soft spot for the brand.Since the award was set up in 2005, it has come out on top more than any other car maker, with the Polo in 2010, up! in 2012 and the Golf twice (2009 and 2013). Time will tell if VW can make it a fifth."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"World Car of the Year nominees revealed","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/world-car-year-nominees-revealed\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]