2018 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards: Category Winners Revealed
The winners of the 14 categories of vehicles were announced by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, highlighting the best cars and trucks on sale in the country for the 2018 model year.
This year, significant changes were made to the scoring process in order to give voting journalists more subjectivity. With this new procedure, it was also decided to make every vehicle on the market eligible for the program, not just the new and redesigned vehicles as is usually the case. In addition, for a vehicle to be eligible, it has to be available for testing, at the discretion of the automotive manufacturers, so voting journalists could score them.
The winners of each of these categories will now have a chance to win the overall 2018 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year and 2018 AJAC Utility Vehicle of the Year titles. Both will be revealed at the Toronto Auto Show on February 15.
Best City Car in Canada for 2018: Volkswagen e-Golf
Finalists: Hyundai Ioniq Electric, Nissan Micra
Best Small Car in Canada for 2018: Mazda3
Finalists: Chevrolet Bolt EV, Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid/Electric Plus
Best Large Car in Canada for 2018: Honda Accord
Finalists: Mazda6, Toyota Camry
Best Small Premium Car in Canada for 2018: Jaguar XE
Finalists: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Infiniti Q60
Best Large Premium Car in Canada for 2018: Volvo S90/V90
Finalists: Genesis G80, Lexus LC
Best Sports/Performance Car in Canada for 2018: Volkswagen Golf R
Finalists: Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic Type R
Best Premium Sports/Performance Car in Canada for 2018: Jaguar F-TYPE
Finalists: Porsche 718, Porsche 911
Best Convertible in Canada for 2018: Mercedes-Benz SL
Finalists: Mazda MX-5, Porsche 718 Boxster
Best Small Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018: Mazda CX-5
Finalists: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue
Best Large Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018: Mazda CX-9
Finalists: Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander
Best Small Premium Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018: Range Rover Velar
Finalists: Porsche Macan, Volvo XC60
Best Large Premium Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018: Acura MDX
Finalists: Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90
Best Minivan in Canada for 2018: Chrysler Pacifica
Finalists: Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona
Best Pickup Truck in Canada for 2018: Ram 1500
Finalists: Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma