Choosing a car to buy is an enjoyable process. It feels great observing vehicles on the streets, dreaming about them, browsing auto-classifieds, reading reviews, discussing with your friends or colleagues, maybe test-driving. But sooner or later you have to pick the one.
Some buyers make decisions based on emotions, but usually drivers take into account facts and professional opinions. Unless your friends and colleagues are professional automotive experts, you may want to learn what the latter think.
The winners of World Car of the Year Awards are selected by an authoritative international jury. For example, in 2018, it consisted of 82 top‐notch automotive journalists from 24 countries. So, it’s quite a statement, isn’t it?
In order to choose the best cars of the year, the best jury members must be chosen at first. Every expert was picked by World Car Steering Committee according to his or her competence, experience and influence. All of them drive and evaluate new vehicles as their professional activity.
The impressive jury announced the World Car of the Year and other winners at the New York Auto Show in March, 2018. As the time goes by, these vehicles fall in the category of used cars, becoming the perfect choice for used car buyers.
So, without further ado, let’s go through the winner list. We name the three finalists in every category, the winner is bolded. All photos were taken from manufacturers' media sources.
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World Car of the Year
- Volvo XC60
- Mazda CX-5
- Range Rover Velar
It was the first Volvo triumph since the World Car of the Year Awards debut ceremony in 2005. But it wasn’t a big surprise in 2018. XC60 simply swept the majority of most important awards last year. This SUV also collected the North American Utility of the Year, the Japan Car of the Year, and the UK Car of the Year.
Volvo XC60 was also named Car Technology Brand of the Year and Best Safety Technology winner for its revolutionary Steering Support System.
So, almost naturally, Volvo Cars President & CEO Håkan Samuelsson was awarded the 2018 World Car Person of the Year at Geneva Motor Show.
By the way, it was the second year in a row that the top 3 World Car of the Year finalists were SUVs - that’s undoubtedly the sign of the times.
World Urban Car
- Volkswagen Polo
- Ford Fiesta
- Suzuki Swift
World Luxury Car
- Audi A8
- Porsche Cayenne
- Porsche Panamera
World Performance Car
- BMW M5
- Honda Civic Type R
- Lexus LC 500
World Green Car
- Nissan LEAF
- BMW 530e iPerformance
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Car Design of the Year
- Range Rover Velar
- Lexus LC 500
- Volvo XC60
Finally, if you’re looking for older cars, let’s go through the World Car of the Year winners of the previous years:
- Jaguar F‐PACE (2017)
- Mazda MX‐5 (2016)
- Mercedes‐Benz C‐Class (2015)
- Audi A3 (2014)
- Volkswagen Golf (2013)
- Volkswagen Up! (2012)
- Nissan Leaf (2011)
- Volkswagen Polo (2010)
- Volkswagen Golf (2009)
- Mazda2/Mazda Demio (2008)
- Lexus LS460 (2007)
- BMW 3‐Series (2006)
- Audi A6 (2005)
When you choose the one for you, don’t forget to read some useful tips on how to buy a used car.
P.S. All images in the post are taken from manufacturers’ official sites. All rights belong to the manufacturers. carVertical uses photos in the blog only to inform our readers and doesn’t seek any commercial benefit.
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Article by
Aivaras Grigelevičius
Aivaras has been excited about cars since he was a little kid. Later, this passion for drivable objects (and everything that surrounds them) grew into work as an automotive journalist. Since then, Aivaras has written for several different magazines, covering anything with an accelerator pedal. He has a soft spot for cars with an Alfa Romeo badge.