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Wheels Car of the Year 2022: The Contenders

Who made the cut in our hunt for the best new car on sale?

Wheels Events COTY 2022 Group Drone Photo
Gallery24

A silver lining of our delayed COTY testing this year is that despite the odds, COTY ’22 features a bumper field of 21 contenders from 14 different manufacturers.

Because we had to massage our dates slightly, it meant we could include exciting heavy hitters like the Kia EV6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class even though they didn’t arrive Down Under until the end of January. Bonus.

2022 Wheels Car of the Year revealed!

COTY class of '22

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY BMW I X
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BMW iX

BMW’s imposing and slick EV SUV makes a bold impression, but so does its price tag. It wouldn’t be the first time a car in this segment has made it to the top of the pack, though…

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY Honda Civic
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Honda Civic

New generation of Honda’s hatchback darling. A single, high-spec variant with a steep entry price take aim at Europe under Honda’s new sales model. Will the value equation stack up at COTY?

E Dewar 220210 2022 COTY Hyundai Ioniq 5
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Hyundai Ioniq 5

Probably the bookie’s favourite to take out our gong, providing it can edge out its sibling from Kia. Stacks up well against our criteria for Function, Efficiency, Safety and Technology while also offering plenty in the way of X-Factor thanks to its adventurous exterior and interior design. Our first taste at the local launch did raise a few question marks around its ride quality, and its value equation will be thrown under the COTY microscope, yet there’s no escaping this is Hyundai’s best shot yet to win its first Wheels COTY trophy.

E Dewar 220209 2022 COTY Hyundai I 20 N
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Hyundai i20 N

Distilling much of the brilliance of its bigger brother – the excellent i30 N – into a smaller and more affordable package makes the i20 N one of 2022’s most exciting hot hatches. It makes a convincing on-paper case against COTY’s Function and Value criteria, too, meaning Hyundai’s pint-sized contender is tipped by many to feature at the pointy end of the process. Translating that on-paper promise into the real thing is no small feat, however, but there’s no obvious hole in the i20 N’s armour. Let’s see if it remains that way...

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY Hyundai Palisade
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Hyundai Palisade

A clever use of a lot of space, and an all-round impressive bit of machinery on paper, but will the big diesel seven-seater impress our judges with its premium angle?

E Dewar 220210 2022 COTY Hyundai Tucson
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Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai number four is a sensible, family-friendly offering, but is there anything about the Tucson, aside from proven competence, to set it apart from the crowd?

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Genesis GV 70
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Genesis GV70

The new kid on the premium South Korean block, and one Genesis hopes will dig into the ever-popular medium SUV market.

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Kia Carnival
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Kia Carnival

The new-gen Carnival has reviewed well so far, and it's not like a van hasn’t taken out COTY before – we’re looking at you, Tarago. Believe us, the Carnival deserves to be here.

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Kia EV 6
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Kia EV6

A benefactor of our later-than-usual testing schedule and a genuine ‘on-paper’ contender when considered against the COTY criteria. EV6 is a close relation to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 yet offers several crucial distinctions, including a sportier intent both in how it looks and drives. More odds-on favourite than dark horse.

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY Kia Sportage
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Kia Sportage

Flagship-spec Sportage has all the bells and whistles, and is a huge leap for the badge. Kia hopes it’s enough to convince buyers… and judges.

E Dewar 220211 2022 COTY Lexus NX 350
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Lexus NX

The new generation of Lexus’ most popular model, comes with an overhauled infotainment system and some new tricks for Lexus.

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Mazda MX 30
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Mazda MX-30

Mazda’s first EV is quirky and niche, but that’s not stopped cars from winning COTY before. But questions around practicality in the real world loom. Let’s test that, shall we?

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Mercedes Benz C 300
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Mercedes C-Class

The C-Class needs no introduction as far as COTY is concerned. The new generation brings tech and luxury from E- and S-Class. One to watch, for sure.

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Mercedes Benz S 450
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Mercedes S-Class

No intro needed, as above. Absolute first-class motoring on wheels, and the way it pioneers tech is just about the only time ‘trickle-down’ has worked.

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY Polestar 2
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Polestar 2

Not a Volvo. Mostly. This Swede still has some DNA from its sibling brand, but stepping out of the shadow and chasing a more adventurous buyer is bold. Will it work?

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
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Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Porsche’s impressive EV arrives at COTY in ‘active lifestyle’ wagon spec. It’s still bloody quick, but it’s also still a bit on the pricey side here.

C Brunelli 220321 2022 COTY Skoda Octavia
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Skoda Octavia

Sometimes slightly under the radar, this VW Golf cousin is giving more reasons than ever to choose it over the badge from Wolfsburg. But, boy, is that new Golf good.

A Brook 220209 2022 COTY Subaru BRZ
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Subaru BRZ

Pedigree counts for nought at COTY, though there’s no escaping the BRZ arrives at COTY carrying a certain weight of expectation. The first BRZ (with which this 2022 model still shares plenty of DNA) won our gong in 2012 when it shared the trophywith its Toyota 86 twin. There’s no radical departure this time around, either. The new BRZ seeks to retain much of the original’s excellence but offers all-new sheet metal, an improvement in torsional rigidity, a fresh cabin and importantly, a larger capacity engine with more power/torque.

E Dewar 220210 2022 COTY Subaru Outback
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Subaru Outback

An all-new Outback is a big deal, both for Subaru sales and for buyers seeking the ruggedness and ability of an SUV without the usual SUV compromises of a higher centre-of-gravity and thirstier consumption. And for this sixth-gen, Subaru has shaken things up. Gone are the six-cylinder petrol and diesel versions, leaving a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol as the only powertrain choice.

Prices are up too, though so are interior space and standard equipment levels. The move to the new billion-dollar ‘Subaru Global Platform’ delivers improved dynamics, while a fresh interior also offers a large tablet-style centre screen. Long a Wheels favourite, let’s see if the Outback can finish at the pointy end.

A Brook 220210 2022 COTY Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series
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Toyota LandCruiser

An Australian icon, even if its badge isn’t Australian. The new generation is much hyped, but can a 4x4 make a place for itself at COTY? We think it deserves a crack.

E Dewar 220210 2022 COTY Volkswagen Golf
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Volkswagen Golf

Evolution often cops a bad wrap, yet in the car world it often results in excellence. There’s a sound reason icons like the Porsche 911 don’t deviate from their recipe. So while the Mk8 mightn’t offer a giant leap, don’t discount the Golf’s ability to cause a COTY upset. It’s arguably the most polished contender we have.

Make Weight (tonnnes) Fuel load 0-100km/h (seconds) 0-120 km/h (seconds) 100-0 (metres) Indicated Decibels (100km/h) 
BMW iX 2.44 N/A 6.06 8.32 37.48m N/A 67.65
Genesis GV70 2.08 90% 5.7 7.7 38.5m 96.4km/h 67.25
Honda Civic 1.36 60% 8.24 10.93 40.23m 94.3km/h 72.8
Hyundai Ioniq 5 2.12 N/A 5.29 7.22 37.23m N/A 68.05
Hyundai Palisade 2.06 90% 9.32 13.12 42.01m 97.3km/h 67.7
Hyundai i20 N 1.24 67.50% 7.24 9.44 35.35m 96.5km/h 74.65
Hyundai Tucson 1.68 100% 8.51 11.72 42.92m 96.1km/h 68.2
Kia Carnival 2.12 75% 9.2 12.8 41.0m 98.2km/h 67.95
Kia EV6 2.1 N/A 5.09 6.97 35.76m 96.9km/h 67.25
Kia Sportage 1.72 90% 8.26 11.48 41.4m 96km/h 67.7
Lexus NX 1.82 100% 7.4 9.8 37.8m 98.2km/h 69.25
Mazda MX-30 1.66 N/A 9.3 13.2 37.7m 97.7km/h 74.4
Mercedes-Benz C300 1.74 90% 6.04 8.11 35.9m 97km/h 67.1
Mercedes S450L 2.18 100% 5.6 7.5 39.2m N/A 65.4
Polestar 2 2.02 N/A 7.5 10.2 37.5m 97.5km/h 71
Porsche Taycan 2.34 N/A 4.2 5.7 35.7m 96.4km/h 68.85
Skoda Octavia 1.42 100% 8.8 12.2 36.7m 98km/h 70.35
Subaru BRZ 1.28 60% 6.9 9.1 36.2m 97.6km/h 75.75
Subaru Outback 1.7 100% 9.42 12.72 43.19m 97.5km/h 68.7
Toyota LandCruiser 300 2.58 100% 7.78 10.54 44.5m 97.9km/h 69.4
Volkswagen Golf 1.36 100% 8.2 11.5 36.0m 95.5km/h 69.4
Digital Editor New Car
Chris Thompson
Contributor
Ellen Dewar
Cristian Brunelli
Alastair Brook

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