Wheels Car of the Year
COTY: Past winners
The annual Wheels Car of the Year is one of the world’s longest-running automotive awards, with a history that stretches back to 1963.
That makes our award the grand old age of 60 and in that time a broad spectrum of cars have earned the title, ranging from obvious choices to properly left-of-field. Holden Camira, anyone?
The common thread among all of them, however, is that they were good enough to be judged the best of their time by a panel of Australia’s most seasoned motoring journalists. Here’s the list.
All COTY stories
The cars that failed to make the cut for Wheels Car of the Year 2020
A new process for Wheels Car of the Year 2020 meant these cars were left waiting for an invite that never arrived
Here are the contenders of Wheels Car of the Year 2020
We run through all the cars vying for the crown of Wheels Car of the Year 2020
New rules implemented for Wheels Car of the Year 2020
How Wheels is making Car of the Year, the Australian motoring industry’s most coveted award, tougher but fairer
The true story behind Wheels’ most controversial magazine cover
I sent Edsel Ford a framed copy, and for years it hung on the inside door of a toilet in his home
WhichCar do we live with: 2019 Volvo XC40
How does the Wheels Car of the Year, the Volvo XC40, fare in the real world?
Nine emerging new car trends we spotted at Wheels’ COTY
We unearth nine cool new features we reckon will hit the mainstream in the next year
The field of COTY 2019 in numbers
This year’s Wheels Car of the Year field has some interesting facts and figures
Wheels Car of the Year: Class of 2019
Australian motoring’s most prized award is set to be a battle royale
2018 Wheels Car of the Year winner revealed!
Is it a first time victor? Or has Mazda made history with three COTY wins in a row?
2018 Wheels Car of the Year announced tonight
Who will take home the gong? Check back tonight, when the 2018 Wheels COTY will be revealed
Volvo XC60: 2018 Car of the Year Finalist
Volvo’s previous-generation XC60 made huge inroads into suburban Australia. This generation can only expand that
Skoda Kodiaq: 2018 Car of the Year Finalist
We expected big, honest and slightly dull from Skoda’s first seven-seat SUV, but the Kodiaq was the probably the most pleasant surprise of this year’s COTY.
Mazda CX-5: 2018 Car of the Year Finalist
A lot is riding on the big-selling SUV to bring Mazda a COTY hat-trick, but does it tick as many boxes as its CX-9 big-brother, which currently holds the crown?
Kia Stinger: 2018 Car of the Year Finalist
Kia’s gamble on the appeal of a liftback, rear-drive sports sedan ticks a lot of boxes with the 2018 Wheels Car of the Year judges
Alfa Romeo Giulia: 2018 Car of the Year Finalist
Alfa’s comeback kid represents a return to form for an iconic Italian brand, and has the skills to earn a place on this year’s COTY shortlist. Is it good enough to be top dog?
2018 Wheels Car of the Year: How it all works
Think we just sit around and pick a favourite? There’s a lot more to a COTY champ than that
Wheels Car of the Year: Class of 2018
A tough pre-cull pares down the field for the 2018 Wheels Car of the Year
Editor’s letter: The pressure and the pride of Car of the Year
Organising COTY wouldn’t be much more difficult if the office was on fire, but it’s all worth it in the end
1998 Holden Commodore: Car of the Year – Holden Commodore VT
The most significant new Holden since the original 48/215, the VT Commodore is an affirmation of the skill, ingenuity and determination of the Australian automotive industry
2018 – The most open COTY in years?
How the field is shaping up for Australia’s most coveted motoring award
1994 Holden Commodore: Wheels 1993 Car of the Year
Holden’s VR-series Commodore is the 1993 Wheels Car of the Year. By the narrowest margin, it edged out Honda’s Accord to claim the 30th anniversary COTY award. The decisive factors: safety and value for money
39 Years of Holden Commodore: 1979 – Car of the Year
Imagine this: an imported Opel, badged as a Commdore, tuned for local conditions, and winning COTY. No this is not a prediction for 2018, but rather a recollection of some 39 years ago.
BMW M2: 2017 Car of the Year contender
Proof that sometimes less really is more
Audi R8: 2017 Car of the Year contender
Sizzling performance meets fizzling value equation