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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

2017 Wheels Car of the Year: Readers choice
COTY

2017 Wheels Car of the Year: Readers’ choice

The votes have been tallied, and this is the car you voted as the Car of the Year

Wheels Car of the Year announcement at Australian Motoring Awards
COTY

2017 Car of the Year: Australian Motoring Awards Night

Take your seat at the table at the Australian Motoring Awards as Wheels crowns its 2017 Car of the Year.

Behind the Scenes at 2017 Wheels Car of the Year
COTY

2017 Car of the Year: Behind the scenes

Ever wondered how Wheels picks one Car of the Year from so many contenders? Join us for the first 72 hours of ruthless testing.

2017 Wheels Car of the Year
COTY

2017 Car of the Year announced today

The winner of the 54th Wheels Car of the Year award is revealed tonight, at 9.15pm AEDT.

Car of the year field
COTY

My first Car of the Year

Going behind the scenes at the 2017 Wheels Car of the Year is an eye-opening experience

Car of the Year judges
COTY

2017 Car of the Year: The selection process

What defines a COTY contender? Here’s the checklist.

Ford Focus RS: 2010 Car of the Year
Classic Wheels

Archive: Ford Focus RS: Car of the Year 2010

Our review of the all-new Ford Focus RS lands this afternoon, so until then, why not refresh yourself on the last Focus to wear the RS badge

Jaguar XE
COTY

Readers choose Jaguar XE as their 2016 Car of the Year

Classy big Cat overwhelmingly popular in Wheels People’s Choice poll

Wheels Car of the Year 2016: People’s Choice – Deciding Poll
COTY

Wheels Car of the Year 2016: People’s Choice – Deciding Poll

Cast your vote for Car of the Year from the five group-winners

COTY 2008 - Volkswagen Tiguan
COTY

COTY 2008 – Volkswagen Tiguan

Dynamically gifted compact SUV felt the squeeze of family practicalities.

COTY 2008 - Judge and jury
COTY

COTY 2008 – Judge and jury

Introducing the 2008 Car of the Year panel.

COTY 2008 - Honda Jazz
COTY

COTY 2008 – Honda Jazz

If ESP was fitted, this supermini may have had something to really trumpet.

The Bible - COTY criteria
COTY

The Bible – COTY criteria

A breakdown of the five COTY commandments.

2008 Car of the Year - Honda Accord Euro
COTY

Honda Accord Euro: 2008 Car of the Year Winner

In the magazine: After an absence of 14 years, Honda returns to the winner’s podium with a classy sedan.

COTY 2008 - Carmageddon
COTY

2008 Car of the Year: Carmageddon

Michael Stahl looks over the auto mania and mysticism that was Car of the Year 2008.

Ping!
COTY

Ping!

You wrote to us about a problem with our 2008 Car of the Year, and we have responded …

COTY 2008 - BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible

COTY success evades BMW again despite engaging dynamics and refined drivetrains.

COTY 2008 - Audi A4
COTY

COTY 2008 – Audi A4

Law of diminishing returns sees Ingolstadt’s COTY challenge end at final four.

COTY 2008 - Smart ForTwo
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: Smart ForTwo

Much improved, but needs a broader skill set to make sense in Oz.

World Car of the Year 2009
COTY

World Car of the Year 2009

There were no surprises at this year’s WCOTY announcement in Detroit for awards judge Samantha Stevens …

COTY 2008 - Jaguar XF
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: Jaguar XF

A welcome return to form but let down by sub-standard petrol V6 powerplant.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF - WHEELS CAR OF THE YEAR
COTY

Volkswagen Golf: 2010 Car of the Year Winner

Six generations and 33 years later, the Volkswagen Golf has again claimed Australia’s WHEELS Car Of The Year

COTY 2008 - Peugeot 308
COTY

2008 Car of the Year Finalist: Peugeot 308

Premium European pricing, but lacking the requisite je ne sais quoi.

In pictures: Wheels Car of the Year Covers
COTY

In pictures: Wheels Car of the Year Covers

Wheels Car of the Year – the world’s longest running continuous car of the year award – is entering its 48th year. We look at past magazine covers that show the compelling history.