Car of the Year Japan
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The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is a "Car of the Year" award given to newly released or redesigned vehicles released to the car buying market in Japan from November 1 of the previous year to October 31 of the current year, and each award spans two calendar years.
The award has been presented since 1980. The recipient of the award for 2020 to 2021 is the Subaru Levorg.[1]
The third non Japanese car to win the award was the Volvo XC40 in December 2018.[2] The first was the Volkswagen Golf in November 2013 and the second was the Volvo XC60 in December 2017.[3][4] The best finishing car from the United States was the Jeep Cherokee (KL) which was eliminated in the final round in October 2014 (it placed eighth).[5] The supervisory board is made up primarily of Japanese automotive journalists.
The award is not associated with the more recent Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference (RJC) RJC Car of the Year Award, which has been issued since 1992.
Recipients[]
| Year | Winner | Special Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Nissan Note[6] | BMW 4 Series (Design) Mitsubishi Outlander (Technology) Chevrolet Corvette (Performance) Honda N-One (K Car) |
| 2020–2021 | Subaru Levorg[7] | Mazda MX-30 (Design) Audi e-tron Sportback (Technology) BMW Alpina B3 (Performance) Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK X Space/eK Space (K Car) |
| 2019–2020 | Toyota RAV4[8] | Nissan Skyline (Innovation) Jeep Wrangler (Emotional) Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK X/eK Wagon (Small Mobility) |
| 2018–2019 | Volvo XC40[9] | Honda Clarity PHEV (Innovation) BMW X2 (Emotional) Daihatsu Mira Tocot (Small Mobility) Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award) Honda N-Van (Special Award) |
| 2017–2018 | Volvo XC60 | Toyota Prius PHV (Innovation) Lexus LC (Emotional) Honda N-Box (Small Mobility) Toyota (Special Award) Takuma Sato (Special Award) |
| 2016–2017 | Subaru Impreza | Nissan Serena (Innovation) BMW M2 (Emotional) Daihatsu Move Canbus (Small Mobility) Honda NSX (Special Award) |
| 2015–2016 | Mazda Roadster | Tesla Model S (Innovation) Suzuki Alto/Alto Lapin (Small Mobility) Yanase (Special Award) Toyota Mirai (Special Award) |
| 2014–2015 | Mazda Demio[10][11] | BMW i3 (Innovation) Honda N-WGN (Small Mobility) Toyota's approach to fuel cell vehicles (Special Award) |
| 2013–2014 | Volkswagen Golf | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Innovation) Mazda Atenza (Emotional) Suzuki Spacia/Mazda Flair Wagon (Small Mobility) Daihatsu Move Front Lift (Special Award) |
| 2012–2013 | Mazda CX-5 | Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ |
| 2011–2012 | Nissan Leaf | Mazda Demio |
| 2010–2011 | Honda CR-Z | Peugeot RCZ |
| 2009–2010 | Toyota Prius | Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Most Advanced Technology) Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun) Subaru Legacy (Best Value) Honda Fit (Best 3rd Decade Car) |
| 2008–2009 | Toyota iQ | Nissan GT-R (Most Advanced Technology) Subaru Exiga (Most Fun) Honda Freed (Best Value) |
| 2007–2008 | Honda Fit | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (Most Fun) Volkswagen Golf (Most Advanced Technology) Daihatsu Mira (Best Value) |
| 2006–2007 | Lexus LS460 | Audi TT (Most Fun) Mitsubishi i (Most Advanced Technology) Honda Stream (Best Value) |
| 2005–2006 | Mazda Roadster | Suzuki Swift (Most Fun) Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid (Most Advanced Technology) |
| 2004–2005 | Honda Legend | BMW 1 Series (Most Fun) Mazda Verisa (Best Value) Honda Legend (Most Advanced Technology) |
| 2003–2004 | Subaru Legacy | Mazda RX-8 (Most Fun) Nissan Teana (Best Value) Jaguar XJ (Most Advanced Technology) |
| 2002–2003 | Honda Accord | Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun) BMW 7 Series (Most Advanced Technology) |
| 2001–2002 | Honda Fit | Toyota Estima Hybrid |
| 2000–2001 | Honda Civic/Stream | Subaru Impreza |
| 1999–2000 | Toyota Vitz/Platz/Fun Cargo | Honda S2000 |
| 1998–1999 | Toyota Altezza | Honda Z |
| 1997–1998 | Toyota Prius | Isuzu VehiCROSS |
| 1996–1997 | Mitsubishi Galant/Legnum | Mazda Demio |
| 1995–1996 | Honda Civic | Nissan Terrano |
| 1994–1995 | Mitsubishi FTO | Honda Odyssey |
| 1993–1994 | Honda Accord | Toyota Supra |
| 1992–1993 | Nissan March | Isuzu Bighorn |
| 1991–1992 | Honda Civic | Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1990–1991 | Mitsubishi Diamante | Toyota Estima |
| 1989–1990 | Toyota Celsior | |
| 1988–1989 | Nissan Silvia | |
| 1987–1988 | Mitsubishi Galant | |
| 1986–1987 | Nissan Pulsar/EXA/Langley/Liberta Villa | |
| 1985–1986 | Honda Accord/Vigor | |
| 1984–1985 | Toyota MR2 | |
| 1983–1984 | Honda Civic/Ballade | |
| 1982–1983 | Mazda Capella/Ford Telstar | |
| 1981–1982 | Toyota Soarer | |
| 1980–1981 | Mazda Familia |
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2020–2021 | Peugeot 208/e-208 |
| 2019–2020 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2018–2019 | None |
| 2017–2018 | None |
| 2016–2017 | Audi A4 |
| 2015–2016 | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer |
| 2014–2015 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2013–2014 | None |
| 2012–2013 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2011–2012 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2010–2011 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 2009–2010 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2008–2009 | Citroën C5 |
| 2007–2008 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2006–2007 | Citroën C6 |
| 2005–2006 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2004–2005 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2003–2004 | None |
| 2002–2003 | None |
| 2001–2002 | Alfa Romeo 147 |
| 2000–2001 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 1999–2000 | Rover 75 |
| 1998–1999 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
| 1997–1998 | Renault Mégane Scénic |
| 1996–1997 | Mercedes-Benz SLK |
| 1995–1996 | MG F |
| 1994–1995 | Mercedes-Benz C200 |
Most wins by manufacturer[]
| Total Wins | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 11 | Honda |
| 9 | Toyota |
| 6 | Mazda |
| 5 | Nissan |
| 4 | Mitsubishi |
| 2 | Subaru |
| Volvo | |
| 1 | Lexus |
| Volkswagen |
See also[]
[12]==References==
- ^ "All-New Subaru Levorg Wins 2020-2021 Car of the Year Japan". subaru.co.jp. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Laurel, Drei (12 December 2018). "The Volvo XC40 is 2018's Japan Car of the Year". topgear.com.ph. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ Radu, Mihnea (25 November 2013). "Volkswagen Golf Named Car of the Year in Japan". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Kavermann, David (12 December 2017). "Volvo XC60 crowned Japanese Car of the Year". driven.co.nz. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Tragianis, Nick (17 October 2014). "Jeep Cherokee nominated for Car of the Year award ... in Japan". driving.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Nissan Note/Note Aura/Note Aura Nismo/Note Autech Crossover won Japan Car of the Year award 2021-2022 – Japan Car Guide" (in American English). Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ Braithwaite-Smith, Gavin (10 December 2020). "Subaru Levorg is Japan's Car of the Year". www.msn.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ Redfern, John (9 December 2019). "Toyota RAV4 wins 2019 Car of the Year Japan award" (in Thai). www.motoringresearch.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ Bijoux, Niles (11 December 2018). "Volvo takes back-to-back Japanese COTY award". www.autocar.co.nz. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ^ De Guzman, Marcus (13 October 2014). "All-new Mazda2/Demio wins the Japanese Car of The Year award". Autoindustriya.com. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ Turkus, Brandon (14 October 2014). "Mazda2 nets Japan Car of the Year, Cherokee first US model to ever crack top 10 [UPDATE]". autoblog.com. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
- ^ Sasaki, Yoshimaru. "Nissan Note/Note Aura/Note Aura Nismo/Note Autech Crossover won Japan Car of the Year award 2021-2022 – Japan Car Guide". Retrieved 13 December 2021.
External links[]
Categories:
- Japanese science and technology awards
- Motor vehicle awards