2024 "Actual" People's Choice - Car of The Year

pegaxs on 13/12/2024 - 12:05
Last edited 18/12/2024 - 23:17

Sitting here going through work emails and got sent a link to "Car of the Year" and thought… JFC, here we go again with the paid off actors, what weird cars are the gongs going to this year? Who has paid the most to have their car get an award…

Every year, it is some "out of touch with the common consumer" car that either no one has heard of, no one knows anyone who owns one, or just an outright "yeah, they bought that award"…

  • From Drive, we have COTY '24: Kia EV9 Air, starting at a paltry $106,550 in NSW.
  • From News, we have COTY '24: BYD Shark, a vehicle that has had zero deliveries and no one owns them and expected deliveries are starting around Jan/Feb '25
  • From Wheels, we have COTY ‘24: The Hyundai Ionic 5 N, a cheap, sporty family hot hatch EV… for a measly $124,000 in loose change…

So, I want to know, what is your pick. Not what the numbers tell you, not who sold the most, not the most trusted brand/default answer, what is your honest opinion on what should be the actual overall "Car of the Year"…

NB: It has to be a 2024 vehicle, released in and sold in 2024, not a 2006 burgundy coloured Toyota Camry Altise. Also, if you have some class nominations that you think deserve a nod, ie: best sports car over $400,000, then feel free to add that.

Have added a poll with the current top 10 11 selling vehicles in Australia for 2024 to date… Pick one of them, or nominate your own… If someone posts a car you think deserves the OzB COTY gong, feel free to use their comment as a poll option and give it an upvote.

Poll Options

  • 11
    Ford Ranger
  • 6
    Toyota HiLux
  • 127
    Toyota RAV4
  • 5
    Isuzu Ute D-Max
  • 16
    Mitsubishi Outlander
  • 21
    Toyota Corolla
  • 205
    Tesla Model Y
  • 27
    Mazda CX-5
  • 9
    MG ZS
  • 9
    Ford Everest
  • 4
    Fiat 500e
  • 250
    Other/None of those/See comments
Automotive Car Electric Vehicle Fiat Ford Ford Everest Isuzu Mazda MG Mitsubishi SUV Tesla Inc Toyota Ute

Comments

  • jv on 13/12/2024 - 12:09
    +36

    Goggomobil

    • Protractor on 13/12/2024 - 12:40
      +9

      Holden EH Premier

    • Yummy on 13/12/2024 - 18:24
      +12

      Gee oh gee gee oh.

    • Preet on 14/12/2024 - 06:20
      +7

      Not the Dart!

    • SBOB on 14/12/2024 - 07:57
      +3

      I've always had problems with mine….

    • coregti on 14/12/2024 - 08:02
      +9

      Tesla Model 3. I'm 66 and owned a few cars but the Model 3 is easily the best car I've ever driven. Especially for road trips.

      • Hangryuman on 14/12/2024 - 14:26
        +2

        having been in the back of a few as Ubers, I found the Tesla suspension a bit bumpy/uncomfortable

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 15/12/2024 - 22:31
          +1

          Agree, the ride borders on brutal.

        • PerthectDeal on 17/12/2024 - 02:08

          It could have been that they had the tyre pressure was too high to be more efficient but then you feel every bump.

      • alexdagr8 on 15/12/2024 - 12:25

        Long road trips out of the question?
        Just curious on how long it takes to charge to full with no supercharger?

        • Euphemistic on 15/12/2024 - 18:22
          +1

          Dont charge to full. Friend who has a Model 3 regularly travels between southern highlands and port macquarie. She says 2x 10min fast charge stops are enough. Charge ebough to reqch the next charger (plus safety margin) The stips break up the drive for a toilet/coffee/leg stretch stop. Then full charge overnight on arrival.

          Dont charge to full unless absolutely necessary or you have stacks of time. 10-80% charge is the fastest charge rate. 80-100 can take as long as 10-80.

      • netjock on 15/12/2024 - 15:46
        -2

        That sounds so depressing

  • Euphemistic on 13/12/2024 - 12:09
    +43

    Wheres the $30k MG4? And how did a fiat get to the top 11?

    • pegaxs on 13/12/2024 - 12:53
      -4

      Yeah, I think we all know how the Fiat got in that list…

      • smartProverble on 14/12/2024 - 11:56
        +2

        Err… No.

        • Lord Fart Bucket on 14/12/2024 - 19:46
          +12

          Slept with OPs mum to get a mention.

      • Protractor on 18/12/2024 - 14:09
        +1

        New category next year?
        https://www.cbsnews.com/news/honda-nissan-merger-talks-nikke…

        I can see Nissan dragging Honda down, not vice versa.

        • pegaxs on 18/12/2024 - 23:25
          +1

          Honda are already on the way out. Fixed price sales model, lacklustre offerings, expensive compared to competitors, avalanche fall drop in sales volume, no dealers left… I don’t even know how Honda cars survive in Australia.

          Chery nearly outsold Honda this year, BYD outsold them by 5000+ units and it’s only their 2nd year on the market, that’s how bad Honda is doing. They are in about 20th place.

          • Protractor on 19/12/2024 - 09:50

            @pegaxs: This could be a case of 3 giants turning into a midget.

            I wonder if they'll amalgamate parts of each brand name.
            Hondabisshan
            Nissamitsinda?

    • Oz8argain on 13/12/2024 - 17:21
      +5

      MG4 is amazing for 30k. we paid full price at launch but still a great car.

  • mboy on 13/12/2024 - 12:13
    +14

    Such an odd list. Why is the Tesla Model Y listed, when we got a refreshed and much improved Model 3 this last year?

    • pegaxs on 13/12/2024 - 12:57
      +8

      Because it was in the top 10 11 selling vehicles to date in 2024. I just used "year to date" sales figures to Dec `24 as a base.

      It is not the definitive list, so, if you think another car would deserve the COTY award, let us know.

      • Randolph Duke on 14/12/2024 - 07:51
        +2

        Don’t the car mags typically go by first released year or major revision year when considering Car of the Year, not all new cars for sale in that year?

      • smartProverble on 14/12/2024 - 11:56
        +1

        If you're going to nominate the top 11 selling cars, where's the rest?

      • casho on 15/12/2024 - 08:13
        +2

        that's depressing, such boring cars and trucks

    • firecall on 14/12/2024 - 14:33
      +13

      We've got a Y and the new Model 3.

      The 3 is excellent. However…

      I actually regret it because of the lack of steering column stalks!

      It's really bad ergonomics. Almost dangerous at times.

      You cant use the indicators when the steering wheel is anything but straight ahead.

      So good luck indicating to exit a roundabout!

      I'm tempted to install the aftermarket stalk add-ons and the centre console dial for Drive/Park/Reverse.

      If I could have returned it, I probably maybe would have. I hate the on steering wheel indicator switches that much.

      The rest of the car is very very good!

      • netjock on 15/12/2024 - 15:45
        +1

        The Tesla influencers will be with you shortly.

        They will tell you it is user error not seeing the wisdom of Elon.

        LOL

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 15/12/2024 - 22:33
          +8

          It is Lord Elon you filthy peasant.

        • Wiser on 17/12/2024 - 09:46

          Does it got anything to do with Apple Fanboys?

          • netjock on 17/12/2024 - 09:48
            +2

            @Wiser: Not sure but the story from Car dealer ship guy on X is Apple got out of BEVs because China was going to slaughter everyone in the business.

      • mboy on 16/12/2024 - 11:47

        I've got the new Model 3 too. I don't completely disagree with what you're saying, but I have to disagree with this bit:

        You cant use the indicators when the steering wheel is anything but straight ahead.

        That just isn't true. It's one thing for the steering wheel to be completely upside down (like when you're midway through a u-turn); and yes, using the indicator buttons in those situations is annoying because the wheel and buttons are inverted. But using the indicator buttons when the wheel is at 90 degree orientation (or thereabouts) in either direction is actually really simple.

        I reckon you just need a bit more time to acclimatise. I wrote a comment a month ago I'd also go back to indicator stalks if given the option, but even in the last month, I feel like it's starting to feel a lot more natural.

        • netjock on 16/12/2024 - 12:52
          +1

          Same level of enjoyment as those who design desktop PC keyboards where it defaults to media buttons and if you want the F(unction keys) you need to press the "Fn" key.

          I have an European car and a Japanese car. I get in one of them and use the wipers to indicate I am turning. Not at all dangerous.

          • Agret on 19/12/2024 - 13:37
            +1

            @netjock: The receptionist let me take her new Cupra out for a drive the other day and I kept putting the wipers on at turns haha

            They are crazy wipers on that car too, they fly every direction.

    • cerealsmok3r on 17/12/2024 - 10:34

      much improved doesnt change the fact that its been the most sold EVs by month until recently where Mg4 took over.

      there's also more model y as opposed to any other Evs on the road in NSW

  • Benoffie on 13/12/2024 - 12:14
    +15

    I own a RAV4 but if I had spare money Id go an Ioniq 5. They are just a good looking car.

    • charlierg on 13/12/2024 - 21:13
      -8

      Really 😂

    • smartProverble on 14/12/2024 - 11:57
      +1

      World Car of the Year winner too

    • fredblogs on 14/12/2024 - 13:43

      why are you not happy with your rav4?

      • Benoffie on 14/12/2024 - 16:45
        +3

        Where did I say I wasnt happy with my RAV4?

        They are different vehicles for different purposes. If I was to buy a second car (and the N Vision 74 hadnt dropped and wasnt feasible), then the Ioniq 5 would be it.

        They are everywhere in Korea and are awesome. Look good, quiet, roomy. Nice 80s throwback.

    • Speckled Jim on 14/12/2024 - 14:44
      +4

      Car UK magazine compared seven EVs for petrolheads in their June 2024 issue. Included were the Porsche Taycan and $3M Pininfarina Battista.
      The Ioniq 5N scooped the lot.

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 14/12/2024 - 16:42
        +1

        the Ioniq 5 N Is definitely a vehicle I would buy, looks and seems mint judging by all the test drivers responses.

      • smartProverble on 15/12/2024 - 09:41
        +2

        The fact that the ioniq 5 n can last over 2 laps on the Nurburgring puts it on a different level to other performance EVs.

  • djones145 on 13/12/2024 - 12:28
    +8

    anything with an AMG badge is the winner for me!

    thats a high yield investment

    • shxhshzhz on 13/12/2024 - 12:34
      +4

      Winner.

      • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 14:31
        +1

        The poor mans Toyota Century

  • crazyguy on 13/12/2024 - 12:31
    +1

    I have a RAV4 and I would not replace it with any other car.

    • Embaloo on 17/12/2024 - 07:19

      Why?

      • kobeduck on 19/12/2024 - 14:42
        +1

        because he's a crazyguy

  • Protractor on 13/12/2024 - 12:33
    +3

    Interesting. We find out that these media driven (advertorial) COTY etc awards are stupid, but not as stupid as the rules or those who voted for the winners. I'm shocked.

  • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 12:38
    +4

    2006 burgundy coloured Toyota Camry Altise.

    But I replaced the crochet cover for the tissue box on the parcel shelf in 2024 so surely that gets it over the line.

    • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 12:51
      +1

      Australian delivered vehicles really should rename it the tissue box shelf, never see anything else on there.

      • Protractor on 13/12/2024 - 13:47

        It's actually a nodding dog shelf that has been relegated.

    • CheapandUsed on 13/12/2024 - 15:50
      +4

      I think most of these and the champagne coloured ones have been traded in on Tesla Model Y's now… the driving abilities seem to match

    • sumyungguy on 13/12/2024 - 16:53
      +2

      Jasper Red Camry Ascent Sport made Wheels Mag's 2024 Final List

    • Daabido on 13/12/2024 - 20:47

      You monster!

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 14/12/2024 - 16:43

      Hey, those profile vehicles allow a lot of drugs to pass through Australia uninterrupted.

  • DingoBilly on 13/12/2024 - 12:41
    +15

    Are these really the top 10 selling cars? That's pretty depressing, most of them are terrible.

    • pegaxs on 13/12/2024 - 14:30
      +2

      I would think that if you took out all the “fleet sales”, these numbers would be a lot different.

      It’s like a decade or more ago when Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore would outsell the rest of the market combined. A lot of it was attributed to fleet sales.

      I would like to see what the sales figures would show the top cars to be if all fleet sales were removed.

      • Euphemistic on 13/12/2024 - 17:12
        +2

        No fleet sales would really hurt the utes. Also seem to see a lot of rav4 and outlanders as fleet vehicles.

        • pegaxs on 13/12/2024 - 18:58
          +2

          I still think that the Outlander and Rav4 would still top the tables. They are still popular vehicles in their own right, but the Ranger/Hilux/D-Max have most certainly become the new "Falcon/Commodore" replacement.

          The MG ZS also features quite high on the list, but that is one SUV I have a feeling is being floated by hire car companies. I dont see many of them on the roads unless they have rental car stickers on the rear windows.

          • Euphemistic on 13/12/2024 - 19:56
            +1

            @pegaxs: Agree that rav4 and outlander would be high on the list for 'non fleet'. The MGs other than the 3 and 4 dont seem to be too popular - at least i dont notice them much, but that could just be because they are non descript and blend in.

    • cfuse on 14/12/2024 - 10:14
      +2

      The most popular thing is always the sweet spot between terrible and expensive.

  • Ocker on 13/12/2024 - 12:42
    +1

    Ford Mustang

  • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 12:51
    +3

    My mum got a 2024 Mazda3 Sedan and she opted to just get the base model this time around. The amount of inclusions in the base model is pretty good these days, I think the cheap overseas cars have made manufacturers include more stuff. The nav screen + controls for it are good, even has a heads up display that projects onto the dash. I think for what she paid ($32k cash after including what they paid for her 2012 Mazda3 trade in) she got a great upgrade, she bought during some promo where they gave double trade-in value for your old car. The sedan was delivered in much smaller numbers so was hard to find, some price premium over the hatch which seems to be the most popular choice and easier to find a bit cheaper but she test drove the hatch and said she was unhappy with the rear visibility from her driving position.

    • MS Paint on 13/12/2024 - 12:57
      +2

      she bought during some promo where they gave double trade-in value for your old car.

      Sounds legit

      • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 14:27
        +1

        Haha yeah probably about as legit as the RRP you see on every 'deal' ;) they gave her something like $5k for it but the car had a few issues so it was a good opportunity to offload it without trying to fix it up for a private sale.

        • ESEMCE on 13/12/2024 - 15:52
          +1

          But a base model Mazda 3 is $33,990 drive away
          $33,990-$5000 is less than $30k when last I checked.

          • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 20:08
            +1

            @ESEMCE: The sedan is hard to come by, not sure what the pricing is like but I imagine you pay a premium to find an in stock one rather than waiting for delivery?

            • sydonk on 14/12/2024 - 16:38

              @Agret: Sounds like she got ripped off. You should be paying less than driveway price, not MORE. That's insane. Next time tell her to use a broker so she doesn't get ripped off again.

          • brandt on 17/12/2024 - 14:59

            @ESEMCE: I negotiated it down to $31k in june. I walked away because they wouldn't drop below 30. Bought an Impreza for 32K and 1k fuel voucher, its a better car anyways.

    • Chandler on 13/12/2024 - 16:54

      I think the cheap overseas cars have made manufacturers include more stuff

      I think that's exactly it. We got a new car in 2018. The top of the range (not the one we got) included radar cruise control and some other features. If we were to buy the base model of the same car now, it comes with said radar cruise control and some of the other features previously reserved for the higher tier models.

  • altomic on 13/12/2024 - 12:52
    +1

    No Haval?

    No AU falcon on gas?

    • Daabido on 13/12/2024 - 20:51
      +1

      When the end of the world comes, ghost FOGs will still cruise the highways.

    • ThadtheChad on 13/12/2024 - 23:53
      +3

      No AU falcon on gas?

      Its 2024 mate. All the bogans are driving yank tanks and raptors now.

      • Showmethebargains on 14/12/2024 - 09:22

        All the bogans in our area have moved up to clapped out old Subaru Foresters.

    • Name on 14/12/2024 - 19:15

      I was looking for a comment about Haval. I've got two friends that own a Havel (not shared, they each have one)… they both rave about them and they're pretty much the only friends I have that actually recommend their car. Everyone else has complaints and say they wouldn't get another one.

      • Pussqunt on 14/12/2024 - 22:06

        H6 / GT's are good. Tank 300's are so much nicer inside. And most of the 300 hybrid's flaws are getting fixed with firmware updates for the 500 and Canon Alpha (same drivetrain). Wait…..

  • captbollocks on 13/12/2024 - 12:56
    +5

    I think BYD needs to be a "Car of the Year" contender - if anything to knock out Elon's Tesla off the top spot for 2024 EV's.
    Been seeing way more of them this year than in previous years.

    • BuDWiZe on 13/12/2024 - 22:53
      +2

      yep we just bought a atto3 2024 as the wifes run around car and it was WAY better than i thought it would be. its pretty fun to drive
      i looked at hyundais offering and the interiors feel ancient in comparison to and while tesla were good she didnt like only having the screen in middle and nothing behind wheel. we also test drive some hybrids, 1 being the jeep suv and 2 vws. i couldnt believe the jeep suv was over 10k more than i paid for the byd and it wasnt near as comfortable. went for a drive into the city a few days ago and saw several atto3s driving around and a number of seals to so they seem to be popular in city center. bonus to is i can claim all of the ev on tax with no fbt

      • gyrex on 14/12/2024 - 10:05
        +5

        The atto 3 is a lovely looking car on the outside but you need a spew bucket seated in the cup holder for when you open the door and are hit in the face by the unholy, ghastly interior.

        • BuDWiZe on 15/12/2024 - 09:37

          yea its weird. not as bad with the gray or black car version where the seats a a contrast of blue with black and not bright blue with bright white.
          still its a bit more flashy/unique than some of the other Evs i saw that seem to have 1990s interiors still and theyve just slapped a battery in.
          atleast they are trying something different. you do get used to it pretty quick though as car seems to drive nice.

          • quick-dry on 16/12/2024 - 10:40
            +1

            @BuDWiZe: The atto3 interior isn't sooooo bad once you've had it for a while. We had one for a 2 week rental and it was actually great to drive, though the small dash feels cheap and the lane keeping isn't smooth - effective, but not smooth.

            They're one car that would've benfitted during the era of 'car culture' when everyone was producing interior custom kits. A simple replacement kit for the door interiors and some dash pieces and the thing would be transformed. I saw one that had a very very mild front lip, de-"build your dreams'd and it looked a lot better.

            IMO the Kia Niro EV is one of the nicest overall to drive, but charges to slowly and is overpriced for what comes in it.

            • BuDWiZe on 17/12/2024 - 07:48

              @quick-dry: yea getting used to it now and starting to like its uniqueness. kids love it at this point.

  • Gdsamp on 13/12/2024 - 12:57

    MG HS

  • 87percent on 13/12/2024 - 13:26

    Took the new Hyundai Sante Fe for a test drive, and its a nice car.. but the thing feels enormous. I would hate to drive that car in a shopping centre carpark

    • geekcohen on 13/12/2024 - 13:51

      Cars like that are not for City Driving in my opinion. I have a Ford Ranger and I found it big enough going in around the city/metro area. I am in a Rural area and its great. My wife has a Tucson and more of the city car. When we go to Melbourne, we take her car because its easy for car parks.

    • Euphemistic on 13/12/2024 - 13:58
      +1

      If only theyd put the taillights up a bit higher.

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 14/12/2024 - 16:55
        +1

        The front looks great, the rear looks like the apple pie after jason biggs violated it.

    • Agret on 13/12/2024 - 21:03
      +2

      Checkout the Kia Sportage

  • onetwothreefour on 13/12/2024 - 13:55
    +2

    Camry

  • DGrayson82 on 13/12/2024 - 14:30
    +1

    Bugatti Bolide

    Seriously though, those new Santa Fe's are really nice, especially in white

  • Drakesy on 13/12/2024 - 14:43
    +2

    Lol @ Toyota Rav 4 - a 6 year old car design.

    My pick for the PHEV's would be the Haval H6 GT - 180km EV range and 0 - 100 in under 5 seconds all with the practicality of an SUV
    My pick for the EV's would be the MG4 still. Nothing really can get close to it value wise.

    • Gdsamp on 13/12/2024 - 14:49
      +1

      sadly PHEV GT not due till next yr

    • Iwantthebestprice on 13/12/2024 - 15:37

      Was shocked when I saw an ad yesterday for the new Havel H6 GT. I thought no way are they getting 180km out of a hybrid, but it seems they have backed it up with independent testing. Petrol when battery is flat is very high but honestly how many people are gonna use the battery fully in a day. Good price to at just over $50K.

  • mskeggs on 13/12/2024 - 14:48
    +7

    Is there any reason the Holden Camira won't back up for another win?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join