| Country | Name | Volkswagen Passat | Citroën C4 Cactus | Mercedes C-Class | Ford Mondeo | Nissan Qashqai | BMW 2-Series | Renault Twingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria |
Horst Bauer | 7 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Gerhard Nöhrer | 10 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
 Belgium |
Stéphane Lémeret | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Tony Verhelle | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |
 Czech Republic |
Tomas Hyan | 7 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
 Danemark |
Søren W. Rasmussen | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
 Finland |
Velimatti Honkanen | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
 France |
Thierry Etienne | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Didier Laurent | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | |
| Yves Maroselli | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |
| Stèphane Meunier | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
| Jean-Michel Normand | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 | |
| Alain-Gabriel Verdevoye | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
 Germany |
Holger Appel | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Ulla Ellmer | 6 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Frank Janssen | 3 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Georg Kacher | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Jürgen Lewandowski | 10 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jörg Reichle | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
 Greece |
Efstratios Chatzipanagiotou | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
 Hungary |
Zsolt Csikós | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Miklos Gajdan | 6 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
 Ireland |
Michael McAleer | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
 Italy |
Piero Bianco | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Diego Eramo | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
| Alessandro Ferrari | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| Massimo Nascimbene | 7 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Alberto Sabbatini | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| Giorgio Ursicino | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |
 Netherlands |
Jaco Bijlsma | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Ton Roks | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| Gert Wisse | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
 Norway |
Rune Korsvoll | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
 Poland |
Wojciech Sierpowski | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Maciek Ziemek | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
 Portugal |
Francisco Mota | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Joaquim Oliveira | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | |
 Russia |
Vadim Ovsiankin | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Mikhail I. Podorozhansky | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
 Slovenia |
Sebastjan Plevnjak | 8 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 Spain |
Félix Cerezo | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Rafael Guitart | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| Alberto Mallo | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| Juan Carlos Payo | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Xavier Pérez | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| Pere Prat | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
 Sweden |
Jan-Erik Berggren | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Hakan Matson | 5 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| Tommy Wahlström | 9 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
 Switzerland |
Urs Bärtschi | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Peter Ruch | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
 Turkey |
Ufuk Sandik | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
 United Kingdom |
Andrew English | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Andrew Frankel | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Paul Horrell | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Phil McNamara | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
| Matthew Prior | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| John Simister | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | |
| Total | 340 | 248 | 221 | 203 | 160 | 154 | 124 |
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat
Once again, Volkswagen brings out its usual recipe, that has been an incredible success up until now. The German carmaker upgrades without any major revolution. Timeless body lines, solid interiors without eccentricity, the new Passat is recognizable among competitors. The eighth generation of this medium size car, after 22 millions produced since 1973, is better finished, more homogenous and rigorous than ever. Elegant, very roomy, ergonomically designed, even luxurious in the upper end of the line-up, reassuring, pleasant to drive with lower consumptions, the new Passat is almost a perfect car with only minor faults.
Mercedes C
A Mercedes fun to drive? Yes, Mercedes can. Road holding is excellent with precise steering. We enjoy driving dynamics. A long trip is very pleasant, with good comfort. But be cautious with too big optional wheels! We love the body lines, but we are less enthusiastic about ergonomics, pretty puzzling. And it offers safety functions that can often be exasperating!
BMW 2 Active Tourer
It is a minivan. For a minivan, Citroën C4 Picasso is certainly roomier, more comfortable and versatile. But, for the driver, BMW is the best one. Sporty, with effective powertrains, efficient engines, low consumption, the Active Tourer offers exactly what the customer expects from a BMW. The engineers have done a very good job.
Ford Mondeo
It is a big sedan with rather attractive lines. And the SW is well-thought. But this is not exactly a new car. The American version (Fusion) was launched at the beginning of 2013. The European Mondeo has been postponed for a year an a half because of industrial decisions. It is quite an affordable car. But the finish, ergonomics, drivetrains, steering, are less efficient than those of the best competitors. Safety functions are even more exasperating than in the Mercedes.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Funny, simple, friendly, with a warm interior, comfortable, the new French “MPV-SUV” is original with flashy colors. We expected so much from this light, genuine Citroën, with downsized engines. But, we are a little bit disappointed. The finish is not at its best level. The car is at last not very functional and the three cylinders petrol engines are a little bit unpleasant.
Nissan Qashqai
Here is a very good SUV, with huge qualities, despite no personality. But, unfortunately, the small diesel engines coming from Renault are ineffective. The car is too heavy. No problems on the roads and highways, but, in the city, the 1,5 and 1,6 engines are too unpleasant below 1.500 rpm.
Renault Twingo
The rear engine small urban car is very original. Square, highly compact, with wheels far at all four corners of the body, agile, the Twingo is theoretically a fantastic car for the cities. But, we don’t like the engines, rough, noisy and unsuitable for traffic jams. Moreover, this car is less functional than the first Twingo, twenty years ago.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Cactus
Return to the simplicity is the best idea of the C4 Cactus. It is the right car for many customers who do not need a technological arsenal nor high performances or equipment. However, with its Diesel engines, Cactus is the fuel consumptions record breaker. Congratulations also for the design: Citroën has achieved a unique personality.
Nissan Qashqai
Still lacks a version with enough driving enjoyment, but otherwise is a very convincing crossover. Engines, design, equipment, capability and quality make it one of the favourite models of the European market. Today, Nissan Qashqai leads the way to other manufacturers in this growing segment.
Ford Mondeo
I like specially the handling of this new generation Mondeo. Ford has conceived a very effective chassis, also in comfort. Mondeo Hybrid is an interesting alternative against Diesel versions not just for city customers, but I would have preferred another location for the battery.
Volkswagen Passat
New Passat is a very convincing product under any point of view. This Volkswagen MQB car shows us everything VW Group can do with his modular matrix… for the moment. The (good) influence of Golf is evident on many, many aspects: under their beautiful bodies they are very close vehicles with the same technologies.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz always takes a big step forward with each new model, as see on this C-Class. Design, quality and driving pleasure are at the top level. C-Class exhibits a full range of features, but most of them at extra cost. His price is not competitive for a Car of the Year.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Despite its name, this Active Tourer represents a conflict of interest: it is not as sporty as we can expect from a BMW, or as comfortable as I demand from an MPV car. But objectively it offers good driving pleasure and enough modularity. Great and efficient 3 cylinder engine whose sound should improve, the same as the visibility on turns left.
Renault Twingo
The name remains, but the concept is very different from the previous Twingo. The new one has become a city car with good agility and funny drive but less modularity. At speed, it is too sensible to the lateral wind. The 3 cylinder engine could be more progressive.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
In my opinion three cars of this 2015 COTY edition are a step above all the other finalists.
First is the VW Passat (7 points): it’s almost the perfect medium size sedan/wagon for all the purposes. Even if this kind of cars are not as popular as in the past ten years, Passat is far and away one step above all the rivals of its category. Large choice of engines – gasoline, diesel and hybrid too – new interiors, many tech solutions. Same quality as the Golf in more comfortable and larger dimensions.
The second car in my ratings is the C4 Cactus (5 points): a brave strategy from Citroen. Cactus is a ingenious car: it is weak in some aspects (old platform, slow automatic gearbox, old fashioned rear windows) to save money that however was spent in useful and interesting innovations outside and inside. It’s a real original proposal: the real people`s car of the new millennium. A revolution that in my opinion worths the second highest score.
Same score for a completely different car: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (5 points). It’s a radical change for BMW: a more conventional car with the same good handling and steering reactivity of the well known BMW sport models, and, unfortunately, price not far from BMW standards. Pros: this car is the proof that BMW was able to make successfully a brave choice towards more generalist clients. Cons: a few lacks in some details inside: for example seat rails.
I haven’t assigned an high score to the remaining cars because, even if they are well built and have remarkable contents, they are mostly well made refinements of excellent previous models.
Ford Mondeo (2 points) is a solid medium size sedan/wagon; but, compared to the Passat, it’s a little bit more noisy and has not the same perfect drivability, while the price gap is not so high.
The Mercedes C Class (2 points) in my opinion is the perfect example of a small size-luxury car. But from my point of view, even if it has well finished interiors, its anonymous exterior design is a weak point.
Nissan Qashqai (2 points) is a successful upgrade of to the former model with many refinements, but the real innovative car in the automotive market has been the older.
Same rating for the Renault Twingo (2 points) but a different judgment: Twingo is a brave technical project and discards conventional solutions, but it’s still a city-car. Very roomy inside, strong personality, but too much colored plastic inside and outside. And too small to be a real multi-purpose car.
Alessandro Ferrari
Contenu à intégrer pour 2015.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Renault Twingo
Undoubtedly clever, especially how the Régie got hold of the rear-engined Mercedes-Benz Smart car underpinnings, and it is undeniably pretty, but there are distinct drawbacks to the Twingo if you plan on using it out of town. It’s noisy and not just thrumming three-pot engine, but the De Dion rear suspension, too, it rides like a pull-along duck, it isn’t that comfortable and the rear seats are cramped.. This is a highly manoeuvrable and great fun town car, but you’ll quickly tire of it when you quit Nutbush city limits.
Nissan Qashqai
Market-leading crossover SUV, this British-made family favourite is built for the ‘burbs and the only off roading it’s likely to face is a particularly tough kerb. This is the Mark II gussied up version, which in the dreams of Nissan marketing department, has Volkswagen’s Golf in its sights. It shouldn’t, as in ride quality the Golf would eat in alive. Well made, though and quite good to drive, but far from a revolution.
Ford Mondeo
The closure of Ford’s Genk plant means this once-mighty fleet stalwart and the car that taught us all to love steering feel, is almost three years late to market. It shows. The low-rent dash is festooned with bolt-on driving aids which don’t sit well with the rest of the electronic architecture and design feels fussy. That said it is big and comfy, and it still rides and handles beautifully, but its lead over rivals is very small now. Nor is the steering quite the class leading revelation it once was.
Volkswagen Passat
Throwing yet more refinement at VW’s uber-stretched Golf seems a bit like a project to make the Queen more regal. Passat is, however, a supremely relaxed and comfortable drive, but it’s as exciting as socks. Nicely designed and made, it’s also anonymous and you will lose it in the car park. A great family charabanc (especially as an estate), but it’s progression, not innovation.
Mercedes-Benz C-class
Merc’s business express is bigger, lighter and better made than its predecessor if not as good looking. It’s a very close rival to BMW’s best selling 3-series, perhaps even better in some ways. I like this car a lot, it’s the kind of Frank Sinatra of the C/D segment, profoundly lounge, but very classy. The examples on test, however, suffered on winter tyres which added an abruptness and fizz to the ride quality.
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
BMW’s multi-purpose vehicle and what an MPV this is, bringing an engineering integrity and build quality to a sector dominated by non-premium players. On pitted and undulating roads the ride was a trifle harsh but the damping control was first rate. BMW’s first front-drive car and a brilliant debut, but is making a better people mover worthy of the Coty award? I don’t quite think it is.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Citroën’s ‘Essential Car’ has been long in gestation and was once considered too extreme by the company itself. Prioritising comfort and insouciant practicality over dynamics and nebulous sportiness isn’t new, but the public has traditionally failed to embrace the idea. Everyone thinks they want a more comfortable car with less kit, but sales are traditionally low. Cactus is charming, but so full of holes it’s a sieve. The body shell is too floppy, the rear seats are spacious but claustrophobic, the ride is soft, but not altogether comfortable (spending more on the damping would have paid dividends) and the prices are high for what should be such a single minded car. BUT (and I’ve paced the floor on this for hours), it offers something genuinely different and is the most forward looking car in the group and while I wish this great idea had been built by someone else, for me, the Citroën is my Car of the Year.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
The second BMW to top my list in as many years, but while the i3 was there last year because the genius of its design shone through its flaws, the Active Tourer is quite the reverse: a car which has no real drawbacks, just a set of strong yet not exceptional talents across the board. But it really does bring new standards of driving pleasure to a category that has had to put up with two many dull cars in the past.
Citroen C4 Cactus
A car of its time that recognizes that what customers need is an affordable and effective package with ultra-low running costs, but that at the same time they want a car that looks cool and genuinely stands out from the crowd. They also want an attractive and intelligent interior, both of which the Cactus provides. Only the fact children hate the rear windows that don’t open properly prevents it from topping my list.
Mercedes-Benz C-class
With better powertrains, the C-class would also have had a strong shot of scoring the most points here. This is a car that does things others in the class cannot, bringing a new level of perceived luxury and, when not on winter tyres, ride comfort to the category. It is a lead others will have to follow. But the four cylinder diesels lack refinement and until they are improved or replaced, they will hold back an otherwise class-leading car.
Volkswagen Passat
A dark grey business suit on wheels, an accessory you use every day without thinking about it, a possession that functions precisely as you expect, which will never let you down, and in which you will be happy to be seen wherever you go. And when you get home you don’t give it another thought until morning. The perfect tool for doing a very specific job: efficient, effective and entirely devoid of character. A Passat, in other words.
Ford Mondeo
I reward cars that are interesting to drive because the amount you look forward to any journey is a crucial component of the ownership experience. So why is the great looking Mondeo, for over 20 years the best driving car in its class, beaten by a Passat? Two reasons: while the chassis is still superb, its new electric steering is not. And the dashboard design is simply an ergonomic and unattractive mess. This car would entertain me every day, but it would annoy me too.
Nissan Qashqai
Good looking and well rounded, the new Qashqai is still an unambitious car, happy to re-interpret the qualities of its successful precedessor without feeling the need to redefine them. And in some areas like rear suspension design, you can see where Nissan has taken money out of the car, to the detriment of ride quality. The fact it’s so near the top of its class says more about the weakness of that class than the strength of the Qashqai.
Renault Twingo
There is no candidate on the shortlist I wanted to like more than this. Its look and design concept are close to perfect and the result should have been the real successor to the original Fiat 500. But Renault botched the execution. The steering is poor and the chassis so tame that the tight turning circle remains the only advantage of its rear engine/rear drive configuration. Interesting, but ultimately a disappointment.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW Série 2 Active Tourer
A quite new car for BMW, with an efficient 3-cylinder petrol engine on the front wheels (the first time for the current BMW) and a high level of construction. But the wise character of the design and the high price in the segment are not assets.
Citroën C4 Cactus
An efficient car, with an exotic style and some difficult choices. Citroën knows the risks on the market and assume them. And if the price is affordable at first, the value for money is not the same if you chose a high level version. The C4 Cactus is the first model of a new product line, but it’s too early to know the global strategy.
Ford Mondeo
A high level of innovation for Ford with actually so many new (sports) models and technologies. The Mondeo is an european new and very technologic car born in USA two years ago, with a large range and an hybrid version.
Mercedes C-class
A brand new car, with a high level of quality and some efficient versions. The range is large, with some diesel, petrol and hybrid versions. A the top of the category in handling, technology and confort, the C-Class is at the highest price level too…
Nissan Qashqai
The Qashqai 1 was the first crossover and it was a success. But he was a little bit alone on his market… With a lot of new competitors, the new generation continues to perform, with a lot of new cars now in the segment… So many ameliorations are observed. This is for me the Car of the year 2015.
Renault Twingo
The third generation of Twingo shares so many parts with the new Smart and changes the rules : rear engine, propulsion, and a good design. Twingo is easy to drive in the city, and her 90 HP engine is fun to drive. A dual clutch Gearbox and a GT version will complete the range before the end of 2015.
Volkswagen Passat
This is the other 2015 new familial car, with the Ford Mondeo. The Volkswagen Passat use the new MQB platform, with some new version as a 2.0 TDI 240 4Motion and soon a plug-in hybrid GTE. The Passat is surely a best in class, but the technologic update is not so impressive than the Golf two years ago.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
This year returning a verdict is difficult. There are at least five out of the seven finalists that are absolutely worthy to aim for the title of Car of the Year and none of them rises clearly above the others. Eventually I choose the Volkswagen Passat although its “glacial” design did not actually warm up my heart. In addition to the always admirable architectural quality Volkswagen has a first order technical equipment and what’s more it has been able to translate it in a refined and extremely satisfying street behaviour from every point of view.
The Ford Mondeo pleasantly surprised me for the quality of its finish, its comfort, and for its handling in wide streets barely congested. It also has a captivating design, but its 4.90 m length (10 cm more than the Passat!) seem overstated and make it less manageable both in the crowded urban centres and in the narrow garages of old Europe.
If we were to award the prize only for the bravery and the ability to propose stylistic innovations the Citroën Cactus would win hands down. It has a lively look, rich in personality, that go well together with the unquestionable functionality of the “airbumps”. It’s a relaxing and non demanding car to drive but at length it becomes a bit boring. What I cannot forgive this car is the lack of an efficient automatic gearbox.
The Nissan Qashqai is an excellent leap ahead compared to the old model. Better built, better finished, better equipped. The new CVT gearbox is surprising for both its fluidity and noiselessness.
I’m not an admirer of the new stylistic trend of Mercedes. Therefore also the design of the new C Class leaves me aloof. For the rest there is everything you expect from a new Mercedes, and even more. Maybe a bit wider driver seat would allow to better appreciate the car’s qualities.
The 2 Series Active Tourer is probably the worst BMW I have ever driven. And this has nothing to do with its front-wheel drive. The car I tested highlighted a rolling noise coming from the front arches absolutely unacceptable for such a prestigious brand. In addition, the panorama glass roof did not close perfectly thus adding an aerodynamic noise. A BMW we were not certainly missing.
As to the Twingo I must necessarily refrain from giving my opinion. Renault did not consider it worthwhile to let me test the car and the few laps I drove at Mortefontaine are not enough for a serious judgment.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
I`ve been in automotive business for too many years; therefore, I cannot hide my disappointment for BMW`s decision to enter on a new era with front wheel drive models, but I have to admit that its engineers made this step forward providing a perfect result in terms of handling, even if this new model doesn`t look fit for a design award.
Citroen C4 Cactus
“Unique and different” according to Citroen`s spokesman, during our meeting at Mortefontaine and I could not agree more. The Frenchmen are well known for their innovative designs, fact that has already been proved in the best possible way with the launch of the DS series. The Cactus was such a pleasant surprise, combining design with build quality.
Ford Mondeo
Each Mondeo is better than its predecessor; Once again, the new model handles exceptionally and is fun to drive, despite being oversized. Build quality is top class and it is obvious that premium materials have been used even at the entry level versions. The new Mondeo is a quite competitive approach in an extremely demanding class. The 1.0 litre Ecoboost is perfect for the “special” needs of the Greek market, doing a great job against the weighty chassis.
Mercedes C-Class
Even if I am a fan of the the previous C-Class, I have to admit a Mercedes-Benz may only be “judged” after a long time period and not at first sight. In any case, there is no doubt that the new C-Class is a true Mercedes-Benz in terms of quality, while its engine range is more than complete. One could say it is a scaled down E-Class; and that pretty much describes it best.
Nissan Qashqai
A natural born best-seller in the Greek market and elsewhere. A very smart project with lots of advantages, like its spacious cabin or its off road performance, in terms of riding quality, even on 2WD versions. Moreover, its contemporary design with no busy lines makes it fit perfectly to the needs of the European citizen. It`s a pity that there is no plan for a Nismo version.
Renault Twingo
My Car of the Year. Charming and agile. The fact that it`s a rear wheel drive vehicle, is capable to make you feel like an old school rally driver. Besides this, Renault managed to launch a “different” model, putting the term “usability” in the foreground and at the same time without having to sacrifice other important fields, like the one of the handling. The performance of the dual clutch gearbox was a welcome feature.
Volkswagen Passat
This is not only a better Passat. The German engineers of Wolfsburg surpassed not only themselves, but also their colleagues from Ingolstadt while it is fair enough for them to be compared to the ones from Munich or Stuttgart. After all this vehicle represents the case where you can judge the car even if you have only drove the entry level.My judgement is based on following grounds:
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
For some people, this is one more Passat, the eighth. And it replicates some things of the Golf. I see a car with a powerful image, a lot of engines (including a plug-in version), great roominess and impressive list of comfort and safety equipment (like a device that stops the car if the driver gets ill). In my opinion, the car that best matches the main requirements to get this award: innovation and value for money.
FORD MONDEO
Is it possible to move a 4.9 meters-length car with just a 1.0 engine? Yes. This is one of the Ford’s commitments with the new Mondeo, a car that also offers a hybrid version and it is always pleasant to drive. As with the Passat, there is a roomy cabin and has plenty of high-tech equipment, but these features remain a bit better in the German competitor.
CITROEN C4 CACTUS
With a great personality, this Citroën can be loved or hated. I like it. And I also value the useful airbump, the smart interior design, the comfort or its efficiency (it is not difficult to consume less than 4,5 liters). Nevertheless, the central screen can get the driver distracted and I don’t understand the lack of some basic elements or safety devices, with the purpose of reduce weight or costs.
RENAULT TWINGO
Thanks to its mechanical architecture -rear engine and propulsion- this Renault has become one of the most particular, fun-to-drive and agile city car, with a reduced turning circle. Habitability also improves. But it has some disadvantages too: noise, boot and response to lateral wind. Value for money is in the average.
MERCEDES C-CLASS
Last year, the S Class was in this short list. The new C Class can be considered its little “brother”, due to its technology level, although most of devices have to be paid as optional. Much more lighter than the previous one, and with a new chassis, we can find an excellent balance between comfort and stability. Mercedes has also improved the roominess. But, being a premium brand, it is not affordable for the majority.
BMW 2-SERIES ACTIVE TOURER
Did BMW need a MPV? Maybe, and they have done a good job. Dynamics and handling are in line with the brand DNA. Habitability and space cargo are remarkable, but not the best in the segment. And the front wheel drive or the three-cylinder engines range (petrol and diesel) are innovative, but only for the brand. In a few months, a seven-seat version will be launched.
NISSAN QASHQAI
All areas in this model have been improved from the first Qashqai. Based on the new Renault/Nissan CMF modular platform, the new model is more attractive, shows a higher quality and includes new equipment to make it safer and more comfortable. But this doesn’t surprise us now. The main revolution began in 2007.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
For a brand so much connected to rear wheel drive and the associated driving pleasure, the arrival of its first front wheel drive car brought some controversy. But that was before the critics actually drove the car. The experience proved the Active Tourer kept some of the sporty road holding typical of all BMWs, together with a real sense of quality, in a cabin full of versatility solutions. Adequate Diesel engines, gearboxes and even a four wheel drive version. But the MPV segment is not as relevant as it used to be.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Styling is innovative and fresh, cabin is simple without loosing a sense of cosiness. But there are a lot of items missing from the standard equipment: rear windows do not wind down, rear bench only folds in one piece, there is no rev counter and no auto function in the driver’s electric window. Dynamics are safe and sound but not as comfortable as promised. It feels a glorified low cost car, but without the low price tag.
Ford Mondeo
It was launched in Europe three years late, due to industrial reasons. And it shows. Big on the outside, but not proportionally roomy inside, where quality and styling are already a little dated. The car is a bit heavy, that being the reason why some of its engines do not feel as strong as they could. Nice 1.0 litre petrol is adequate for an entry-level version, handling is almost as brilliant as the usual Ford standard and suspension is comfortable.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
New sophisticated platform uses a clever mix of materials to achieve high levels of stiffness and low weight. Incredible wide range of engines, both Diesel and petrol makes it a contender even outside the premium class. Comfortable and very able, in dynamic terms, plus one of the best cabins in the business, full of nice details and quality. The range will grow even further with hybrid and AMG versions, plus other body variants.
Nissan Qashqai
A true pioneer, in its first generation, the new Qashqai is now a mature proposition, in the compact crossover segment. Maybe styling could be a little more adventurous and cabin could have a few of its ergonomic details improved. But there is a lot of room for an average family, trunk capacity is generous and Diesel engines give the expected performance and fuel economy. Road holding is safe, if a little uninspired.
Renault Twingo
The Twingo badge is again synonymous with original architecture, this time due to the association with Smart. And that is the reason why it features rear mounted engine and rear wheel drive. But, apart from the very small turning circle, there is no real advantage to this option, compared with a regular front wheel drive city car. Cabin quality is a low point, disguised by some splashes of colour and inventive, if not too practical, storage spaces.
Volkswagen Passat
A new generation Passat and another fully competent family car, but completely predictable. Great relation between exterior dimensions and interior roominess, huge trunk, high quality materials and perfectly built cabin. Diesel engines are a bit loud but deliver good enough performance and fuel economy. Suspension is comfortable and gives good road holding, safe and precise. Styling a little too discreet and there is still a question mark over the, yet untested, 1.6 TDI Diesel engine.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
No doubt about that: This is a real Mercedes-Benz. Best comfort in its class paired with a sports car seating position. The Mercedes is silent, offers a powerful engine range if you wish, has a relatively big boot and a very nice finish. The price is high, though, and I would never go for an AMG version, but that is not new about a Mercedes-Benz. In any aspect a real premium car. Well done.
Citroën C4 Cactus
The only thing to critizise with this car is that it is not a technological frontrunner – except for the door pads. But the whole concept is marvellous. This car`s message is: I am your friend, and that applies not only for the owner but also for the others in traffic. Recline the seat a bit and relax. Life is stressful enough. It is a friendly, a peaceful car, and people smile. That really is something rare these days.
Volkswagen Passat
Yes, it is a very good car. I personally owned some of them already. They are roomy and very practical. The downside is that they lack any fascination. They are completely boring, which is interesting because the Passat is the best selling car from Volkswagen (better than the Golf by the way). Fortunately for me Car of the Year does not take sales figures as a criterion. Suspension could be more comfy. My experience is that engines drink a lot more than the test cycle results state. Nissan QashqaiThis compact SUV tells one of the biggest success stories since Nissan`s bankruptcy in 1999: It is a car that hits exactly the consumer`s taste: It nice to look at, very practical, handles well, and offers a lot of value for money, including good quality. You pay a lot more for many other SUVs.
Ford Mondeo
Brilliant exterior design, acceptable comfort, interesting engine line-up. The downside is that these downsized turbos engines get thirsty if you push them. Also this family barge/company car is huge. Almost one class higher, but did anybody think about parking it? That might be the U.S. influence. And what I really not like is the synthetic steering feeling. BMW 2-series Active TourerWow, that is brave. The specialist for sporty touring cars does a Minivan. But do we need another one? One that, without a doubt, handles better than the rest? One that is quicker around the corners? One that is much more expensive than most other Minivans? No. Which young family can afford that? What I get really angry about is when you pay a premium for a car that carries cheap solutions, for example that sleazy hat rack that covers the boot.
Renault Twingo
Anything was better in the good old days? Well, no. But definitely the first Twingo was. It was nice, it was roomy, it was fun. It was the R4 of the Nineties. Now we have a city car that has a very small turning circle but also a small luggage space. Thats it.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroen Cactus
True, there are better, more complete cars in this segment. But none is more charming and characterful than the new crossover from Citroen. It´s an efficient and affordable runabout, cute and unique, in more ways than one the modern 2CV we have all been waiting for. An emotional choice, for sure. But one I for one could easily live with it 24/7.
Ford Mondeo
Recent Ford have always focused (sic) on ride and handling, and the new Mondeo is no exception. It may not have the roomiest or highest quality interior, but it scores for the sharp steering, the cushy ride, the firmly planted chassis, the strong brakes and the mostly convincing drivetrains. Only the hybrid disappoints.
Mercedes C-class
It´s expensive, the bigger engines could be more frugal, and cabin space is not its forte. But the plug-in hybrid is a gem, the C63 invariably puts a smile on your face, and the T-model estate looks great and works well. The C-class also deserves full marks for its top-notch interior, the long list of safety enhancing extras, and the ace build quality. VW Passat 5 pointsIt does so many things so well: ride, handling, roadholding, efficiency, safety, fit and finish. And yet it fails to set my heart on fire. How come? Because it is all about cold perfection, and because there is an overall déjà vu blandness to this extremely well put together car. While the lesser engines are not that impressive, the potent AWD turbodiesel is a very fine piece of kit.
BMW Active Tourer
A van by BMW? Hmm. The customers seem to like it, but I find it difficult to get used to the MPV silhouette, the front-wheel drive feeling and the long distance between steering-wheel and windscreen. Like the related Mini Countryman, the high-roof Bee-Emm is indeed a very active tourer. But it also is expensive, and no packageing miracle.
Nissan Qashqai
Good-looking and thoroughly functional, comfortable and benign, the Nissan lacks poise, refinement and, above all, agility. It´s a relatively uninvolving drive, which is no surprise when you check out the ho-hum engines. The small displacement fours are short of urge, the automatic is of the lazy stepless kind, 4WD comes only with the big diesel and the manual gearbox.
Renault Twingo
Cactus wins, Twingo loses. Despite the fresh design, the tight turning circle and the aggressive pricing. But there is too much wrong with this car: iffy directional stability, sub-standard brakes, doughy steering, jerky drivetrain, my-first-Sony interior, terrible lights. This Renault simply does not make the grade.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
VW Passat
Is there any comparative test the Passat hasn´t won? For me the Passat is the best Volkswagen ever built by the Wolfsburg car makers. The eighth generation of this middle-class car has truly arrived in the premium class. The Passat Variant plays in its own league. Its technically mature standard, especially the impressive quality and precision make it the shooting star of the year. I am delighted by the efficient engines and the prospect of the variety of different model versions.
Mercedes C-Class
The new C-Class is the real gem among the Mercedes cars. Conservative no more, the sharp-cut, strongly accentuated design is the strongest argument for a successful relaunch. The car shows modern clearness, so does the interior. Haptics, finish and quality are first-class. Chassis and steering have remarkably improved. Comfort has hardly ever before felt so agile. Sound insulation could be slightly better.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
No easy exercise for BMW, but no cultural shock, because the Bavarians have also mastered the front wheel drive. The noble van scores with suitability for daily use und motoring pleasure. We would not nominate the car for a design award, though.We would have expected more peppery engines, but they are fuel-efficient.
Ford Mondeo
The novelty appeal is lost after two years of waiting. But the Mondeo is still fresh, shows style, feels good and drives well. The estate car is a completely rounded piece of work. However, the weight of the Mondeo is no role model and the passenger-compartment space could be more generous. And the infotainment system seems a bit old-fashioned compared to the competitors.
Citroen Cactus
The Cactus is fun car which catches people´s attention and puts a smile in their faces. Undoubtedly, the cheeky French Cactus polarizes: while lots of people appreciate the reduction to the essential, others think it´s a short-lived fad. I, personally, tend to agree with the second group. Nevertheless: good message and ideas, smart solutions. But remarkably high wind noise.
Renault Twingo
A perky and modern city car with a sensational turning circle. But that´s all there is. The little rear petrol engine is no recommendation, neither is the boot.
Nissan Qashqai
The car is not a trend-setter like the predecessor. An he does not meet the indicated sportsmanship.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-serie Active Tourer
BMW understands that in order to create a proper SUV with a maximum of interior space and practical usability , front wheel drive is the way forward. Having said that, the car somehow still gives you that nice, typical BMW-feel when you drive it. BMW also stepped out of its comfort zone by giving us an efficient three cylinder petrol engine. There is room for improvement when it comes to rear visibility.
Citroën Cactus C4
Great value for money. Its looks are surprisingly different with its bulky nose and big protectors on the sides. Practical usage of the car is nice, offering more than enough interior space. However when you are tall one can struggle with finding a comfortable driving position. The C4 Cactus scored 4 stars in the EuroNCAP crashtest, leaving room for some improvement when it comes to additional safety items to earn that all important fifth star. Altogether a very refreshing, sympathetic and affordable family car.
Ford Mondeo
Being actually three years old and operating in a part of the market that is declining, the Ford Mondeo still has very much going for itself. It’s an excellent car that offers lots of interior space and more than anything has lovely steering and suspension characteristics. With a solid line up of efficient engines including a 1 litre version, and with an extensive range of safety features, the Mondeo deserves to be in this years the CotY shortlist. Completely new is the innovative airbag in the safety belt of the backseats.
Mercedes C-class
In many ways the Mercedes C-class simply is a small version of the mighty S-class. And it therefor seriously raises the bar in this segment of the market. The C-class – also available as a hybrid – comes with a lot of clever systems that you not automaticly expect on a car in this price bracket. Where the car really stands out from its rivals is in its wide variety of driving aids. Speaking of rivals, as far as I am concerned the C-class is now the current benchmark in this segment of the market.
Nissan Qashqai
The Nissan Qashqai is a surprisingly good no nonsense car. Nissan cleverly combined the two old versions into this new one. The Qasqhai does exactly what car buyers expect from a car these days: it combines an elevated driving position with lots of interior space and low cost thanks to efficient engines. I would like to especially mention the small 1.2 litre petrol engine here, that proves to be very cost efficient and capable, turning the Qashqai into a great allrounder.
Renault Twingo
The engineers decided to put the engine in the back in order to create a maximum of interior space. And it does indeed offer quit some space for such a compact car. It furthermore turns out to be a great car for city usage. Where it loses points in my opinion is when you leave the city limits. Out on the open road this car isn’t as nice to drive as its rivals such as the VW Up.
Volkswagen Passat
By connecting existing safety features to each other Volkswagen created a very intelligent car that not only looks after you in terms of safety (completely new is Emergency Assist), but can also assist you when you want to manoeuver with a caravan attached (called Trailer Assist). Of course these systems come with a price tag, but the bare fact you can order such an important safety item is a reason for points. It is something its direct rivals simply can’t offer. The new Passat furthermore gives you a much higher feel of quality than its direct rivals.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-SERIES ACTIVE TOURER
The Munich-based company continues to expand its product range with a variety of vehicles that remain faithful to the philosophy of vitality and efficiency. The front-wheel drive is highly functional. It has good space available with a modern 3-cylinder engine. The quality of the finish and the materials is lower than expected for this brand.
CITROEN C4 CACTUS
Here is an innovative, original car that revives the classic spirit of Citroen, attentive to available technology at accessible prices. The air bumps that protect the body, customizing the look, are interesting. The significant weight reduction has been obtained by eliminating details that often are revealed to be unnecessary.
FORD MONDEO
This is one of the most global projects by the Blue Oval, resulting from what is without a doubt a significant investment. It has an imposing front-end, pleasant interior, excellent road handling, and it is surprisingly agile notwithstanding its size. The behavior of the 3-cylinder, 1.0 l engine is surprising on a vehicle of this weight and size.
MERCEDES C-CLASS
A new model coming from a long-standing tradition raises expectations. It has a young, sporty design, but other aspects are out of line with the brand’s history. In the less expensive versions, it risks overlapping with the numerous variants of the A-family. It does offer a wide range of engines, even hybrid.
NISSAN QASHQAI
The SUV-Crossover by the Japanese company is the first and, as yet, only one to reach such high production quotas as to feature in the top-ten sales in Europe. The new generation is a logical evolution that further raises the bar, offering an excellent quality-price ratio. Even the smaller engines are remarkable.
RENAULT TWINGO
This is the all-new, ambitious design with the collaboration of Daimler. The spirit of the car returns to the success of its first generation. The choice of concentrating on the engine and rear-wheel drive, which has advantages in terms of agility and steering radius, took courage. The luggage compartment is sacrificed and not compensated for in the front compartment.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
In my opinion, this is the Car of the Year 2015. It is a further evolution of Volkswagen’s MQB platform that has gathered the approval of the latest generation of Golf and other models from the company in Wolfsburg. There is a wide selection of power trains with DSG automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive. The twin-turbo, 2-liter, 240 HP diesel engine is magnificent.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
BMW is constantly entering new segments in the market and the 2-series Active Tourer is probably the boldest move so far. The car maybe not offer lots of innovations compared to the competition, but it is credible and honors the most important value of the brand: driving dynamics. Roominess, comfort and safety is also good.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Fantastic design, both exterior and interior, and some innovations not seen before. A car to fall in love with. But the idea and the concept is better than the car itself. Drive, comfort and – most importantly! – safety are areas that need to be improved.
Ford Mondeo
Although two years delayed the Mondeo will compete well in the segment. Comfort is very good, mostly due to the technically advanced rear suspension, but also seats must be mentioned. Impressing safety package, with airbags in the rear seat belts as option. Not seen in the segment before.
Mercedes C-Class
The C-Class offers most of the values and attributes that were considered unique to the S-Class only a year ago. A huge step in the segment. Safety is a must for Mercedes, and the C-Class has what is needed and even more, but the car also offers comfort of highest standard, a good drive and an impressing quality feeling.
Nissan Qashqai
A great step forward, compared to the previous model. Interior quality has improved a lot, likewise the chassis. Qashqai is comfortable and nice to drive, if not dynamic. Safety is very well taken care of too. A wish could be better and more options for engines and gearboxes.
Renault Twingo
Although cute and lovable the Twingo is not as nice to drive and ride as it looks. The rear-wheel-drive layout indicates fun o drive, but the car is neutral in its behavior and steering is not very distinct. Chassis need refinement. Some flaws when it comes to safety, too.
Volkswagen Passat
Another impressing piece of work, more than art, from the MQB-platform. Most of the technology was introduced already with the Golf, but the Passat offers some new useful innovations – like Trailer Assist. Lots of space, in rear seats and luggage compartment, high level of safety and a broad range of engine options. Even if VW tried hard, the Passat could be even more emotional.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
This Minivan, which isn’t called minivan, is innovative for BMW, but not for the segment. Can the future of Bavarian fun be front wheel drive and 3 Cylinder- Engines? Of course, CO2 emissions are a challenge everywhere. But it is difficult to understand, that this concept is a solution, the X-Series can`t provide. It has an awesome Diesel/Automatic-Combination, if the 150 HP Diesel is under the hood. It is no BMW at all, if the 3 Cylinder with manual gear shift is chosen. Expensive, very, if some extras are ordered. No heartbreaker in design, to be friendly.
Citroen C4 Cactus
A breath of fresh air. It is a friendly message and so different to all the other cars seen every day on the street. Some new Ideas like the door pads, you might like them or not. The cactus is not a package of Innovation, but the Airbag in the roof is a stunning advantage for passenger sides space. The driver position is unusual, and it is not at all perfect. The solution of fixed rear side windows is modern, but nonsense. Anyway, thank you Citroën, keep on going.
Ford Mondeo
Is the exterior design awesome or often seen on any other Ford? Up to you. The comfort is acceptable, handling (steering) is not as precise as it could be. Ford offers a vast variety of engines including the well known 1,0 Liter 3 Cylinder. In the Mondeo! This is surprising, but is it the future? The downsized turbos show a low fuel consumption on the paper, but in reality they are not. The car is huge for its segment, think about driving an parking it in the city. The interior is disappointing in design and material – look, what the competition offers.
Mercedes C-Class
Mercedes at its best. This C-Class is elegant, without being aggressive. Fun to drive, but still comfortable if needed and silent inside. What a feeling of luxury in this segment. Safety is at the top level and many technical features remind the S-Class, as well as the design. Good variety of engines, and a Plug-In-Hybrid comes next. A major step compared to the predecessor. Expensive, yes, but in any aspect a real premium car.
Nissan Qashqai
If you are talking about Nissan, you are talking about Qashqai. It is Nissans life insurance. A good car with a high safety standard for an SUV and with a design that hits customers taste. It is nice to drive, although it is a little bit rough. But the new generation is just an evolution, no revolution. Overall there is no surprise.
Renault Twingo
An interesting concept, which brings also the R5 back. Was this the idea? Some might miss the roominess of the first Twingo. The new one is not the same, but also friendly and funny. It is designed to be a city car, and it is a good city car. The Twingo offers a very small turning circle. It has some deficit in daily use, for example the tiny luggage compartment. The 70 HP engine is sluggish, the 9O HP engine is vivid. If the engineers would have done the same good job as the design, the Twingo could receive more points.
Volkswagen Passat
Made with the Wolfsburg perfection. The car is very roomy, especially in the backseat. Many people like the Passat, it is better selling than the Golf. Volkswagen offers an impressing variety of engines and some interesting technical innovation. But it gets expensive, if you don’t hesitate to choose from the many extras offered. Precise handling, but the suspension could be more comfortable, a little bit, at least. Despite all the qualities, there is a lack of emotion. It is difficult to describe, but the Passat has not at all the fascination you might think looking at the sales figures.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat
At the end of the day it is the most complete car of this year’s line-up. From the frugal, yet fun to drive entry-level model to the exhilarating top-of-the line biturbo with four-wheel-drive all the Passats share the same good handling and class-leading NVH. Plus a station-wagon with outstanding roominess for the rear-seat passengers and the luggage. Not to mention clever solutions like the hidden – thus always clean – rear-view-camera.
Mercedes C-Class
Yes, it is a Mercedes and therefore not the cheapest offer in the pack. But the new C-Class brings most of the sophisticated technology of the luxurious S-Class straight down to its segment. And just the mere driving-pleasure behind the wheel of this car deserves to be honoured with the ranking as the runner-up. Flaws: A cabin-noise-level much higher than those of the competitors – and way too high for a Mercedes.
Ford Mondeo
Superb handling (as ever with Ford), a mind-blowing engine-line-up including the first 3-Cylinder in the segment and a choice of trim-levels second to none – yet, the size of the new Mondeo shows, that it is not tailored to suit the needs of European-drivers using narrower European roads in the first place. Add some flaws in the handling of the HMI-System and it sums up in a well-deserved spot Nr. 3.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Not quite as revolutionary as its ancestor, the legendary 2CV, but the Cactus brings some of its spirit – less can be more – to our days. This brave decision of the Citroen Management and the outstanding design earn the C4 Cactus this 2 Points- Which definitely do not come for a four-door five-seater with no chance to open the rear-seat-windows properly.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
The car explores new terrain for BMW not only with front wheel drive and 3-cylinder engines. It does it in a decent manner – but it is definitely not as outstanding, as other new BMWs used to be in the past+.
Nissan Qashqai
Better – and bigger – as the predecessor, the new Qashqai moves up a notch and offers more room and a wide choice of equipment to make life on board easier and safer. But the steering lacks good responsiveness and the damper-setting could definitely be a lot better.
Renault Twingo
Fun to drive in the city, but the price for the best turning-circle of all the competitors is a rear-mounted engine heating the therefore too limited boot.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroen C4 Cactus
A refreshing and clever design, a real Citroen. A roomy,light and frugal car thanks to a well sorted comcept with simple weightsaving solutions which fullfil the same tasks. Goodlooking, and even able to seduce buyers that normally shop in the premium part of this segment for instance a Mini Countryman.
Renault Twingo
A revolutionary concept with its rear-enige, reardrive concept. That provides above average driving fun, but not really the promised extra interior space. A small, affordable car that really stands out of the crowd.
Volkswagen Passat
Almost the perfect car, not exciting in any way. Very well built, with all the right things in the right place. Wide engine choice. Comfortabel, frugal and well balanced handling.
Mercedes C-class
A great sedan which offers one of the traditional stron points of Mercedes-Benz: real comfort. And thats special in class where many brands confuse competition with too hard supsension settings. Good engines and hybrid-driveline available.
Ford Mondeo
Last but not least. We waited too long for a car thats not able to surprise us, but reassures us that Ford still knows what they are good at: building cars that offer great driving satisfaction. This is the driverschoice in its class and is better build dan any Ford before. Mildly disappoiting thats its so late and has auch predictable styling.
Nissan Qashqai
The second generation is an almost perfect compact SUV, great buildquality, good functionality, and affordable. Ready for succes in this bestsellerssegment that Nissan made really popular with its first generation.
BMW 2 Active Tourer
A revolution for BMW, but not really neus for the rest of the world which was used to MPS’s and frontwheeldrive for decaden. Well built, with good engines and above average handling is this class.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
During my first year as a Coty-member I found a clear winner and some very good cars.
Volkswagen Passat
For me, this is clearly the best new car on our long list. Excellent comfort and outstanding technical performance. Where others struggle to find solutions Volkswagen can excel in fine tuning. And for once the Passat got a design that match the rest of the car. The best car and my Car of The Year 2015.
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
I admire every form of currage in the car business and BMW clearly stepped outside the comfort zone when they decided to build a small front wheel driven family car. It`s a true BMW in many ways but maybe that`s a little to much for all the soccer mum`s out there?
Citroën C4 Cactus
Feelgood can also be innovation – at least I think so. The Cactus is a car that makes me feel happy and I hope that Citroën and other manufacturers can find inspiration in some of the more unusual solutions and design elements in this good car. It`s not engineered to perfection – not yet – and thats why it`s not a winner.
Mercedes C Class
Great comfort and all the technical innovations combined with good safety features and outstanding environment for the relaxed driver. But for me C Class is to relaxed and I don`t get the “want factor” at all. The design is a little boring and the car feels to big and heavy in the steering.
Ford Mondeo
I didn`t vote for the Mondeo to the final seven but during the final test at the Ceram circuit I was impressed by the handling. The exterior design is great but the interior is a disaster. I can`t understand why Ford didn`t do anything on the interior during the long period from concept to production. Not modern enough, not at all.
Nissan Qashqai
It`s a well earned success story in the car business. And the new Qashqai is off course better than the old one. More safety features and more tech-stuff. But for me it`s not enough to be in the final seven and thats why I give this car zero points. Nissan must find some currage to be ahead of the competitors even when it comes to a best seller.
Renault Twingo
What a fun little car and the steering is an eye opener – so fast, so tight. The Twingo also suprised me in the famouse Elk Test at Tannishus. But overall I think Smart was the better partner in this cooperation. It`s to many compromises. The sound from the wind, the luggage room, no space for the left foot and the strange solution with the bonnet. It`s zero points for me.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Activer Tourer
The Active Tourer is an evidence of BMW ability to widen its horizons, even to the fading category of minivans. Despite its size and its first-ever front-wheel drive, it`s a real BMW. Nevertheless, if this car appears like a big change for the brand, it does not bring much innovations, specially as far as its interior is concerned.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Faithfull to Citroën`s tradition of producing excentric cars, the Cactus cannot be classified. Light and well-suspended, it has a good handling, clever Airbumps and an elegant passenger compartment but the Cactus concept, with its unsettling appearance, lacks consistency. This car is hard to understand. The « plus » it offers regarding a hatch or, furthermore, a SUV, is not obvious.
Ford Mondeo
Lately coming to Europe, the Mondeo has made an impressive effort to challenge its competitors. It has many technological devices, strong as well as small (but effective) engines including an hybrid, and looks spacious. Good job but the new Mondeo would be more attractive with a lighter steering and a little of what makes a car special.
Mercedes C-Class
The C-Class does not stay aside from the flow of renewal coming from Stuttgart. An athletic design, an upgraded road handling and a more stylish interior. A change within continuity, that confirms that a car aimed to reflect social position can be exciting. Unfortunately, persistent lack of roominess and a noticeable price increase cool down our excitement.
Nissan Qahsqai
Founding father of the crossover dynasty (about a quarter of the automotive market), Nissan`s best-seller does not rest on its laurels. Its unique blend between the silhouette of a 4×4, the roominess of a minivan and the handling of a car is even more effective. Smarter, ligther and pleasant to drive, the new Qashqai has a kind of aura. Even slighty bland by some aspects, this car is a marker of its times.
Renault Twingo
Twingo has – at last – become a cheerful car again but the main feature is the rear-drive architecture linked to the collaboration with Smart. Somewhat noisy, the presence of the engine (the 0.9 l is efficient; forget the lazy 1-liter) at the rear offers more space in a shorter car and an astonishing steering radius. The new Twingo is less versatile and more urban-designed. It`s risky but clever.
Volkswagen Passat
The Passat, archetype of classicism, has new ambitions. As it should be for a Volkswagen, the step forward premium category is strictly paved. The style is slightly modified but more meticulous, the MQB platform offers a perfect drive, the choice of engines is huge and all the techonolgy devices are on the list. If only the Passat could be not so icy…
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Mercedes C Class
The new C Class sets the benchmark in the European dominant premium D segment by putting together the typical ride comfort and interior space you expect in a Mercedes with a much more fun to drive and ambivalent chassis. It also inherits many of the leading technologies premiered in the recent S Class and it is able to supply every possible need from market demand with such a wide range of sophisticated engines, including a plug-in hybrid.
Volkswagen Passat
The Lego-sort of architecture the VW Group uses is making it possible to bring advanced technologies and more quality to every brand and every model and reasonable prices and the Passat is no exception. Generous space, top active and passive safety and wide state of the art engine options (including a plug-in hybrid) bring the new Passat as close as possible to premium level. Both the exterior and interior design are quite boring.
Nissan Qashqai
There was a lot of responsibility in the shoulders of the replacement of the best-selling ever Nissan in Europe and the one that created the trendy C-SUV segment as we know it today. But the Qashqai lived up to the expectations with a competent whole new platform as well as clear upgrade in terms of interior quality and design. The engine range is somewhat narrow and still there is no satisfying automatic transmission available.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
It is one of the most revolutionary BMWs in the company´s history… even if it doesn´t look that exciting to look at. The first MPV, the first FWD passenger car, the first BMW to solely use a 3 cylinder engine has a great road handling and also a company trend mark efficient and powerful engine palette. In several aspects if feels more Mini (from which it borrowed the platforms) than BMW and pricing is uninviting.
Citroen C4 Cactus
A single point awarded by the attractive pricing of the Cactus which doesn’t deliver much more than what a low cost brand could be proud of. Citroen deserves more than that and there must be better ways to differentiate it from Peugeot. Handling is dull and interior has the cabin functionality limitations cannot be replaced by smart colours or decoration details.
Ford Mondeo
Unlike in the recent past, looks are probably the best asset in a new Ford. Gone is the road handling excellence of the likes of Focus, C-Max, S-Max or Fiesta as the Mondeo overall development was led by the US. And it shows. Poor interior quality, driving feel disconnected from the road and an engine range which can´t level the best competitor´s offer harms the too large and too heavy Mondeo. The 1 litre 3 cylinder Ecoboost is an interesting option.
Renault Twingo
The all in the rear Twingo can be a fun car to drive if you commute in really narrow urban roads thanks to its incredibly tight turning radius. Other than that you don´t really feel much of its rear wheel drive nature (a courtesy of the joint development with the smart forfour). Interior space is far from generous (especially width), boot is small and elevated body height makes it too sensitive to crosswinds and harms overall stability. ESP is far too obtrusive.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-series Active Tourer
It`s ironic that when BMW finally makes it into the shortlist, it`s with a front-wheel-drive compact MPV. This is a dying market sector, and the 2-series isn`t even very versatile. It also looks mis-shapen with its long, droopy nose, but the drive is the redemption: it`s a smooth-riding, precisely-steering, beautifully-made delight, with class-leadingly refined and punchy engines.
Citroën C4 Cactus
The Cactus brings fresh thought to the idea of a family hatchback for the modern world. There`s nothing else quite like this roomy, upright car with its bump-defying flanks, its ultra-simple dashboard, its weight-saving engineering and its classless chic. Best enjoyed with the petrol `triple`, the Cactus is also pleasingly lively and comfortable to drive. For me, this ideal family car wins.
Ford Mondeo
What is `premium`? Is it a Mondeo Vignale, or should it go deeper than a new top trim level? There`s no doubt that the latest Mondeo is a good car, with ride and handling as good as the best in the size-class, but the fussy interior design is a dated let-down to which no BMW, Audi or Mercedes buyer would turn. Also, this car arrives three years too late.
Mercedes-Benz C-class
A Mercedes should be impeccably engineered, which the C-class is. It should also have a timeless look, transcending fashion, but the new C-class is an ugly mess of fashionable flourishes which will date very quickly. The engines are underwhelming, too, and the ride is too firm. The interior design redeems it, as do surprisingly low prices.
Nissan Qashqai
The old Qashqai was a well-judged blend of hatchback and crossover. The new one has gone all SUV on us, and suffers as a result with a clumsier driving feel and exaggerated styling. But it`s what buyers seem to want, and the Qashqai matches its market well. Technology, equipment and the engine range are impressive, and it`s a viable entrant into the mindset of premium-obsessed buyers.
Renault Twingo
It`s a breath of fresh air in the true supermini category with its rear engine, clever packaging and tiny turning circle. The CERAM test cars showed that early throttle-response problems in the turbo version have been fixed, putting back the fun-to-drive factor I thought was missing. The Twingo looks great, rides adequately and exudes simple charm. The world is richer for its arrival.
Volkswagen Passat
Premium look, very premium interior, premium pricing… is that what a Volkswagen Passat should be? That`s a tricky question but there`s no doubt that the Passat is a slick, technically on-the-pace product which is very easy to live with. What it lacks is any perceptible personality, and driving it is not an activity to bring joy. Good, but no Car of the Year.
Jörg Reichle
Contenu à intégrer pour 2015.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
Premium vans are back, but they do not give any innovative solutions about modularity. Very standard design. One of the most dynamic and efficient car of his segment.
Citroën C4 Cactus
I like both its exterior and interior design. Excellent consumption figures. Interesting airbump and front passanger airbag on the ceiling to offer more space. I would ask for a bigger dynamic refinement, a good automatic transmission and some details about modularity to Citroën has renounced.
Ford Mondeo
Three bodies, big engine variety (I really like the fact they offer an 1.0 3 cylinders to move a 4.9-meters-long car), one hybrid solution… Attractive design, excellent behavior. Its problem this year has a name: Passat.
Mercedes C-Class
Good level of performance. Complete mechanic range. Only one critic aspect: the space on the rear seats.
Nissan Qashqai
Its first generation was more revolutionary by far. It has evolved into a very standard design on its segment but it has improved its quality and it has solved several small items to become more practical. Short engine range but with excellent consumption.
Renault Twingo
Perhaps the best citizen car talking about urban and manoeuvring agility, but it does not offer anything innovative despite its attractive design (exterior and interior). Very improved in terms of quality. Very short range of engines.
Volkswagen Passat
If I were a bit excited about its design, Passat would be my perfect car. There is not a better rival if we talk about quality, interior space, comfort and safety technology, number of engines…
My judgement is based on following grounds:
The Volkswagen Passat is since Generations not only the work-horse for many customers, but also a perfect example of a car engineered and built with quality and love for details. It is a pleasure to drive the car, you sit comfortably and the ergonomics is great. And the best thing: The Passat is not for free – but you get a lot of money back, when you sell.
There is no doubt: Mercedes-Benz is back on the track – the portfolio is better than ever, and the C-Class shows why. The C-Class looks great, refreshing and offers – aside of engines from 1,6 to 4,0 Liter – all kinds of electronic-assistance-systems, that could be found earlier only in very expensive cars. Therefore I even accept the high price-level.
Driving a new Ford Mondeo is a good experience – the road-holding is great, the engines are good and the fuel-efficency is astonishing. And the Mondeo looks great and offers plenty of space. I personally prefer the Station Wagon, which looks even better. And best of all is the low price, that Ford is asking.
What I like about the Citroën C4 Cactus is the look: The Cactus really looks different to the rest of the pack. I have no idea, how long the plastic applications will last, but that doesn`t matter – and the Cactus offers not only a lot of space, but also a well designed interior. And the price is also interesting – well done. Finally a Citroën that is back on the roots of individuality.
I have loved the Twingo for many years – therefore I was curious for the new Renault Twingo. And – YES – it is a nice and practical car, but the new Twingo is not as cozy as the old one was. But the price is very good and I am sure, many customers will love and buy and drive this car in the next years.
Does BMW really need a 2-Series Active Tourer? I have no idea, but the guys from the marketing should know, what they ask their engineers and designers to build. So this car is as good as any BMW, they know how to build cars, that are fun to drive – with great engines and a great chassis. So this is a good car – but again: Does it fit to the Brand?
I can not say much about the Nissan Quashqai – from my point of view it has lost its uniqueness, in this segment, nearly all cars look very similar. But this Quashqai-generation will find its customers – I hope so.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat
Most successfully meets the criteria for the Car of the Year. In terms of price, it is average, and as the other criteria go, it equals or surpasses its more expensive competitors. Its top advantages include high build quality, problem-free and intuitive operation, a spacious interior, fuel-efficient and dynamic engines, good handling. The driver’s satisfaction is guaranteed.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Stands out with its attractive and refreshing design, which makes it look much more expensive than it really is. It is difficult to believe that, along with the little Twingo, this car is the cheapest among the vehicles in the finals of this year’s Car of the Year competition. Its advantages include a spacious interior with interesting details and a choice of fuel-efficient engines.
Nissan Qashqai
Nissan’s designers and constructors achieved no mean feat – they managed to replace the first-generation Qashqai, which had enjoyed a massive market success, with a car that is likely to repeat it. In every respect, it is more mature and better thought out than the previous one. Its major advantages: considerable versatility and numerous electronic systems that boost the car’s safety and comfort.
Ford Mondeo
With this model, Ford have proved that today even a big car can be quite efficiently moved with a three-cylinder, one-litre engine and that we can still make cars safer for passengers – the increased safety is said to result from additional airbags in the back seat safety belts. It is a pity, though, that the car was launched in the US long three years ago.
Mercedes C Class
This most expensive car in this year’s finals shows just how much a car can change during one generation. The new class C does not resemble the previous one at all! It looks neater and more sophisticated, it is much better made, and thanks to advanced electronics, it leaves it up to the driver to decide whether to travel in a more comfortable or sporty car – just choose an appropriate driving programme.
BMW 2 Active Tourer
Everything that is exceptional about the 2 Active Tourer is only new to BMW cars. A van-type body, independently sliding and folding three seats in the second row, three-cylinder engines and front-wheel drive have been used in other cars for a long time now. Fortunately, the series-2 Active Tourer still handles well, just like all the vehicles from the BMW stable. In this respect, the new BMW product stands out most.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
In a year of no extraordinary vehicles (none of the candidates aims to be a game changer) the whole podium is kept by well known cars. In this background the winner could not be other than a rational, reassuring classic sedan, as the new Volkswagen Passat. For this reason, the Passat deserves the title despite an imagine far to spark emotions. Nonetheless, under the skin it shows an astonishing level of quality in every area: body execution, smoothness of torque output, driving dynamics, comfort, equipment. In one word, an extraordinary step beyond, allowing the Passat to challenge the best premium sedans, included its sister wearing the four rings.
The second place goes to another protagonist in the non emotional class of the mid-large sedans, the Ford Mondeo. Its strong points include an extremely spacious, well designed interior and an flawless Nvh. On the contrary, quality and refinement are just a bit lower as in the Passat. The technical package, including the surprising 1 liter three cylinder Ecoboost (able to move such a vehicle better than many nat aspirated 2 liters seen in the past) and a hybrid version still requiring some refinement, is also praiseworthy.
The Nissan Qashqai deserves the podium not only as a reward for the first generation, unexpected pioneer of a new category, which was able to sell well beyond the most optimistic forecasts. The second generation actually shows a successful update, mainly thanks to the comfortable interior and the top of its class equipment.
The Citroën C4 Cactus raised great expectations and actually is the most original car in the contest, thanks to different clever solutions, both outside and inside the vehicle. Moreover, it takes advantage of a light body. So, it could have gained a better ranking: its limits come from some poor execution and from the wearying driving position due to the softness of its “sofa”.
Also the BMW Active Tourer could aim to a better position, having managed to obtain a remarkable driving pleasure “despite” the front wheel drive, but it suffers for the lack of care in NVH (rolling noise, mainly) and for the cheap execution of some interior details.
Finally, the Mercedes C Class appears interesting for the styling evolution and its technical contents, but is penalized by a too sporty setup for such a classic sedan.
The Renault Twingo shows great agility and a fantastic turning diameter, associate with a not reassuring behavior at speed. But most of all the image suffers the uncommon height-width ratio of the bodywork.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
How ironic if the only BMW to ever win Car of the Year was the least interesting BMW launched in a generation. But it’s designed to do entirely conventional things and does them fairly well, with a reasonably sophisticated driving experience and cabin feel.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Takes advantage of the fact that none of the competition is outstanding, so scores highly for me on general design and functionality. It’s an interesting car. A pity it isn’t more pleasing to drive, nor more comfortable.
Ford Mondeo
Scores well for me on driver satisfaction, but there’s no overlooking just how far off the pace of Europe’s best the Mondeo’s interior feels. Given how much time Mondeo drivers will likely spend inside one, that’s really quite significant.
Mercedes C-class
Almost the opposite of the Ford Mondeo – which drives well but has a poor interior – the C-class manages to combine a near class-leading cabin with some of the most mediocre dynamics in the class.
Nissan Qashqai
A car that’s simply ‘good’ at everything it does. It’s well designed, drives well enough, seats occupants in sufficient comfort; but for me it doesn’t reach out to ‘outstanding’ in any key area.
Renault Twingo
A much better idea on paper than it is in reality, but wins marks for me on the innovative idea that gives it its sweet design and some pleasing driving characteristics. Ultimately, though, managing the mechanical layout means that handling and comfort both suffer.
Volkswagen Passat
The Passat wins most points from me not because it is the most interesting car, but because it brings more to its class than any other shortlisted finalist. It’s the only car here that I’d without hesitation place at the top of its market segment. So, yes, there are more innovative cars around, but ultimately they demand too many compromises elsewhere.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
In a tightly run race with no stand-out winner the BMW takes my top points for mixing family functionality and premium appeal in a segment that lately seemed to be losing its lustre. This new car epitomises the move by premium brands into the mainstream market and demonstrates how it can be done well. The Gran Tourer version will answer a lot of family needs.
Mercedes C-Class
Smart looks, a proper premium-grade interior and a portfolio of engines ranging from the frugal to the fire-breathing marks the arrival of the first C-Class in some time that is just as good as anything from Audi or BMW.
Ford Mondeo
This part of the competition comes down to a battle between the Ford and the VW. It’s a close call and both have flaws. The Ford wins out with a more engaging driving dynamic, more impressive entry-level engine range and a more eyecatching look. Downsides include a low-grade interior and a hybrid version that seems to have been an afterthought.
Volkswagen Passat
The refinement of a premium car, quality fit and finish throughout and some truly innovative engines and technology at the upper end of its range mark the Passat out as an impressive offering. However the design is too conservative, while the smaller engines lack pep. The upcoming GTE is very impressive, but a likely high price will limit sales.
Nissan Qashqai
Perhaps the real innovation happened in the last generation with a model that defined the crossover craze. This is a well-executed evolution on the original theme. Build quality is strong, the car delivers in terms of functionality and it is worthy of its place outside the traditional market segment categories, luring buyers out of family hatchbacks and premium saloons.
Citroën C4 Cactus
I like the way Citroen has created a car that evokes its strong design heritage with a modern look. In the midst of financial crisis at the French firm it turned to its designers to redefine the brand. Alexandre Malval and his team has delivered with aplomb. Simplicity, individuality and style with practicality to boot. Beneath the skin, however, the actual underpinnings are not as innovative and the touchscreen infotainment system is terribly annoying and imprecise.
Renault Twingo
A great concept, smart and innovative in its delivery, and great fun to drive provided you opt for the right engine. Unfortunately the difference between the lacklustre 70bhp 1-litre and the peppy 90bhpy 900cc is enormous and as the latter is significantly more expensive, the Twingo loses out.
Mikhail I. Podorozhansky
Contenu à intégrer pour 2015.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Mercedes C-Class
Built on a brand new platform with double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension C-Class offers supple and nimble ride in particular if you add the optional air suspension, a unique offering in the class. The new generation C-Class is lighter, its passenger compartment is roomier and quieter. Craftsmanship and standard equipment level are both far above the expectations for the category.
Volkswagen Passat
The eighth generation model is based on the MQB platform, and uses all of its advantages. This way the new Passat is lighter, roomier, and (with the new turbocharged engines) more economical than its predecessor. It can also be equipped with all the latest driver assist and safety systems including configurable LCD instrument cluster. The quality of the interior is outstanding.
Nissan Qashqai
Today, being only cheap won’t sell more cars. Nissan has recognized this and changed the second generation Qashqai into a more valuable car. This was achieved by good craftsmanship and quality, roomy passenger compartment, low noise levels, a comfortable suspension, economical engines and a great number of available safety extras.
Ford Mondeo
Together with its new platform, the Mondeo got a modified multilink rear suspension and electric power steering. The latter means now it can use all the modern driver assist and safety systems. Beside these, quality was improved, ride became more comfortable and the passenger compartment is now quieter. A hybrid and a frugal one-litre engine make the engine range broader.
Renault Twingo
It was a bold step changing from the front wheel drive layout to rear wheel drive, but it brought advantages such as one of the roomiest passenger compartment in the class and an extremely tight turning circle. Variability and the number of storage areas are great; the turbocharged three-cylinder engine is both frugal and powerful.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Contrary to its name, the Cactus is actually an amiable looking car full of lovely styling solutions inside in the roomy passenger compartment. But under its nice skin the Cactus contains some smart solutions as well, such as the light body construction, which together with the downsized and frugal engine range yield an especially low fuel consumption.
BMW 2 Active Tourer
At last even BMW has entered the club and introduced its first front-wheel-drive model which exploits all the advantages this driveline layout can provide. Considering its length the Active Tourer is one of the roomiest BMW, its boot capacity is generous, and it has a highly configurable rear seat row. And of course the fun-to-drive factor is also included.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
None of these deserve an uninhibited hurrah so I’ve spread the points wide but thinly. First, three very well-executed cars. But they stick boringly to existing divs and none is a clear class leader, so they don’t get my top points.
The Ford is roomy, safe and refined. It’s fun to drive, but not as much fun as its predecessor. Its interior lacks the perceived quality of the Volkswagen’s. The VW isn’t quite as good dynamically as the Ford. The Mercedes feels like a Mercedes should. It’s solid, beautifully made and safe. It’s not all that expensive in my country. But its diesel engines are noisy, and the rear seat is cramped. One or two of the many chassis configurations are just fine. Yet most are lumpy, even though they fail to provide class-leading handling.
Nissan got lots of experience by diving into crossovers early. So the Mark 2 Qashqai’s styling, high riding position and well-packaged boot will suit the target families. There’s a good balance of economy and equipment, and it’s surprising fun to drive. Mediocre rear legroom and road noise are among the few faults.
The BMW misses the mark as an MPV. Drive like its sporty chassis encourages you to, and the passengers will feel like they’re in a spin drier. An MPV needs a more comfortable ride. And the elaborate rear suspension means the seat-fold isn’t as versatile an an MPV’s should be. I give it points because its excellent chassis, powertrains and electronics will find a better home in other BMW Group cars. They already have in the brilliant new Mini.
The most innovative cars are the two cheapest here. But the Twingo doesn’t take advantage of its layout. It’s longer than the original Twingo but less roomy or versatile inside. Sure it looks terrific and is wonderfully easy to park, but on the road several baby-car rivals have better suspension control and refinement.
The Cactus is a rigorous re-think of the mid-size hatchback. Large heavy powertrains were banned, as were powered seats and other weighty options. So it has lighter structure and running gear, and it really does get along well on its small engines. The exterior and interior design is to my eye absolutely great: fresh, not aggressive but not dumb or cute. But the Cactus isn’t perfect. Its general level of finish, inside and outside, could have been better without adding much weight. Worse, most controls depend on a central screen that’s insensitive to the touch, sluggish and low in resolution. Those things reduce the winning margin, but it’s still my Car of the Year.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
Interesting familiar interpretation that adopts the traditional values of quality and sportiness of the German brand but that will not result in any inflexion point on its commercial speciality. New referent in dynamic terms, it is a good alternative for people that both enjoy driving and think about the other people.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Although some elements like his slow automatic change are clearly upgradable, its distinctive nature will let it become an automobile with its self soul as time goes by. Tribute to simple things, the friendly French model tries to make the essential factors gain value and it leaves aside the unnecessary luxury.
Ford Mondeo
It will be the ideal election for the drivers looking for a vehicle that stands out for its elevated levels of comfort to face long trips. It means a considerable jump of quality for the American brand, which has decided to make a special bet for the European market through the special Vignale configurations.
Mercedes C-Class
Possibly, being the most refined automobile of the ones included on the finalists list is also the cause that should move it away from the winning bets. Because of the high luxury levels that its interior materials offer and the sophistication of its mechanical set, it is a model whose price is not at the reach of most drivers.
Nissan Qashqai
The original model meant a real conceptual revolution that has transformed the scene of the European market. Now, it would be fair that the second generation was able to collect the success of its predecessor in the way of a deserved prize. The specific weight of this car comes reflected in the growing importance that the Crossovers assume.
Renault Twingo
Being the work of a shared industrial project makes it lose points on its candidature. Urban solution that surprises for its exemplar manoeuvre capacity, it offers a very limited mechanical gamma. The positive evolution experienced by the details of the French model should have also come with an improvement of its interior space.
Volkswagen Passat
Inheritor of the accumulated prestige by the seven previous generations, this German model has made an important step towards perfection. Car that does not count with any weak point, it stands out for its exhibition of cutting edge technology. With a gamma composed by nine engines and two bodyworks it fits into multiple needs.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Cactus
Not the french revolution, but by far the most innovative car this year. Best about it: less is more. The Cactus is not a show-car, does not help the drivers self-esteem. Its design is probably not the most amazing in the last years – but the Cactus offers something like the new friendlyness, it is not agressive at all. The Citroën is also much lighter than any other car in its segment – and therefore more economic. And finanlly: the pricing is very reasonable.
Mercedes-Bent C-Class
A very good car – and a big step for Mercedes-Benz. The new C-Class has the typcial Mercedes-qualities, but it is much sportier than before. There are all thinkable saftey- and infotainment-possibilities – but they have their price. Clean design – too big choice of variations.
VW Passat
A very good car – and a big step forward for the Passat. Quality, ergonomics etc. are on a higher level, all thinkable safety- and infotainment-systems available. Modern, ergonomic engines. But the car is too expensive – at least for a Volkswagen. And the design is much too familiar, all VW look the same.
Ford Mondeo
Great handling, the Mondeo is really a lot fun to drive. Reasonably priced, much cheaper than C-Class and Passat. And not really much behind the Passat although the Mondeo is not a really new car at all. Clean Design – but the car is too big for Europe.
Renualt Twingo
Great car for the city. But who needs a car in the city? There are no really good reason for its layout with the engine in the back, there is no big fun to drive. And not enough space in the back. And the design is not original enough.
Nissan Qashqai
There is not much to say about the Qashqai. The Nissan has no weak points – but also nothing extraodinary. And at the end of the day this not enough. However, customers love the Qashqai – and they are right.
BMW 2er Active Tourer
Overall, a quite disappointing car. Of course the quality is great, ergonomics and roominess too. But the design is old-fasioned (and not at all original) – and the car itself not what one would expect of a typical BMW. Sure, it is all about downiszing, but a little «fun to drive» should be in every BMW. And: very expensive compared to other cars in this segment.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Zero points for Renault’s Twingo: with its cute design, wheel-at-each-corner stance and rear-engine layout, it promises so much fun. But with its desperately slow steering, treacly brake pedal and intrusive ESP, the driving experience fails to deliver on that promise. When you factor in its hard ride and VW’s Up beating it for cockpit space, it’s sadly a missed opportunity.
Nissan’s original Qashqai was a pioneering crossover: the second generation polishes its successful div. Sharp creases and design details, a spacious, airy and decent-quality cabin, and the semi-command driving position that makes for good visibility and easy loading of kids are all strengths. The chassis majors on comfort rather than dynamic engagement though.
Buyers have shifted from saloons to crossovers, but the new Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat attempt to fight back. The Mondeo is the most fun dynamically: drive it hard on our demanding test routes, and its body control, ride quality and responsive controls are exceptional. It’s a very refined motorway car, and the punchy 1.5-litre Ecoboost is great, but the drab, cheap-feeling cockpit is a real letdown.
The Passat reeks of quality engineering throughout: it’s a little lighter than the Mondeo, its cabin feels very special, and its sophisticated technology delivers for the consumer: self-driving in traffic jams, automated piloting if the driver is incapacitated, forthcoming active binnacle, and world first trailer assist. If you could combine the Passat’s quality and tech with the Mondeo’s chassis, you’d have an ideal (if trad) car to stem the crossover exodus.
I always look for class-leading cars, and BMW’s 2-series Active Tourer is the best handling mini-MPV: it has the nicest feeling steering of all seven contenders. Like the Qashqai, it offers a raised driving position and a versatile, threeway split rear bench with plenty of room, and brings BMW quality and engineering pedigree to the class.
Mercedes’ C-class is vying for premium saloon leadership: its civilised, supple ride and superb refinement feel best-in-class, as is the high quality cabin shaped by real design flair. Merc’s four-cylinder engines are becoming more refined, and currently best the equivalent BMW 3-series on economy and CO2.
But my winner is the Citroën C4 Cactus. It eschews the complex tech of its peers, making a virtue of simplicity to minimise weight and cost, for the consumer’s benefit. So mpg and CO2 figures are impressive. It’s compact but has decent cabin space. The exterior design is handsome, and the interior design peppered with delightful touches, from the asymmetric vents to the cloth grab handles to the gearbox lever. Citroëns often flop in our dynamic assessments, but the controls, peppy 1.2-litre triple, ride and steering are a step forward for the brand. The good value Citroën is brimming with feelgood factor, and it’s my Car of the Year.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat
The 8th generation is the top for design, technology, performances and connectivity. A spacious global car (sedan and wagon) lovely to drive, with a complete family of eco-engines: gasoline, diesel, hybrid and electric. It is an excellent extension of the Golf-project.
Citroen C4 Cactus
A brave project: includes many interesting new technical solutions, as required by the recent philosophy of the brand. Nothing is superfluous in this car`s design, with a minimalist interior offering great inner room for passengers and luggage. Customers can found it very attractive or very scary, but they will notice it for sure.
Ford Mondeo
Car already known on the global market, but now offered in Europe with many different bodies: 4-door sedan, 5-door sedan and wagon, and also with hybrid technology, for all types of customers. Comfortable, spacious and full of advanced connectivity. Particularly interesting is the 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine.
BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer
A real revolution for the brand: the minivan architecture with anterior traction offers great inner room, and the range of engines is complete. Still, we are more used to the rear traction for Bmw cars, for sporty and exciting performances, even though this is a good compromise originated by the business.
Nissan Qashqai
On the market for over a year, the new generation has improved design, engines and perceived quality. Unfortunately, it also lost a bit of the unique personality that had become a signature on the market.
Mercedes C-Class
Good expression of the typical Mercedes values: luxury and technology (also in the hybrid engine). However, the style divides the customers and the car is not as exciting as all the new compact generation by Stuttgard.
Renault Twingo
The rear engine solution is interesting, offering great maneuverability in urban mobility, but unfortunately high speed drivability is not so good. Very limited space for luggage, and the opening of the front bonnet is as complicated as a Rubik’s cube.
Rafael Guitart
Contenu à intégrer pour 2015.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
VW Passat
Another winner from VW. The old Passat was very nice to drive. The new is even better. It is very comfortable, the handling on both dry and slippery roads is super and the range of new Euro6-engines from 120 to 280 hp, provides something for everyone. The GTE plug-in hybrid will be very important in Norway. The Passat shared the first place in our wintertest with Mercedes C.
Citroen C4 Cactus
The Cactus is different and unique – close to the Citroen DNA from yesterday. Designwise it stands out from the crowd, turns heads and is nice to drive. The airbumps are practical in city-driving and parking. The Cactus is practical and affordable transportation.
Mercedes C
A really good car in all respects, not least with super comfort and a lot of safety equipment. The first place in our wintertest proves that this rearwheel driven car can handle slippery roads – thanks to very good assistance systems – and freezing temperatures – thanks to the high level of equipment.
BMW 2 Active tourer
This BMW is for a different audience – families with children and seniors. With the high seating position, large doors, good luggage capacity, the Active Tourer is the most practical BMW so far. The FWD makes this possible, but the car is still quite fun to drive.
Ford Mondeo
Late but very good. With a exciting design og a very high level of comfort, the Mondeo will still be a strong contender in the family class. The hybrid, with the batteries in the trunck, is the least impressiv.
Nissan Qashqai
The first generation Qashqai set the standard for many to follow. The new is better in all respects and will defend its position as one of the best selling cars in the segment. With new engines, equipment and better comfort, the practical Qashqai is very good value for money.
Renault Twingo
This minicar is a joy to drive and park in crowded cities. The rear engine/rearwheel drive makes the Clio the most spacious car in the segment, but it does not perform very well in winter-conditions.
Søren W. Rasmussen
Contenu à intégrer pour 2015.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
A family front wheel driven MPV has just joined the ranks of the rear axle powered sporty limousines. The BMW 2 Active Touring, albeit being an excellent car, is yet to be accepted by the BMW brigade. For the rest of the potential buyers, especially in Slovenia, price will undoubtedly dictate a considerable pondering.
According to Citroen, a new era has dawned upon the company. If C4 Cactus and the future models are a sign of things to come, accepting this direction as soon as possible is the order of the day. A slightly lower price would definitely help and score it some additional points.
Slovenian designer Robert Lešnik played a significant role in the progression of the new Mercedes C-Class which makes the new car handsomer and at the same time likeable amongst the younger buyers. The choices in the line-up are aplenty; from the diverse car shapes to different engines and numerous transmission options. The technology is also impressive but as with anything “cutting edge”, it doesn’t come low-priced.
The success Nissan harvested with the Qashqai is amazing, even though the design is nothing to write home about. The latest version makes it slightly more attractive but at the same time also more analogous to the rest of the Nissan’s line-up. This takes away some of its charm and unfortunately also some of my points. Moreover, the competition in its class is gaining ground rather swiftly.
Looking at the Renault Twingo, everyone immediately remembers the crazy 90’s. However, Renault’s management politics managed to alter the ever so special toddler into a plain run-of-the-mill minicar. Therefore specific buyers have begun to look elsewhere. With the new Twingo, Renault is trying hard to revive its days of fame. To some, the car might be more attractive, pretty even, but, despite the Daimler connection and its rear wheel drive, in my opinion Twingo is sadly losing its identity and consequently also a substantial number of my awardable points.
To many, the Ford Mondeo was always much more than just an average “Joe” offering good road handling, precision steering and spacious interior. Nowadays, the Mondeo is a global car and therefore compromises a little, especially in the interior department. This perhaps, will not please the European buyers. Conversely, it offers a wide choice of power plants; including the award winning litre engine and its hybrid version. The latter is truly convincing and therefore the new Mondeo receives a significant number of my awardable points.
The Volkswagen Passat has been overhauled considerably but has kept all of the upgrades modestly hidden under its skin in what on the surface appears to be nothing but a minor redesign. However, in addition to the subtle but nonetheless still instantly recognisable shape changes, its technological advancements are truly surpassing everything in its class. Then, there is a good value factor, which in Slovenia is paramount. Its price stayed the same as its predecessor’s but one gets so much more; from better equipment to better engines and an addition of new technologies. All this, combined with the German manufacturing precision, makes the new Passat the clear winner for me.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
According to the comments heard here and there concerning the new Twingo, we either love it or we loathe it! Even if I agree that it has a few imperfections, I am clearly part of the first category. Its manoeuvrability, its absolutely fantastic handling in tight corners, it’s cute, its comfort, its modern engine, its correct price and its practical aspect are far from being forgotten and make it my winner for this year. It’s a shame that its ESP system is so castrating and that it’s so sensitive to lateral wind, which is why it gets 7 points instead of 10. It is also a shame – but the Twingo can’t do anything about it – that its cousin, the Smart Forfour, hasn’t been kept in the list of the seven finalists, but it’s without a doubt due to the fact that all the members of the jury didn’t have the time to try out this car in time for the first vote.
Second in my ranking, just one point behind the Twingo, is the Ford Mondeo, which also seduced me by its style, its roominess, and especially its very gratifying handling, which gives such an exceptional driving pleasure for a large sedan with front wheel drive.
I would like to have given more points to the Citroën C4 Cactus, but its great qualities and its very pleasing originality cannot compensate for its multiple little flaws (lack of buttons to regulate essential functions, whistling at high speeds, rear seats in one piece).
Quite the opposite of the Nissan Qashqai, which was good in all respects but I think it is a bit too “unsurprising” to merit any more points.
This last comment fits the Volkswagen Passat even better, a fantastic sedan that lacks spice to convince me any further.
The problem of the Mercedes C Class is another story. It’s without a doubt objectively the best car in this selection, but, at least in Belgium, it’s around 3`000 euros more expensive than its German premium competitors. In these conditions, doing better than everyone isn’t a feat in my mind, even if Mercedes proves once again with this model that its workmanship is above all reproach!
Lastly, the 2 Series Active Tourer, is an excellent car, but giving points to a front wheel drive BMW is beyond my power. This car is very successful…but it could have been even better if it had had rear wheel drive, like any self-respecting BMW!
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroen C4 Cactus
No other cars this year had tried as hard as the Cactus to ease customers life. Humble but not dull, it provides neat design, multi- personalization, excellent comfort, relevant technology and smart features (airbump, airbag in roof, top opening glove-box…). Yes, it is missing a 1/3-2/3 folding back seat and is not as cheap as advertised but the Cactus is spacious for four, frugal, agile and soothing.
BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer
About 20 years after the Renault Scenic, this Active Tourer is no breaktrought . But, one of the best in MPV segment and a good « premiere » front-wheel drive for BMW. With the 7-seaters version, it will also stands against upper versions of Citroën C4 Picasso (the european leader) and next VW Touran. Sadly, ergonomy , pricing and quality are not as convincing as handling, steering and choice of engines.
Ford Mondeo
An Aston-like grille and a sleek body can not hide that this Mondeo should have been launched two years ago in Europe. Comfort is good, roominess superior but quality is deceiving and infotainment not on par with modern competitors. Large and clumsy, this « world Ford » will have hard time making french family-men rushing back to sedan.
Mercedes Classe C
Looking like a baby S-Class, offering top -class safety and hi-tech features (sadly too often as options) plus an original and sporty cabin are key features of the C-Class. Roominess is better than before as is handling. But considering pricing, ergonomy and fun to drive, this Mercedes do not dwarf its competitors.
Nissan Qashqai
First Qashqai was such a success that , I was, maybe, expecting too much with this new one. Pricing is fair and infotainment up-to-date but quality still average and riding often too harsh when comfort should be an asset for a SUV. Safety is not a concern but steering, noises and vibrations (diesel) are to be refined.
Renault Twingo
Because Renault has no other choice – or will – but to share the Twingo platform with Smart, it tried to prove that going back to a rear-wheel drive chassis is a step forward. Manoeuvrability is terrific, roominess and versatility are good. But lifelong customers are crying the sliding back and Twingo is no more this little car that rides like a bigger one. At last, it will be even better in the city with its new six-speed automatic gear-box.
VW Passat
VW often astonishes by the huge efforts it puts in making its new cars no different than before. This Passat is competent with superb surfaces, flattering finish, technics everywhere and lot of engines but also, emotion-less to drive. And, as with the Golf before, VW did not provide us with regular suspension Passat for our tests. How can we appraise a car with only half of the promise delivered?
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Citroën C4 Cactus
Between sedan and crossover, the C4 Cactus is an unclassifiable car. Innovation is in the design, more than in the technology, but this light and fresh spirit, typical of older models of the Citroën brand, is very welcome. Cactus takes the head of my ranking with only one point ahead because, despite a price equivalent to a crossover, it lacks essential equipment.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
Ten years ago, no car expert would have guessed that, one day, BMW will sell a front wheel drive van. In terms of build quality and driving pleasure, the result is at the high level of the premium brand reputation. With the seven-seater Gran Tourer version, large families will be able to travel in a BMW. But they will have to pay full price.
VW Passat
This eighth-generation Passat change more than it looks. More ambitious than ever, this family car, available in sedan and station wagon variant, competes with premium brands production. It is available in plug-in hybrid version and also with petrol and diesel engines over 200 hp, with four-wheel drive. Unfortunately, compared to the Golf 7, there is nothing really new, except a larger size.
Mercedes C-Class
A small S-Class, this is what comes to mind when leaving the new C-Class. More comfortable and more refined than its predecessor, this family car, available in sedan and station wagon, is mostly much more exciting to drive . Provided to use a long and expensive list of options. For example, the air suspension Airmatic is essential to its standing.
Renault Twingo
The new small city car has a rear engine, such as the 4 CV 1947 … and like the Smart Fortwo and Forfour who share its platform for economic reasons. This architectural revolution is good for habitability, not for modularity or driving enjoyment. Despite this, the new Twingo is a pleasant car in the city, especially with the excellent dual-clutch transmission which arrive soon.
Ford Mondeo
Why does she come so late? Mondeo should be sold for two years. A relocation of production explains the delay. Because of this, the long family car of Ford arrives with a few extra pounds, too small rear seats and controls that remain complicated to use. It`s a shame because its driving performance and comfort are really excellent.
Nissan Qashqai
This model has largely contributed to the popularity of SUVs and crossovers in Europe. This second generation provides a better finish and consumption down. Nevertheless, it is difficult to be excited by a Qashqai which differs only by a good value for money. But it is rumored that a plug-in hybrid will arrive in the near future.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
When I have been told, that Passat is going to be different, I had some doubts, knowing minimal difference between previous two generations! But when I have driven first meters of my hundreds of kilometers with the Passat, I already knew that it is my Car of the Year. Refined, with great road behaviours, excellent handling and comfort; powerful, but clean and not thirsty engines, even hybrid version; and two universal body styles. Sharp lines of timeless design and innovative assistants, with special mention for Trailer Assist and Traffic Jam Assist, have convinced me for the first position.
MERCEDES-BENZ C-KLASSE
Very good car with premium feel, of course, it is Mercedes-Benz! But I appreciate also possibility of choice, they are still thinking about car enthusiasts and did not phased out six cylinder and eight cylinder versions! Hybrids are interesting, but four cylinder diesel is one of the best compression ignited engines on the market. And I like rear wheel drive.
FORD MONDEO
Finally on the European market, with impressive styling and three body versions, but not so extraordinary ride and drive as the first generation, voted for Car of the Year 1994. Old men are still missing V6 engines and ST220 models! But points for Rear Inflatable Seat Belts and interesting Hybrid version. New chassis is more comfortable, but less sporty.
BMW 2 ACTIVE TOURER
Yes, if every manufacturer should be present in all segments, so this model is OKay. All wheel drive versions are better than Bavarian entry in front wheel drive territory; but we will see if this car could conquest new BMW customers and even fans! Quality and connectivity on usual high level.
RENAULT TWINGO
Small car as in the past, but with modern equipment, that is good. Nice looking, remembering all that Fiats, I have no problem with engine positioned at rear. It could be real fun, the turbo version is more agile and without any issues suitable both for the city and intercity driving. Lack of luggage compartment at front is surprising.
CITROEN C4 CACTUS
Interesting and really different, coming out off the uniformity of the crowd, but there should be some more attention to the powertrain, especially gearboxes, and to roadholding, which both deserve little improvement. Airbumps are not all, but they should be good for Trafic Parisien! Point also for Airbag-in-Roof Technology.
NISSAN QASHQAI
Better and more stylish than commercially successful predecessor of the same name, but still just one of many crossovers on the market. Point also for Safety Shield Technology.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
VW Passat
Passat is a very modern family car. The plug-in hybrid version sets a benchmark in its class and the gasoline and diesel engines are low consuming. Safety is high with all active safety features available. VW Passat is roomy on the inside, handles very well and offers a comfortable ride for its passengers. This is truly a car of the year!
Ford Mondeo
Ford gave safety a high priority when they developed the new Mondeo. As well as an autonomous braking system, Ford offers rear seatbelts with built in airbags for the first time in the segment (up till now we have only seen this in luxury cars). A hybrid completes the choices of drivetrains. Mondeo offers good roominess and high level of comfort.
Nissan Qashqai
This was the car that originally started the crossover trend. In the new version Qashqai offers a higher level of refinement. Qashqai is comfortable, quiet and possible to equip with autonomous braking system. It´s easy to use, nice to drive and represents good value for money. I wish Nissan would use their knowledge from Leaf to give us an electric version.
Mercedes C-Class
C-Class is as entertaining to drive, as it is comfortable to ride in. Mercedes offers a high level of safety and a great range of engines with a coming plug-in hybrid as the most interesting choice. My main objection to the C-class is about it´s price tag. To be Car of the year the level of innovation must match the price. C-Class is too expensive.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
The first front wheel driven BMW is a hit. It´s flexible interior in combination with a slightly higher seating position, scores among young families as well as the slightly elder who appreciates the easy access. Best of all, it still feels like a BMW to drive; agile and communicative! The disadvantage is that you can’t get it with an autonomous braking system.
Citroën C4 Cactus
C4 Cactus has the most interesting design of the candidates this year. Air Bump is a very creative way to solve the irritating problem with small damages from parking in tight spaces. Citroën is lacking a bit of ambition when it comes to safety and I´m not convinced that the costumers will appreciate some of the cars cheap solutions.
Renault Twingo
With it´s extremely tight turning circle and good visibility Twingo is a car for the big cities. On the open roads it´s charm diminish slightly and it becomes clear that this really is a small and quite simple car. Twingo is missing the latest active safety features like autonomous braking system and the car is only available with gasoline engines.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
I was surprised that a number of nominated cars performed not more than average as far as their driving capabilities were concerned: traction problems, terminal under steer, almost no fun to drive. The chassis’ of their cars have been forgotten by some manufacturers –‘connectivity’ and ‘cute design’ apparently have a higher priority now.
My winner is the Passat. It is not sensational to look at, but it looks better than ever and it offers the best driving experience of all the nominees. It steers beautifully, holds the road very well, it can be entertaining and dynamic and is remarkably free of under steer. The new Passat is smaller and lighter, but also roomier en stiffer. The line-up of drive trains is impressive, the value for money is fine, and it has a lot of innovations like trailer assist, a high level connectivity system, city emergency braking with pedestrian recognition and even a system that monitors the condition of the driver. As an affordable all-rounder, the Passat is the best of the bunch.
Renault has ventured the farthest away from its comfort zone. The Twingo is a charming small car, with room for four people, five doors and luggage. I was underwhelmed by the 70 hp version, which really is not much more than a city car, but I was pleasantly surprised by the 90 hp Twingo. The extra horses made its chassis really come alive and it was almost as much fun to drive as the first Mini. I admire Renault for trying something relatively new (not revolutionary), but I doubt if the Twingo will be an example that will be followed in the future, even by Renault itself. Therefore, and because it is mainly a city car and not an all-rounder, it’s not my winner.
I admire Citroën for breaking out of the dulling conformity that plagues its class. The C4 Cactus looks different and good, it is roomy, it is practical and good value for money. The way it drives is nothing special though, it certainly is not bad, but not better than average. Its merits are its design and its newness, but is does not stand out as far as other qualities are concerned. It is more ‘Design of the Year’ than ‘Car of the Year’.
The Mercedes C-class equals the Passat as far as driving qualities and innovations are concerned, but on het subject of value for money its scores slightly less.
Fifth place is shared by the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the Nissan Qashqai, both good cars, but not excellent. As front wheel drive cars they are average, both suffering from under steer and traction problems. I had expected more, especially from BMW.
The Mondeo is a big car, bigger than it should be and bigger than we need. The Passat is a much nicer drive and this was the first time in a very long time that I found a Volkswagen to have a superior chassis to a Ford. The company has been courageous by putting a 1.0 litre three cylinder in the Mondeo: it produces a cheap car, but not a very desirable one. The bigger engined versions are considerably better. In general the Mondeo is not a top scorer in this contest.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
This year’s vote for the title of Car of the Year gave me a headache. There was really no outstanding car. Although the contesters are very different in size and price, they are also fairly conventional, hence my very “flat” distribution of points.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Citroën is looking for a new identity and the C4 Cactus has to be the forerunner of that. There are some very bright ideas in the car, e.g. the very low dashboard to provide a good (over)view, the airbag in the roof, etc. The 3-cylinder petrol engine is also a gem. Other details are more marketing than real novelty and I deplore that even a make like Citroën doesn’t go further into real innovation. The 50th birthday of the real DS should have inspired more.
Mercedes C
In many ways the new C Class is a little S Class, one of the finalists last year. Unfortunately the 4-door sedan looks also a little bit as a shrunken S, a bit pompous, I prefer by far the estate. Of course you can get all the goodies of the bigger one in the smaller one now, but what I most appreciate is the overall feeling of comfort and wellbeing, unfortunately at a price.
Renault Twingo
The smallest Renault has enthousiastic lovers but also fierceful haters. At least it doesn’t leave indifferent and it’s a real gem in urban areas although it can also be fun on small twisty roads. The 3-pot engines are nice too. On the contrary, as a package I know competitors who offer more space to the square foot and the directional stability with strong crosswinds can be appalling.
Ford Mondeo
We have been waiting for a long time for the new Mondeo but in many aspects it was worth waiting for. I’m thinking about roadholding and comfort in the first place, value for money secondly. The Mondeo is roomy but also very big outside, the diesel engines start to date and Vignale care for detail should be standard on all models.
Nissan Qashqai
With the first Qashqai Nissan practically invented the C-segment SUV and its commercial success took everyone by surprise (even the Nissan people). Generation II is even better, with certain assistance systems trickling down from bigger and more expensive vehicles, but in a whole the car is not so innovating anymore, due to the fact that a whole bunch of competitors has followed, copied or ameliorated.
Volkswagen Passat
The new generation of Passat is impressive in many ways and has the aspirations that go with it. It has a lot of assistance systems available and is extremely well made, but it lacks a bit in real personality and engagement towards his driver. New architecture makes very good use of available space. Clever car.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Brought a new manner to the segment where volume producers dominate. However, it doesn’t have any extra feature compare to its other rivals. It was hard to find the well-known dynamism of BMW cars. Moreover, it doesn’t have well-proportioned equipment/price balance.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Beautiful and extraordinary styling which reflects an off-roader soul although it’s FWD only setup. Pretty useful Airbump technology is the sign of how important the innovation for the brand. It causes disappointment when performance is needed. However it is comfortable and enjoyable.
Ford Mondeo
Gives confidence to its driver with its successful handling and new safety features. New safety equipments which are optional in rival models are standard in Mondeo. Quality of material and workmanship is superb. Wide engine range which also has hybrid option, is remarkable.
Mercedes Benz C-Class
C-Class which is the best seller of the brand has a striking, dynamic and sporty look. The quality level has come closer to the upper models such as S-Class. Expensive equipment prices, narrow rear window view and awkward controllers are the negative sides of the car.
Nissan Qashqai
Qashqai has reached a more refined and attractive design with its new generation. Newly added engine options are also successful. On the other hand, it doesn’t have any feature that makes difference against its rivals which are in fierce competition. It is a successful car but that is all.
Renault Twingo
Although it is a cult city car, somehow it couldn’t catch its previous golden age. Improvements of the new generation is not enough to change this but it has some plus points. Rear-engine setup creates a huge interior for both the passenger and driver. More comfortable than expected.
Volkswagen Passat
It gets closer to premium segment look with its new generation. It shines out with its dynamic styling engine options, comfort and safety features. Passat has a good determination for equipment and price balance. This is one of the most important plus points of Passat.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
I didn’t like everything Mercedes has created in the last years. But with the C-Class they got everything right. This car is elegant from the front- to the rear bumper, the tasteful interieur meets first class requirements. The C-Class embodies the gentleman in its segment, with a smooth and gentle ride. The choice of engines is wide, even a diesel hybrid and an electric plug in hybrid are available, the diesels’ fuel consumption is impressive. No customer will fail to find a suitable solution. There are the sporty AMG versions, the 4 Matic models and a variety of body designs. Remarkable is the range of innovative and luxury-class-like systems. The price, however, is high, also for extra equipment. Just the same as a glass of wine in a luxury hotel costs much more than in the pizzeria next door, I guess …
Volkswagen Passat
As expected, Wolfsburg’s new Passat generation turned out to be a very good car, and it’s not easy to place it behind the C-Class. Precise styling, not spectacular, but exact the way Passat buyers wish their saloon or Variant to look like. Lots of space even in the rear and in the trunk, solid cabin quality (however, some premium competitors are ahead here), a broad array of engines and the perspective of a plug-in hybrid version is in the same way creditable as the choice of top modern systems helping the driver. Finally it was the plus of charisma and elegance that made the C-Class win this neck-and-neck-contest.
Renault Twingo
I like this small car a lot. Twingo looks fresh, funny and simpatico, a nicely to personalise friend for automotive city life. The right car for urban people, not missing a modern infotainment. The choice between just two three cylinder engines is enough. Cleverly Renault made Twingo a rear wheel driven and rear engined antipode to competitors like VW up!. The Smart-forfour-twin zooms extremely manoeuverable through the city and offers an amazing quantum of interieur space. On the other hand it lacks of roominess in the trunk.. What else? Reasonable build quality, a plastic landscape inside, just four stars in Euro NCAP – and an affordable price.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
The Active Tourer is a big step for BMW, but clearly a smaller one for automotive mankind. Front-wheel-drive, three-cylinder-engines and a people carrier are definitely a break with BMW’s tradition of driver’s cars – and shows once more that the Bavarians know when it’s time to undergo a change. The Active Tourer is a high quality family car, with a high level of safety, a classy, versatile interior, very efficient engines, four wheel drive as an option and practically all systems today’s drivers wish to be assisted with. The ride is firm, but we don’t experience the driving dynamics of other BMWs. BMW’s minivan is a tough competitor for Mercedes B-Class or VW Golf Sportsvan. That these people carriers (and others) already have a history is the reason why the Active Tourer isn’t innovative for me to be a Car of the Year.
Ford Mondeo
The new Mondeo is like a party guest who presents himself in the latest fashion of 2013 – and has to realize that the other attendees wear at least the same, if not better refined accessoires. Pedestrian detection or lane keeping assist could have been outstanding in 2013, they are not in 2015. The Mondeo is a mature car, no doubt, but he has a hard job to stand against competitors like the new Passat, who beats it technically and in terms of roominess or build- and interior quality. There’s more emphasis on comfortable cruising now than on the predessors’ keen handling. With ist three body styles, a wide range of power-trains and the good value for money the Mondeo could have been a Car of the Year – two years ago, but not in 2015.
Nissan Qashqai
The new Qashqai shifts the former balance of five-door-hatchback and SUV towards a sharp-dressed SUV. More space now, clever storage-ideas, an interior that tends to be Volkswagen-like, but still shows too much unfriendly looking plastic to keep up with the Wolfsburg competitors. A comfortable ride, high driving position and a good value for money make the Qashqai a good choice for families. However, none of the engines can really convince, my favourite is the 1.5 dCi diesel with its decent performance and exemplary efficiency. I regret that there’s no 7-seater anymore. And why ist the Safety Shield just reserved for the top-of-the-range model?
Citroën Cactus
A car like the Cactus is exactly what you would expect from Citroën: Extravagant, with a soft suspension, lightweight and less expensive as the unique appearance suggests. The crossover with its signature Airbumps has charme outside and inside the unusual furnitured cabin. As nostalgic elements like the leather-luggage-like straps look, as modern are the thermoisolated panoramic sunroof and the infotainment. Shortcomings: Controlling the heater by working yourself through a menu on the seven-inch-touchscreen is circumstantial. The rear seats can’t be folded down split in two, the rear windows just pop out. Not convincing seems the five-speed gearbox, while busy working with the gearshift is unavoidable to keep the engines alive. And why isn’t there a manual six-speed-gearbox?
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Front-wheel drive and MPV are a big step for BMW, but they are common in the industry. The 2 Series Active Tourer ist although not the largest in its class, it is absolutely family-friendly and has a dynamic edge over its peers. Gran Tourer as an all-wheel-drive 7-seater it occupies an interesting market niche. What`s not so family-friendly is the price tag.
Citroën C4 Cactus
The C4 Cactus is a declaration of war on monotony. The quirky look and side “Airbumps” are bold, but not to everyone`s taste. As with its distant predecessor the 2CV, the driver of this new Citroën model is also making a lifestyle statement. The available space and engine technology are just about satisfactory and the equipment is not opulent. However, the driving comfort is excellent.
Ford Mondeo
Despite its late start in Europe, the Mondeo has kept up with the latest developments and offers state-of-the-art technology in the areas of safety, infotainment and comfort. A highlight is the wide choice of engine type (including hybrid), lowlights are the car`s weight and the unimpressive space utilisation.
Mercedes C-Class
The C-Class has become even more comfortable – and even more sporty. Overall, it’s a successful model and basically offers everything you`d expect from a Mercedes. However, it hasn`t really made any significant advances over its predecessor.
Nissan Qashqai
The new Qashqai sees itself as an urban nomad – with all the associated qualities. Despite its even more compact size it offers the full SUV feel – high seat position, good visibility and ease of access. The available space and design are first-class.
Renault Twingo
Luckily the Twingo is a good deal smarter than its predecessor. The little French model has brilliant manoeuvrability and offers the amount of space that is standard for its class. A bit too much plastic and some average finishing dampen the positive impression.
VW Passat
With its new Passat, VW has notched up an unsensational but significant success. This unassuming perfectionist sets new benchmarks in the segment with up to 20% better fuel efficiency, classy interior and high-tech driver assistance systems. There are also a wide range of body designs as well as engine and drive system options. All this comes at a price though.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the first MPV and front-wheel drive car (xDrive will be made available) uses the same architecture as the new Mini but has been stretched to increase passenger space inside. Unfortunately, Active Tourer doesn’t have three individual rear seats as rivals has. From another side the automatic tailgate is standard across the range and opens up 468 litres of luggage space and …(it’s very comfortable to use)… the electrically folding rear seats can be dropped at the flick of a switch to increase the capacity (to 1,510 l). MPV – It’s new for BMW, is not for the market.
Citroen C4 Cactus
Based on a stretched version of the DS3 platform, the C4 Cactus is built around proven technologies and components. I respect the unique styling, reasonable priced and idea like the Airbump which one could potentially save money for Cactus owners. But for Cactus drive I need to spend a plenty of time to find the right position to drive and to adapt for brakes pedal feeling. The seats(a specially in the rear) are looking nice and very fashion, and uncomfortable to use, especially for long distance drive. Thanks for safety innovation as front passenger airbag on the roofc. There are six airbags overall, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitors and electronic child locks for the back doors there, but Four stars Euro NCAP rating is not enough for family car.
VW Passat
The new VW Passat is bigger, lighter and more fuel efficient that the car it replaces, and is based on MQB. Of course, outside and inside new Passat looks more interesting than its predecessor. Very roomy with hard but really comfortable seats, with plenty space for rear passenger and enough luggage boot. A lot of engine choice, including GTE plug-in-hybrid version, and interesting options like Trailer Assist. New Passat is ready to give everything you need including Estate and R-design version, high quality LED head light in option, and except the price. Anyway, if you looking for value for money premium car – New Passat the best choice, especially with new 2.0 TDI(150ps) diesel engine.
Nissan Qashqai
SUV-sized family car with two-(and four)wheel drive and a selection of economical petrol, diesel engines, looks nice and feels well built inside, and finally has a value for money price – new Qashqai is going to be best seller again. As you know, the predecessor was surprisingly fun to drive, but the new one takes a more mature approach. Refinement has been vastly improved, with much less road and engine noise, particularly on the motorway and with Golf class handling. Meanwhile Qashqai has the electrically assisted steering is direct and surprisingly weighty, while grip is strong. Active Trace Control torque vectoring helps boost agility, braking individual wheels in order to reduce understeer and deliver more positive turn-in. Euro NCAP awarded the new Qashqai the full five stars, with the car scoring well in the adult and child occupant categories. He has surprisingly powerful 1.2 turbo engine, but 1.6 diesel with new Xtronic CVT – the best choice
Renault Twingo
Around the finalist it’s my best fun to drive car. The Twingo shares its chassis with the Smart ForFour while a shortened version of the platform will underpin the ForTwo. Twingo has acceptable price, is available in three trim levels and with two petrol engine choices. Two three-cylinder petrol engines: a 1.0-litre with 70ps is actually the nicer car to drive in town and a turbocharged 0.9-litre with 90ps is for emotions in despite of engine noise. The front wheels to turn through 45 degrees, giving the Twingo a class-leading turning circle of just 8.6m(it’s amazing with variable rate steering), and Renault very roomy in rear passenger place. For safety reason Twingo comes with four airbags as standard and stability control, plus tyre pressure monitoring, but the new car scored four stars overall by Euro NCAP rating.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
C-Class styling takes inspiration from the brand’s flagship S-Class limousine, inside the luxurious cabin sets new standards in the class but a little bit conservative in design. The new C-Class is the first car to be built using Mercedes’ new rear-wheel drive architecture (MRA), savings weighs around 100kg less than previously, it helps improve the driving experience. C-Class is loaded with standard safety kit, including seven airbags, a driver tiredness monitor and tyre-pressure warning. It’s been given a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. The price for new C-Class slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, and slightly more pricey than the competition.
Ford Mondeo
A long time coming new Ford Mondeo is still recognizable as Mondeo with the Aston Martin style grille and with the similar in shape to the old car in the rear. Inside, The materials inside give a more mature and premium look and feel. For driving Mondeo is still enjoyable but not as superlatively so as the old car and as usual Mondeo has a massive engine range including a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost and Hybrid version. But steering too light, 1.0l engine version (by first impression) is not enough for full loaded Mondeo, and hybrid has 383 litres on bootspace only. 2.0-litre TDCi(150ps) – the best choice.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat is simply a great car, although it may lack some passion. The packaging offers a roomy cabin and trunk without increasing the dimensions. Technology is up to date and the upcoming Alltrack and plug-in-hybrid model GTE complete the range. Passat shared the victory of Tekniikan Maailma Winter Test 2015 proving its performance also in severe northern conditions.
Citroën C4 Cactus brings some fresh new ideas and personality to the automotive world and takes Citroën one step closer to its roots. Company’s strategy seems sensible: as a volume manufacturer you need to be distinctive and different. The proven basic technology helps to keep the C4 Cactus affordable.
Ford Mondeo’s strength is the extremely wide model range with a dozen powertrain variants and three bodystyles. Also the design and comfort are delightful. However, in many aspects Mondeo is just slightly behind its main rival Passat, maybe because of the two year delay in the launch of the European Mondeo.
Mercedes-Benz C-class is a very sophisticated car and for sure gives value for money in the premium segment. It is surprisingly capable also in winter conditions despite the rear-wheel drive. The air suspension is a new and also recommended option. Upcoming PHEV and AMG versions show even more of the C-Class’s potential.
BMW 2 Active Tourer is a major step for the brand but maybe not so for the automotive world. There has not been too much choice among the premium MPVs and Active Tourer is a welcome answer to those customers, either seniors or young families. It has a familiar BMW feel and the new 3-cylinder engines are excellent. Gran Tourer version with 5+2 seating expands the range.
Nissan Qashqai is more an evolution than revolution. This choice is understandable because of the great (and at least for the competitors also somewhat surprising ) success of the first generation. Qashqai is a versatile, capable and safe transport without special thrills in any respect.
Renault Twingo is a different and merry approach to the minicar segment. The rear-engined architecture gives a benefit of a ridiculously tiny turning circle. However, backseat is tight and driving in sidewind is exciting. Overly cautious traction control system is safe but also makes accelerating in winter conditions a bit challenging.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Ford Mondeo was released a year earlier, certainly would take 1st place in my score, because it is perfect and innovative in the form of rear seat safety belts with integrated airbags. Ford also perfectly drives and offers a high comfort of travelling. Although I evaluate it very high and I like its design, time does not stand still. In my score, one more point was directed to the perfectly constructed very new Volkswagen Passat. Admittedly the design is not my taste, but we must to appreciate the technical solutions and practical advantages, as well as a wide range of available versions (AWD, Power Diesel, Hybrid). I am not a gadget man, but among other things I really appreciate a system that allows safe reversing with a trailer. So far, it was huge problem for many people who often blocked the road.
Third place in my classification went to Citroen C4 Cactus, which is distinguished by a number of bold solutions. For a long time, there was no car with such a strong French character. It does not change the fact that I was surprised by the lack of sunblind available with sunroof, because on sunny days the interior warmed up like a sauna.
Other cars also have my positive opinion and therefore none of them is without points. BMW Active Tourer 2 – modern compact minivan, but in this competitive category cars are much cheaper. I was surprised, among others, by maneuverability that is a small turning circle, what is not so obvious at the front wheel drive.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class – very nice sporty driving, the best dashboard design, I ran out of the unification the control switches with the worldwide standards.
I was surprised by the choice of tires on the test car in Poland – noisy and slippery. Nissan Qashqai – the perfect evolution of the bestseller. Renault Twingo works as a city car, but it is not very versatile. The floor is located too high.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer
It represents a big premiere for the brand. It is his first minivan. It offers design and technology of BMW and applies it to a new concept. It’s interesting to open a new premium compact MPV market, though now the segment is down. It offers nothing new to the market. Good technology and a complete range of engines.
Citroën C4 Cactus
For me it`s a real car of the year. Its design makes you take notice of him. Do not leave you indifferent. Good design and interesting solutions. It’s far from the conventional cars. The airbumps are an excellent idea, also the reduction of elements in the dashboard. Leave everything to a single display is a risk. Good interior space, but limited supply of engines. Cactus can improve dynamism.
Ford Mondeo
The new Mondeo represents a huge evolution from the previous generation. Good job on the exterior design, excellent trunk and engine very good deal, highlighting the new 1.0 EcoBoost. They have paid much attention to interior detail and improved the quality of the materials is noticeable. Very good suspension of aluminum.
Mercedes Clase C
It represents continuity in a privileged segment. Dynamically is excellent and the supply of engines convinces. It’s expensive in price, because it is focused in a specific market. Technologically perfect. Design with little evolution over previous generation.
Nissan Qashqai
It’s a very good performance of a bestseller car. Collect the good sensations from the previous generation and improved operating comfort. It has little in interior space, especially for size XL. Offers very good technological solutions, although all existing and already implemented in many models of market. Good choice of engines and excellent roadmap for the future with the new versions.
Renault Twingo
It’s fun to drive. It’s original in its design. Good color range. Mechanical offer is correct. Do not forget that it is aimed at a small market within Europe. It does not offer too much modularity. Nothing like that exists in this moment at Renault. But I think in this change to improve, Twingo has lost Renault`s real DNA.
Volkswagen Passat
For me it is the most comprehensive offering of all candidates. It is a reference in the segment and market. All are compared with it. It brings a little more than the previous but demonstrates a well-argued and steady evolution. Great quality finishes and materials. Good roadmap present, immediate and medium-term future. It has a large interior space. Good design with a sports details that escapes from the previous sobriety. There could be a little more risky.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Renault Twingo
Starting from a clean sheet of paper, Renault daring engineers revived rear engine layout to reach best-in-class maneuverability and roominess. The dual clutch transmission announced for late 2015 manages to erase the hiccups accompanying the gear changes of the turbocharged engine when mated with a manual gearbox, thus correcting the main drawback of this version.
Citroën C4 Cactus
With its cheeky styling, the C4 Cactus stands halfway between hatchback and crossover. Cosy and roomy, its interior is also very original. The C4 Cactus Easy is easy to live in, and vivid on the road. And this remain true even with a small 3 cylinder under the hood, thanks to its remarkable lightness that guarantees a very reasonable fuel consumption.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
Of course, a front wheel drive MPV is not exactly what you would expect from a BMW, but after getting behind the wheel you have to admit that it is actually one of the most gratifying to drive in this category, and quite worthy of the BMW reputation. QED. This is especially true with the new petrol 1.5 liter turbocharged 3 cylinder engine of the 218i version.
Volkswagen Passat
The spectrum of the Passat range is very wide from mainstream family car to “premium” versions, the latter including very sophisticated driving aids and safety equipment. The choice of powertrain is also impressive, including a GTE plug-in hybrid version that promises high figures of performance while allowing very low fuel consumption if used to commute between electric plugs on a daily basis.
Mercedes C-Class
The amount of technology that Mercedes has managed to fit in its latest C sedan is astonishing. The air spring suspension stands out as a precious asset, allowing best-in-class comfort. From 4 to 8 cylinders, diesel or petrol, full or plug-in hybrid the powertrain range is equally impressive.
Ford Mondeo
Driving dynamics remains the main asset of the Mondeo thanks to its carefully tuned suspension. This family car is now available in a hybrid form, and is also the first of its class to push the boundaries of downsizing this far, up to the 1.0 liter turbocharged 3 cylinder Ecoboost. And it works, even if excessive weight is the main weakness of the Mondeo.
Nissan Qashqai
The first Qashqai was the successful pioneer of compact crossovers. The new one applies the same recipe with improved powertrains. Yet it lacks innovation, refinement in ride quality and noise insulation to keep up with its rivals.
My judgement is based on following grounds:
Volkswagen Passat
The Golf was an easy winner in 2013, the new Passat takes the game even further. Lightweight and compact, it is huge inside. With a tank-like robustness it succeeds at remaining nimble, too. It feels right in every sense: its comfort, its frugality, the materials, the precision of its controls, its fine details, plus all the thought that went into its practicality and friendly HMI-interface. All its engines suit the car well, there`s a hybrid, too, and extras like the novel Trailer Assist also deserve a note.
Ford Mondeo
A year or two earlier, this could have been a serious contender for the title. Now it slips to second place which – according to my points – it shares with the Qashqai and the Twingo. In functionality, comfort, innovation it is up to Passat-levels but it`s let down by a less than classy interior, incoherent design and the handling isn`t sharp enough. The prices are on the spot though.
Nissan Qashqai
A best-seller has become even better. The Qashqai is a well thought out car with high usability, class-leading safety, well devised extras and a huge interior space. Even its lesser engines are convincing, has proper character and its price is right. But interior detailing lacks real concept, in the back seat road noise can be very high, suspension comfort isn`t top level either.
Renault Twingo
The Twingo`s innovation lies its layout, but the rear-mounted engine came as courtesy of Smart, and it misses the opportunity of having a boot in its nose. It`s a fine mini car though; with its long wheelbase the ride isn`t choppy at all, small weight on the front wheels translates into fine, if somewhat light steering, noise levels are low, the turning circle is incredibly tight. With the 90 HP engine it is convincing, but far from cheap.
Mercedes C-Class
Finally, a C that doesn`t want to be a BMW 3-Series. It goes its own way with its interior, exceptional ride and clean design – there`s an incredible hybrid, too. But to skimp on an LCD-instument was a mistake. I`m not convinced about the quality of the controls, the price and the steering either.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
It`s tough to be merry about a car that kicks up a fine BMW tradition, but most customers will never notice that it`s front-driven. So if in turn we don`t care about pedigree either, all we get is a well-executed small MPV. Comfy and useful, but it neither is a BMW, nor a Mini, the sparkle just isn`t there.
Citroën C4 Cactus
An exceptional design in and out, a nice price, lots of weight-saving measures, otherwise you have a new car on a dated platform – and it feels so. Making things worse, lots of functions that are a must in the 21st century have been left out. No space for listing them here.