Photo: Volkswagen
Electric cars were all the rage the past couple of years at the European Car of the Year awards. In 2011, the Nissan Leaf took the title, and earlier this year its sworn rival the Chevy Volt-based Opel Ampera took the title for GM.
However, EVs seem very unlikely to take the title once again, since the list of cars nominated for 2013 only includes the Smart ED, Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid and Prius Plug-In, all three of which being relatively unknown.
The list does include some oddities, such as the all-American Malibu sedan which will be sold in Europe for the first time, and the Dacia Lodgy, an MPV built for budget-minder buyers.
However, the list is also packed with cars that are brand new and represent the best versions of themselves made so far, like the Audi A3, BMW 3-Series, Porsche Boxter, Range Rover or Renault Clio. These, together with the all-important VW Golf VII, are in our opinion the most likely candidates to win.
2013 European Car of the Year candidates:
The list does include some oddities, such as the all-American Malibu sedan which will be sold in Europe for the first time, and the Dacia Lodgy, an MPV built for budget-minder buyers.
However, the list is also packed with cars that are brand new and represent the best versions of themselves made so far, like the Audi A3, BMW 3-Series, Porsche Boxter, Range Rover or Renault Clio. These, together with the all-important VW Golf VII, are in our opinion the most likely candidates to win.
2013 European Car of the Year candidates:
- Audi A3
- BMW 3 Series
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Dacia Lodgy
- Fiat 500L
- Ford B-Max
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai i30
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia cee’d
- Kia Optima
- Lancia Flavia
- Mazda6
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- Mercedes-Benz SL
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Mitsubishi ASX / Citroen Aircross / Peugeot 4008
- Opel / Vauxhall Adam
- Opel / Vauxhall Mokka
- Peugeot 208
- Porsche Boxster
- Range Rover
- Renault Clio
- Skoda Rapid / Seat Toledo
- Smart ED
- Subaru Impreza
- Subaru XV
- Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86
- Tata Vista
- Toyota Auris
- Toyota Prius Plug-in
- Toyota Prius Plus
- Volkswagen Golf
- Volvo V40
- Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid
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