2010 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Nominees

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) announced the winners of their 2010 Canadian Car of the Year awards, after three days of intense deliberation and testing. The winners of the 12 categories, as listed below, have been chosen by seventy Canadian automotive journalists in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. As said, the winners and their categories are listed below.

• Best new small car (under $21,000) - Mazda3
• Best new small car (over $21,000) – Mazda3 Sport
• Best new family car (under $30,000) – Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDi
• Best new family car (over $30,000) – Ford Taurus
• Best new luxury car – BMW 335d sedan
• Best new prestige car – Porsche Panamera Turbo
• Best new sport/performance car (under $50,000) – Volkswagen Golf GTI
• Best new sport/performance car (over $50,000) – Audi S4
• Best new convertible – Audi A5 cabriolet
• Best new SUV/CUV ( $35,000 - $50,000) – Volkswagen Touareg TDi Clean Diesel
• Best new SUV/CUV ( $35,000 - $50,000) – Lexus RX450h

The results of the vote and consequently the winners, compiled by international accounting firm KPMG, were named after more than 46,000 individual data points have been analyzed and 157 vehicles have been tested.

The winners of AJAC's awards will now get a chance to compete for the ultimate prize, the title of 2010 Canadian Car of the Year or the 2010 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. The ultimate car for this year will be announced on February 11th, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.