Car of the Year Japan
The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is a Car of the Year award for newly released or redesigned vehicles released to the car buying market in Japan in the year starting from November 1 in the preceding year.
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The award has been presented since 1980. The current recipient of the award for 2021 to 2022 is the Nissan Note.[1]
The third non Japanese car to win the award was the Volvo XC40 in December 2018.[2] The first was the Volkswagen Golf in November 2013 and the second was the Volvo XC60 in December 2017.[3][4] The best finishing car from the United States was the Jeep Cherokee (KL) which was eliminated in the final round in October 2014 (it placed eighth).[5] The supervisory board is made up primarily of Japanese automotive journalists.
The award is not associated with the more recent Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference (RJC) RJC Car of the Year Award, which has been issued since 1992.
Recipients
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2020–2021 | Peugeot 208/e-208 |
| 2019–2020 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2018–2019 | None |
| 2017–2018 | None |
| 2016–2017 | Audi A4 |
| 2015–2016 | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer |
| 2014–2015 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2013–2014 | None |
| 2012–2013 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2011–2012 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2010–2011 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 2009–2010 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2008–2009 | Citroën C5 |
| 2007–2008 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 2006–2007 | Citroën C6 |
| 2005–2006 | BMW 3 Series |
| 2004–2005 | Volkswagen Golf |
| 2003–2004 | None |
| 2002–2003 | None |
| 2001–2002 | Alfa Romeo 147 |
| 2000–2001 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
| 1999–2000 | Rover 75 |
| 1998–1999 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
| 1997–1998 | Renault Mégane Scénic |
| 1996–1997 | Mercedes-Benz SLK |
| 1995–1996 | MG F |
| 1994–1995 | Mercedes-Benz C200 |
Most wins by manufacturer
| Total Wins | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 11 | Honda |
| 9 | Toyota |
| 6 | Mazda |
| 5 | Nissan |
| 4 | Mitsubishi |
| 2 | Subaru |
| Volvo | |
| 1 | Lexus |
| Volkswagen | |
See also
References
- "Nissan Note and Note Aura win Japan Car of the Year award". global.nissannews.com. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- Laurel, Drei (12 December 2018). "The Volvo XC40 is 2018's Japan Car of the Year". topgear.com.ph. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- Radu, Mihnea (25 November 2013). "Volkswagen Golf Named Car of the Year in Japan". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- Kavermann, David (12 December 2017). "Volvo XC60 crowned Japanese Car of the Year". driven.co.nz. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- Tragianis, Nick (17 October 2014). "Jeep Cherokee nominated for Car of the Year award ... in Japan". driving.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- "Nissan Note e-POWER Series Wins Japan Car of the Year 2021". 14 December 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- Braithwaite-Smith, Gavin (10 December 2020). "Subaru Levorg is Japan's Car of the Year". www.msn.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- Redfern, John (9 December 2019). "Toyota RAV4 wins 2019 Car of the Year Japan award" (in Thai). www.motoringresearch.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- Bijoux, Niles (11 December 2018). "Volvo takes back-to-back Japanese COTY award". www.autocar.co.nz. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- De Guzman, Marcus (13 October 2014). "All-new Mazda2/Demio wins the Japanese Car of The Year award". Autoindustriya.com. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- Turkus, Brandon (14 October 2014). "Mazda2 nets Japan Car of the Year, Cherokee first US model to ever crack top 10 [UPDATE]". autoblog.com. Retrieved 14 October 2014.