AAA announces 2010 Best Cars awards

The Australian Automobile Association's Best Cars awards for 2010 reveal a significant shift in our new-car market: Australia has embraced diesel passenger cars -- big time.

Of the 2010 list of 15 winning vehicles, which includes a wider range of categories than last year, no less than nine were diesels -- from light cars and SUVs to luxury-class cars.

From Volkswagen Polo to Audi A6 and BMW X5, diesels clearly dominated the judging panel's decisions, reflecting the wide range of available choices, as well as the remarkable levels of sophistication achieved by carmakers at all levels of the market.

In 2009, the AAA awards identified just four diesels in the (then) top 12 categories.

The AAA also found the ever-improving sophistication evident in small cars is making high technology available to a growing number of buyers at the lower end of the market.

"This is a vehicle category that is becoming increasingly popular among Australian motorists, particularly those living in urban areas," AAA Chief Executive, Mike Harris, said at the Best Car Awards announcement made at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on November 30.

The biggest winner this year was BMW, which scored awards in four categories, followed by Volkswagen and Hyundai, with three awards each.

BMW's M3 Coupe took out the Best Sports Car over $80,000 award, while the 320D Lifestyle was judged the Best Medium Car over $50,000. The 135i Coupe was judged Best Sports Car under $80,000 and the X5 xDrive 30d claimed the Best Luxury SUV over $60,000 award.

Volkswagen scored with the Polo 66 TDI Comfortline (Best Light Car over $20,000), Jetta 103 TDI (Best Medium Car under $50,000) and Tiguan 103 TDI (Best SUV under $40,000). Hyundai's i20m Active was judged Best Light Car under $20,000, the i30 SX was Best Small Car under $35,000 and the iMax was Best Peoplemover.

Single-award winners were MINI (Cooper D -- Best Small Car Over $35,000), Skoda (Superb 1215 TDI Ambition -- Best Large Car under $60,000), Audi (A6 3.0 Tdi Quattro -- Best Large Car over $60,000), Kia (Sorento Sli -- Best SUV over $40,000) and Land Rover (Discovery TDV6 SE -- Best All Terrain 4WD).

The panel, which comprised judges from Australia's motoring organisations, narrowed the list down to 45 finalists across the 15 categories.

Chief Judge Mark Borlace said the categories reflect the diversity of the Australian market. "There are more vehicle manufacturers fighting for the Australia's car buying dollar than most other markets in the world."

While the MINI Cooper D was new to the winner's list this year, 2009 winners missing were Toyota (Aurion -- previously Best Large Car), Subaru (Liberty 3.6R Premium -- Best prestige Car) and Ford (Fiesta LX -- previously Best Small Car).

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