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 an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in the car buying market in Japan in the twelve months beginning 1 November.
The award has been presented since 1980. The current recipient of the award for 2022 to 2023 is the Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV.[1]
The first non-Japanese car to win the award was the Volkswagen Golf in 2013, followed by the Volvo XC60 in 2017 and the Volvo XC40 in 2018.[2][3][4] The highest-placed car from the United States was the Jeep Cherokee, which was eliminated in the final round in 2014 and was 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’ and Journalists’ Conference (RJC) RJC Car of the Year Award, which has been issued since 1992.
Recipients
Year | Winner | Special Award |
---|---|---|
2023-2024 | Toyota Prius | Mitsubishi Delica Mini (Design)
Nissan Serena (Technology) |
2022–2023 | Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV | BMW iX (Design) Nissan X-Trail (Technology) Honda Civic e:HEV/Type R (Performance) Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV (K Car) |
2021–2022 | Nissan Note[6] | BMW 4 Series (Design) Mitsubishi Outlander (Technology) Chevrolet Corvette (Performance) Honda N-One (K Car) Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award) Honda (Special Award) |
2020–2021 | Subaru Levorg[7] | Audi e-tron Sportback (Technology) (K Car)
BMW Alpina B3 (Performance) Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK X Space/eK Space |
2019–2020 | Toyota RAV4[8] | Nissan Skyline (Innovation) Jeep Wrangler (Emotional) Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK X/eK Wagon (Small Mobility) |
2018–2019 | Volvo XC40[9] | Honda Clarity PHEV (Innovation) BMW X2 (Emotional) Daihatsu Mira Tocot (Small Mobility) Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award) Honda N-Van (Special Award) |
2017–2018 | Volvo XC60 | Toyota Prius PHV (Innovation) (Special Award)
Lexus LC (Emotional) Honda N-Box (Small Mobility) Toyota (Special Award) Takuma Sato |
2016–2017 | Subaru Impreza | Nissan Serena (Innovation) BMW M2 (Emotional) Daihatsu Move Canbus (Small Mobility) Honda NSX (Special Award) |
2015–2016 | Mazda Roadster | (Special Award) |
2014–2015 | Mazda Demio[10][11] | BMW i3 (Innovation) Honda N-WGN (Small Mobility) Toyota’s approach to fuel cell vehicles (Special Award) |
2013–2014 | Volkswagen Golf | Front Lift (Special Award) |
2012–2013 | Mazda CX-5 | Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ |
2011–2012 | Nissan Leaf | Mazda Demio |
2010–2011 | Honda CR-Z | Peugeot RCZ |
2009–2010 | Toyota Prius | Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Most Advanced Technology) Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun) Subaru Legacy (Best Value) Honda Fit (Best Third Decade Car) |
2008–2009 | Toyota iQ | Nissan GT-R (Most Advanced Technology) Subaru Exiga (Most Fun) Honda Freed (Best Value) |
2007–2008 | Honda Fit | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (Most Fun) Volkswagen Golf (Most Advanced Technology) Daihatsu Mira (Best Value) |
2006–2007 | Lexus LS460 | Audi TT (Most Fun) Mitsubishi i (Most Advanced Technology) Honda Stream (Best Value) |
2005–2006 | Mazda Roadster | Civic Hybrid (Most Advanced Technology)
|
2004–2005 | Honda Legend | BMW 1 Series (Most Fun) Mazda Verisa (Best Value) Honda Legend (Most Advanced Technology) |
2003–2004 | Subaru Legacy | Mazda RX-8 (Most Fun) Nissan Teana (Best Value) Jaguar XJ (Most Advanced Technology) |
2002–2003 | Honda Accord | Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun) BMW 7 Series (Most Advanced Technology) |
2001–2002 | Honda Fit | Toyota Estima Hybrid
|
2000–2001 | Honda Civic/Stream | Subaru Impreza |
1999–2000 | Toyota Vitz/Platz/Fun Cargo | Honda S2000 |
1998–1999 | Toyota Altezza
|
Honda Z |
1997–1998 | Toyota Prius | Isuzu VehiCROSS |
1996–1997 | Mitsubishi Galant/Legnum | Mazda Demio |
1995–1996 | Honda Civic | Nissan Terrano
|
1994–1995 | Mitsubishi FTO | Honda Odyssey |
1993–1994 | Honda Accord | Toyota Supra |
1992–1993 | Nissan March
|
Isuzu Bighorn
|
1991–1992 | Honda Civic | Mitsubishi Pajero |
1990–1991 | Mitsubishi Diamante | Toyota Estima
|
1989–1990 | Toyota Celsior | |
1988–1989 | Nissan Silvia | |
1987–1988 | Mitsubishi Galant | |
1986–1987 | Nissan Pulsar/EXA/Langley/Liberta Villa | |
1985–1986 | Honda Accord/Vigor | |
1984–1985 | Toyota MR2 | |
1983–1984 | Honda Civic/Ballade | |
1982–1983 | Mazda Capella/Ford Telstar | |
1981–1982 | Toyota Soarer[12] | |
1980–1981 | Mazda Familia |
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2023-2024 | BMW X1 |
2022–2023 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
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 |
6 | Nissan |
5 | Mitsubishi |
2 | Subaru |
Volvo | |
1 | Lexus |
Volkswagen | |
1 | Hyundai |
See also
References
- ^ "Nissan Sakura Wins 2022–2023 Japan Car Of The Year Award & Kei Car Of The Year Award". cleantechnica.com. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Laurel, Drei (12 December 2018). "The Volvo XC40 is 2018's Japan Car of the Year". topgear.com.ph. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. 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.
- ^ "TOYOTA SOARER NAMED JAPAN'S "CAR OF THE YEAR"". driving.ca. 23 December 1981. Retrieved 27 May 2022.