Every year the Car of the Year organisation awards one vehicle the coveted Car of the Year Award. The organisation of seven car magazines elects a jury from twenty two countries to decide which vehicle is the best on roads. From a panel of seven finalists, just one car can win the award, so who won this year? Keep reading to find out.
Obviously, the Car of the Year, and the finalists, are all going to be pretty great models. So, if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, then one of these is going to make an awesome choice. These cars aren’t judged on their looks, but on their power and safety. Afraid of car crashes? Want to keep your car insurance premiums down? Then these are the vehicles for you. And don’t forget to check out our article on last year’s winner of the Car of the Year 2013 if you’re looking for an older model!
Now, without further ado, we present the seven finalists (but you’ll have to read to the end to find our which vehicle is Car of the Year for 2014!)
1. The BMW I3: Awesome and Electric!
Electric cars are becoming more and more popular, and the BMW I3 is a great little city car. Rear wheel drive and a 170 hp engine give the I3 excellent performance, and a low centre of gravity (thanks to a floor mounted battery pack) means great handling too. The I3 just goes to show that electric cars have a lot to give…
2. The Citroën C4 Picasso: Premium but Affordable
With a beautiful panoramic windscreen and a longer wheelbase the new C4 Picasso looks spacious, despite being a small family car. Individually moving rear seats are a plus, but we’re loving the touchscreen controls on the dashboard for AC, navigation and stereo. The C4 Picasso brings a touch of premium luxury to the roads at a very affordable price.
3. The Mazda 3: Aerodynamic and Powerful
The Mazda 3 is one of the longest cars on the road, but it’s also wide and luxuriously spacious. Both the saloon and hatchback models are incredibly aerodynamic, and new fuel efficiency technology is going to give you plenty of power and speed at lower petrol costs.
4. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Luxurious and Beautiful
Mercedes-Benz has always been a watchword for luxury, and the S-Class is a truly beautiful car. Fantastically engineered, the S-Class also has excellent fuel consumption for a vehicle of this size. Awesome performance and a stunning look, what more could you want?
5. The Skoda Octavia: Safe in a Car Accident and Capacious
Packed with safety features such as fatigue detection and emergency braking, the Skoda Octavia has to be one of the safest cars on the road. But it’s also got a huge luggage capacity, making it a great car for large families. Great performance and fuel economy, and very affordable too.
6. The Tesla S: Sexy and Environmentally Conscious
Who says electric cars have to be boring? The Tesla S is as sexy as a sports car, and get pretty speedy too. Plus, a large trunk and plenty of seating space make the Tesla S a great family car too. The aluminium construction keeps weight down and acceleration speeds up!
7. The Winner: The Peugeot 308
With a massive 307 points (the second place finisher, the BMW i3 got just 223 points), this year’s Car of the Year is the Peugeot 308. Twenty two judges awarded the 308 top marks. The last time that Peugeot took home the trophy was way back in 2002 with the Peugeot 307.
The 308 was considered to be quite a step up from last year’s model by the jurors, who thought the 308 was more spacious, lighter, and more stylish than the 2013 model, as well as being more fuel efficient. There are also two options: a five door hatchback and an estate model.
Inside, the Peugeot offers a touchscreen control panel on the dashboard, and with a lower centre of gravity and lighter weigh than previous models, the 308 offers second to none performance and handling. Efficiency is a watchword for Peugeot, and the 308 has excellent fuel consumption, and even the LED headlights are low energy.
Car Crashes and Accidents: The Peugeot 308’s Safety Features
Safety is important to all of us, and the Peugueot 308 is packed with safety features. Of course there are airbags, but there’s also an emergency brake feature. The 308 detects when you are about to lose control of your vehicle and applies the brakes for you. An electronic stability programme will help correct oversteer, and a reverse parking camera will help in even the trickiest of parking garages.
The Peugeot 308 was awarded the highest five star rating from Euro NCAP, the European independent car safety assessor.
So there you have it, the best cars of 2014. If you’re looking into getting a new vehicle, then these models might just be top of your list, particularly the Peugeot 308! Powerful, fuel efficient and most of all safe, theses cars are amongst the top buys on the market right now. Congratulations to Peugeot, and now all we can do is wait and see who’s going to take the crown next year!
Main subject: car of the year
