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What are the best new vehicles for 2013?

By Derek McNaughton, Postmedia News

Most of the new 2013 cars and SUVs hitting our roads this coming year will be tested en masse next week, at an event otherwise known as “TestFest.”
Almost all of Canada’s top automotive writers are attending the 2013 Canadian Car of the Year Awards Oct. 22-26 at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. in the annual competition hosted by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). About 70 automotive journalists from across the country will evaluate 60 all-new 2013 model cars and SUVs — models representing the bulk of new cars coming to market this year and next. (Not every automaker takes part: Audi, Ferrari, for example, are not involved this year, but Porsche is.)
The vehicles, ranging in categories from small car under $21,000 to SUVS/CUVs between $35,000 and $60,000, will all be driven over the course of a few days in back-to-back sessions on public roads, plus a private handling course at the closed-off Niagara District Airport, and, when applicable, on an off-road course.
Following the extensive testing on criteria that range from acceleration to ergonomics, each journalist will vote on each vehicle they have driven. The results from all the journalists are calculated and ranked by KPMG; the vehicles with highest scores emerge as winners in their respective categories.
Each category winner will be announced on the evening of Oct. 25. Category wins — aside from giving manufacturers bragging rights and obvious marketing material — ultimately help buyers decide what vehicles to consider in their search for a new car, providing — at the very least — a benchmark for other vehicles in the same class.
Each category winner is then entered in the competition for overall 2013 Car (and utility) Vehicle of the Year. Those winners will be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in February. Last year's winners included the 2012 Hyundai Elantra for overall Car of the Year and the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel for Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.
See below for the full list of vehicles in this year’s competition, and stay tuned for details on the winners Oct. 25.
2013 Canadian Car of the Year Awards
Final List of Eligible Vehicles

CITY CAR
1. Ford Focus EV
2. Mitsubishi i-MiEV

SMALL CAR UNDER $21K
1. Chevrolet Spark
2. Dodge Dart
3. Kia Rio LX
4. Mazda3 Skyactiv (Sedan)
5. Nissan Sentra
6. Toyota Prius c

SMALL CAR OVER $21k
1. Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 5-dr Hatch
2. Ford CMAX Hybrid
3. Hyundai Elantra GT
4. Mazda3 Sport Skyactiv (Hatchback)
5. Volkswagen Beetle

FAMILY CAR under $30K
1. Chevrolet Malibu Eco
2. Ford Fusion
3. Honda Accord Sedan
4. Mitsubishi Lancer AWC
5. Nissan Altima

FAMILY CAR OVER $30K
1. Chevrolet Malibu
2. Ford Fusion Hybrid
3. Mercedes-Benz B-250
4. Toyota Prius PHV (Plug-in)

LUXURY CAR
1. Acura ILX
2. BMW 3-Series
3. Buick Verano
4. Cadillac ATS
5. Lexus ES350
6. Lexus GS

SPORTS - PERFORMANCE under $50K
1. Chevrolet Sonic RS 5-door
2. Fiat Abarth
3. Ford Focus ST
4. Honda Accord Coupe
5. Hyundai Genesis Coupe
6. Hyundai Veloster Turbo
7. MINI Roadster
8. Scion FR-S
9. Subaru BRZ
10. Volkswagen Golf R

SPORTS PERFORMANCE over $50K
1. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
2. Ford Shelby Mustang
3. Mercedes-Benz SLK 55
4. Porsche Boxster

PRESTIGE PERFORMANCE - over $75K
1. BMW M5
2. Chevrolet Corvette 427
3. Porsche 911 Carrera S
4. Mercedes-Benz SL 550

SUV - CUV under $35K
1. Chevrolet Trax
2. Ford Escape 1.6 L EcoBoost
3. Honda CR-V
4. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
5. Mazda CX-5
6. Subaru XV Crosstrek

SUV - CUV $35K - $60K
1. Acura RDX
2. Chevrolet Traverse
3. Ford Escape 2.0 L
4. GMC Terrain Denali
5. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T
6. Infiniti JX
7. Lexus RX350
8. Nissan Pathfinder

TOTAL 60 entries

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