Eight battery electric vehicles, one hybrid, and one plug-in hybrid have made the list of ten finalists for the 2023 New Zealand Car of the Year Award of which the winner will be announced next February.
In alphabetical order, the candidates are: BMW i7, Cupra Born, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Lexus RZ, Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan, MG4, Nissan X-Trail, Peugeot 308, Skoda Enyaq.
The winner will receive the Peter Greenslade trophy which is named in honour of a former member of the New Zealand Motoring Writer’s Guild. It was first presented 36 years ago in 1988 to the E34 BMW 5 Series .
Some 18 members of the guild who write for various automotive publications across New Zealand will choose the winner based on ten voting criteria.
Finalists are assessed on a specified range of criteria spanning how the vehicle performs its intended role; its styling, interior design and accommodation; fit, finish and quality; ride and refinement; performance; road-holding and handling; value for money; active and passive safety and environmental responsibility.
The prize has since gone to four fully electric cars. The Jaguar i-Pace achieved the 2019 award, Mercedes-Benz EQC took the 2020 prize, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 triumphed in 2021, and the BYD ATTO 3 is the current holder.
