AA Driven COTY adds clean and green category
The New Zealand Automobile Association has resumed its partnership with NZME’s Driven motoring publication to host their joint car of the year awards for 2021.
The event was placed on hiatus by the two partners in 2020 but will resume this year with a new Clean and Green category for BEV, PHEV and Hybrid added to the ten vehicle classes being judged .
AA motoring services general manager Jonathan Sergel says he’s looking forward to seeing what comes out on top for 2021.
This year includes the return of the ‘People’s Choice’ where buyers can have their say in public voting, as well as an overall winner.
However, the eligibility criteria for vehicles is slightly different this year. In the past, the winners were selected from new cars of the previous 12 months.
“In these Covid times, we’ve had to tailor the programmes to suit, so for this year it was important that we return from the hiatus of 2020 and delve into the best cars on sale, not just from the past 12 months,” Driven editor Dean Evans says.
This new criteria means previous winners, such as the 2019 winner, the Ford Focus, will be eligible in this year’s categories once again.
The finalists for each class will be released over the upcoming weeks.
AA Driven Car of the Year classes:
1. Small SUV
2. Medium SUV
3. Large SUV
4. Passenger (sedan, hatch, wagon)
5. LCV (Light commercial vehicles, ute, van)
6. Clean and Green: BEV, PHEV, Hybrid
7. Sports and Performance
8. Luxury (over $100k)
9. AA Safety
10. People’s Choice
The overall winner will be crowned the AA Driven Car of the Year for 2021.
Join the conversation (2)
Presumably hydrogen FCEV vehicles would be included in the ‘Clean and Green’ category, though not specifically mentioned?
It is a bit dubious whether PHEV and Hybrid vehicles are really as ‘clean and green’ as some manufacturers would have us believe! Maybe they shouldn’t really be in the ‘Clean and Green’ category at all?
Surely in a climate emergency all motor vehicles given any kudos should be clean and green?! Why then have a separate category for them? And what does it say about the other cars that aren’t clean and green? Why would you give an award for being a climate criminal in anything with an exhaust pipe?