EVs dominate top-10 NZCOTY finalists

Electric vehicles dominate the finalists list for the 2021 edition of the New Zealand Car Of The Year award (NZCOTY). 

No fewer than five of the 10 contenders are available as pure electric vehicles, and all but one of the remaining five are available in as hybrid models.

This year’s NZCOTY mix of finalists chosen by the executive committee of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, underscores the rapid addition of electrified options to the country’s new car model lists.

The candidates vying this year’s New Zealand Car of the Year crown are the   Audi e-tron GT, Ford Escape, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Sorento, Mazda MX-30, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Peugeot 208, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Highlander and the Toyota GR Yaris.

The Audi e-tron GT, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mercedes-Benz EQA are all pure electric vehicles. There is also a pure electric variant of the Peugeot 208, the e208. The Mazda MX-30 is available as both pure EV and hybrid models.

The Ford Escape, Kia Sorento and Skoda Octavia ranges offer variants which are plug-in hybrids that combine internal combustion power with battery-electric power, and each has the ability to cover around 50km on electric power alone on a single battery charge. 

The latest Toyota Highlander is offered here in non-plugged hybrid guise for the first time, while the Toyota Yaris GR is a highly focused, pure petrol performance machine.

Six of the finalists are able to attract subsidies of up to $8,625 under the government’s Clean Car Discount scheme.

Previously in 2015 guild members voted the BMW i3 as their first-ever electric-powered Car of the Year. More recently, pure-electric models – the Jaguar i-Pace and Mercedes EQC – have scooped the New Zealand Car of the Year in both 2019 and 2020.

“Obviously those previous pure-electric title winners are vehicles from recognised luxury brands, and both of the most recent winners carry price tags well in excess of $100,000,” New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild president Richard Edwards says.

“What is particularly significant in this year’s list of finalists is the presence of electric vehicles across a range of prices. Five of this year’s pure electric and plug in finalists are available at prices below the $80,000 threshold that allows them to qualify for the Government’s Clean Car Discount scheme,” he says.

The award’s winner will be decided by the Guild’s two-dozen voting members over the coming months and announced live on TVNZ One’s Seven Sharp programme in February next year. The finalists were revealed on tonight’s episode of the top-rating show.

Now entering its 34th year, NZCOTY is the country’s most prestigious motoring award according to the Guild, being a truly national prize without commercial ties.

Guild members assess the finalists 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.