Autocar India - Car & Bike Magzine

The war of the cars has begun. There’s a whole bunch of contenders lined up for this year’s Autocar India 2010 Car of the Year Award. This accolade carries an authority and credibility only the Autocar brand can deliver. This year there are 21 cars in the fight.

2009’s upward trend in car sales saw carmakers firing on all cylinders, spewing out model after model to provide an even wider choice for car-hungry consumers. Not surprisingly, the action was centered around small cars with Tata’s little Nano grabbing headlines the world over and attaining an iconic status even before its launch. However, the big fight in the small-car arena has been at the premium end, with the highly competent Maruti Ritz, the stylish Punto and the spacious Jazz slugging it out.

And just as we were beginning to think small cars were here to rule, out came the Toyota Fortuner, which whipped up a frenzied demand and a six-month-long waiting list. In fact, the SUV segment is another one that has mushroomed and expanded in all directions. At the lower end, we have the cheapest SUV in the market, the Rio, and at the top is the highly desirable BMW X6.

It won’t be an easy job selecting the best saloon either, especially since the range is wider than ever before. Will the homegrown Manza win the jurors’ hearts or will it be the well-priced Cruze that will come out on top? Let’s not forget the other list of very capable saloons that do a great job of pampering their owners and offering good value as well.

The year gone by wasn’t all about practicality though. Volkswagen upped the style quotient with the lofty yet lovable Beetle and the BMW Z4 put the fun back into driving.

So which car will it be, then? Last year’s winner was the feature-packed Fiat Linea, and winning the Autocar India Car of the Year title was one reason why its sales took off on a high.

This year, it’s going to be even more difficult for the eminent and seasoned jury to decide which car will be the champion of champions. We’ve looked at each of these challengers closely in the mouth for their all-round ability and the value they offer. Our comprehensive road tests conducted through the year have churned out some hard facts and figures, and now it’s time to compare. And decide. May the best car win.

The winners of the Autocar Awards will be announced on January 15, 2010 on Bloomberg-UTV channel, and in the action-packed February 2010 issue of Autocar India, which will carry a full report.