Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors share the 2022-2023 Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) award with the Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV being awarded the title this year. Besides being the second consecutive year for Nissan, this is the sixth time that a model of the brand has won the overall title which has been annually awarded since 1980. For Mitsubishi Motors, it is the fourth time receiving a JCOTY award.
The minivehicle was among 11 finalists (one more than usual as there was a tie) from 48 nominees. This year, among the Best 11 Cars, 4 models were from foreign brands – the BMW iX, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Range Rover and Renault Arkana. The Japanese models were the Suzuki Alto, Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Fairlady Z, Mazda CX-60 e-SKYACTIV-D, Toyota Crown, Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK, and Honda Civic e:HEV/Civic Type R.
Although Korean cars are becoming increasingly popular in major markets, including China, around the world, they have not penetrated the Japanese market and it is only this year that Hyundai Motor is returning to Japan. The company tried in 2001 and stayed for 8 years, pulling out after selling only 15,000 units.
It’s not a big market for imported makes as the total share for all foreign brands is only around 8%. With electrification growing, the Korean carmaker believes it now has products that will appeal more to Japanese consumers. Earlier this year, it launched the IONIQ 5 and hydrogen-fuelled NEXO EV. The latter model can be offered as Japan is steadily building a hydrogen refuelling network around the country.
Hyundai’s return seems to have been met more positively this time as the IONIQ 5 has been picked to be among the Best 11 Cars in the 2022-2023 Japan Car of The Year (JCOTY) program. There are 11 instead of the usual 10 because there was a tie. These are essentially the finalists from a list of nominees that had 48 models this year (the NEXO was included as well). It is probably the first time that Korean model is appearing in a JCOTY list as we can’t remember any other occasion in previous years.
n a year that was characterized by the ongoing pandemic and superconductor and component supply issues that led to the delay of some model launches, most manufacturers managed to plan and still execute their new car introductions. This enabled the jurors of the annual ‘Japan Car of the Year’ event to carry out their assessments of over 30 contenders.
In the first of two voting procedures, the award’s 60 jurors selected the ’10 Best vehicles’ of the year in late November. Following this, they then voted a second time to select the year’s best car as well as the winners of 4 special awards. When counting was completed at an online award ceremony on today, it was the Nissan Note e-Power series which was pronounced ‘Japan Car of the Year 2021-2022’.
With 335 votes, the Nissan hatchback beat the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ pair which scored 264 votes, and the Honda Vezel (HR-V) with 227 votes. The new Note e-Power range, with its 1.2-litre hybrid powertrain, is currently on sale in Japan but the carmaker has plans to launch the e-Power drivetrain in European and US markets in the near future.
According to the COTY committee, the Note e-Power’s win was due to its hybrid powertrain, excellent fuel economy and handling, keen pricing and stylish design.
This year’s title is the fifth one for Nissan while the Volkswagen Golf’s popularity with the Japanese is evident by it collecting another title for the latest generation after the Golf 7 in 2013 (when it was also overall ‘Japan Car of the Year’).
PAST WINNERS
1980-1981: Mazda Familia (323)
1981-1982: Toyota Soarer
1982-1983: Mazda Capella (626)
1983-1984: Honda Civic
1984-1985: Toyota MR2
1985-1986: Honda Accord 1986-1987: Nissan Pulsar
1987-1988: Mitsubishi Galant 1988-1989: Nissan Silvia SX
1989-1990: Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS)
1990-1991: Mitsubishi Galant
1991-1992: Honda Civic 1992-1993: Nissan March
1993-1994: Honda Accord
1994-1995: Mitsubishi FTO
1995-1996: Honda Civic
1996-1997: Mitsubishi Galant
1997-1998: Toyota Prius
1998-1999: Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS250)
1999-2000: Toyota Vitz (Yaris)
2000-2001: Honda Civic
2001-2002: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2002-2003: Honda Accord
2003-2004: Subaru Legacy
2004-2005: Honda Legend
2005-2006: Mazda MX-5
2006-2007: Lexus LS460
2007-2008: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2008-2009: Toyota iQ
2009-2010: Toyota Prius
2010-2011: Honda CR-Z 2011-2012: Nissan LEAF
2012-2013: Mazda CX-5
2013-2014: Volkswagen Golf 7
2014-2015: Mazda2/Demio
2015-2016: Mazda MX5
2016-2017: Subaru Impreza
2017-2018: Volvo XC60
2018-2019: Volvo XC40
2019-2020: Toyota RAV4
2020-2021: Subaru Levorg
While most motorshows have been postponed or cancelled, events that can be held online have continued and the auto industry has in fact moved online for its launch activities. Global product launches and major announcements are now being presented using social media, which actually has a very big audience.
The Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) event has not been a public sort of event so its schedule has not really been affected and this month, assessment of the finalists takes place with the winner to be announced on December 7.
This year’s list of nominees number 33, of which 13 are from Japanese brands and the remainder from other global manufacturers. In earlier years, the JCOTY has two categories, with one for Japanese models and the other for imported brands. However, the organisers decided to merge the two categories and the first non-Japanese brand to win the JCOTY overall award was the Volkswagen Golf Mk. 7 for the 2013-2014 event. Since then, foreign models have won two more times, both being from Volvo.
From the 33 nominees, which must be new models introduced and sold in the Japanese market from November in the previous year to October 31 of the current year (in this case, 2020), ten models are chosen as the ‘Ten Best Cars’. These are considered the finalists, from which one will become the Japan Car of the Year.
The Ten Best Cars for this year are: Audi e-tron Sportback BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe BMW Alpina B3 Honda Fit/Jazz Land Rover Defender Mazda MX-30 Nissan Kicks Peugeot 208/e-208 Subaru Levorg Toyota Yaris /Yaris Cross/ GR Yaris
Later this month, the judging panel will test the ten models at a racing circuit in the Chiba Prefecture. They will then cast their votes which will determine the JCOTY for 2020-2021.
PAST WINNERS
1980-1981: Mazda Familia (323)
1981-1982: Toyota Soarer
1982-1983: Mazda Capella (626)
1983-1984: Honda Civic
1984-1985: Toyota MR2
1985-1986: Honda Accord
1986-1987: Nissan Pulsar
1987-1988: Mitsubishi Galant
1988-1989: Nissan Silvia SX
1989-1990: Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS)
1990-1991: Mitsubishi Galant
1991-1992: Honda Civic
1992-1993: Nissan March
1993-1994: Honda Accord
1994-1995: Mitsubishi FTO
1995-1996: Honda Civic
1996-1997: Mitsubishi Galant
1997-1998: Toyota Prius
1998-1999: Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS250)
1999-2000: Toyota Vitz (Yaris)
2000-2001: Honda Civic
2001-2002: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2002-2003: Honda Accord
2003-2004: Subaru Legacy
2004-2005: Honda Legend
2005-2006: Mazda MX-5
2006-2007: Lexus LS460
2007-2008: Honda Fit (Jazz)
2008-2009: Toyota iQ
2009-2010: Toyota Prius
2010-2011: Honda CR-Z
2011-2012: Nissan LEAF
2012-2013: Mazda CX-5
2013-2014: Volkswagen Golf 7
2014-2015: Mazda2/Demio
2015-2016: Mazda MX5
2016-2017: Subaru Impreza
2017-2018: Volvo XC60
2018-2019: Volvo XC40
2019-2020: Toyota RAV4
25 years after creating a new segment – the modern SUV – almost overnight, the Toyota RAV4 has been voted as Japan Car of the Year 2019-2020. Announced this afternoon, the fifth generation of the popular SUV beat 9 other finalists in the annual event.
The jury this year consisted of 60 members, largely made up of motoring journalists based in Japan.
According to jury for the Japan Car of the Year (COTY), the RAV4 meets consumer needs of today as an SUV of the new era. In addition, the reasonable price of the Data Communication Module (a dedicated communication device) was commended.
“The combination of powertrains such as 3 types of AWD systems and the latest platform is both comfortable and enjoyable. The luggage space is wide and easy to use,” the jury’s statement added.
Other models which received special awards were the 7th generation BMW 3-Series, Nissan Skyline, Jeep Wrangler and Nissan DAYS/Mitsubishi eK CROSS/eK WAGON.
The Japan COTY event began in 1980 and between 1994 and 2014, non-Japanese models were in a separate category of Japan Import Car of the Year. From 2014 onwards, however, the organizers decided to stop having two categories and the first non-Japanese model to win the overall award was the Volkswagen Golf in 2014.