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Car of the Year
Mazda 6 is Best of the Best
Words by Ulysses Ang and Jason K. Ang; Photography by Ulysses Ang/Manufacturers
What a difference a year makes. Fresh from a thorough overhaul for the 2006 model year, the Mazda 6 takes home the trophy for Car of the Year. Though the first edition of the Mazda 6 earned raves for its handling, the package was not quite satisfying. Retaining the sharp handling but changing practically everything else (engine, transmission, brakes, lights, interior), Mazda has finally unleashed the 6's true potential.
The Mazda 6 emerged as the top pick among this year's category winners. After six weekends of testing, these vehicles came out on top of their respective classes:
Best Subcompact Car
HYUNDAI GETZ 1.1GL
A typical choice for first-time car buyers, subcompact cars can carry the same level of sophistication and features commonly found in vehicles of higher classes. The Hyundai Getz 1.1GL combines its peppy engine and smooth five-speed manual transmission with surprising refinement and spaciousness. These attributes, along with an amazing fuel economy and an affordable price tag, make for a guilt-free driving companion.
Best Compact Car
MITSUBISHI LANCER MX
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the Lancer MX beating out newer competitors to win in the compact car segment. Completely affordable and with a generous helping of luxury, this segment is one of the most highly contested. Though not quite memorable in any single aspect of performance, the Lancer performed well enough in just about every category to sneak past the bigger boys. The MX has been replaced by an even more powerful 2.0 GT.
Best Executive Car
MAZDA 6 2.3L
A mid-level executive will undoubtedly go for a midsize sedan. With a wider variety of other SUVs and MPVs available in the market today, the pressure is on for the executive car to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. This year's winning entry, the Mazda 6 2.3L, is the perfect synthesis of sportiness and luxury. A heartily revving engine and racer looks are thrown in with European chassis sophistication and excellent ergonomics to form the package that took home the Executive Car and Car of the Year trophies.
Best Luxury Car
CHRYSLER 300C
A notch higher in price and sophistication than the executive class, luxury cars are undoubtedly the symbol of success. However, the discerning buyer isn't just concerned with the badge up front. A luxury car must have a great drivetrain plus eye-catching good looks. No other car is better in this regard than the Chrysler 300C. With its standard 250hp V6 and unparalleled gangsta looks, the 300C is a genuine mix of American luxury and German engineering.
Best Ultra-Luxury Car
BMW 530i SPORT
The pinnacle of automotive engineering and technology, the ultra-luxury car is where it all happens: highly advanced engines and transmissions, avant-garde design and a superior driving environment. This year's winner, the BMW 530i Sport, packs a silkily angry in-line-six with a six-speed automatic, while remaining as fun to drive as its smaller siblings. You'll sometimes forget that you're piloting a car as big as you'll ever need to carry five persons, but the 530i can coddle its occupants in silence and comfort with the best of them.
Best Pickup
FORD RANGER XLT
Pickups: beasts of burden or the new family cars? Pickups now have to be versatile enough to haul either your kids or your work. The Ford Ranger XLT surprised everyone with its torquey engine and excellent driving dynamics. Its compact dimensions make it a hoot to drive while its spacious interior and large bed make it a great everyday vehicle as well. The Ranger XLT is also notable for being the only Car of the Year category winner to repeat this year.
Best Entry-Level MPV
TOYOTA INNOVA 2.5G
The entry-level multi-purpose vehicle class is composed of diverse choices. This is because of a decision by The Car Awards Group, Inc. to combine the Asian Utility Vehicle with other similar choices in its price range. The eventual winner, the Toyota Innova 2.5G, not only brings space, flexibility and comfort to the everyday family man, but it combines them with true world-class performance, competitive pricing and excellent standard features.
Best Luxury MPV
MITSUBISHI GRANDIS
If you can have luxury, why not share it with the entire family? In order to succeed, a luxury MPV must be oozing with comfort, refinement, creature features and space. Of course, if you can, why don't you add advanced styling and excellent driving characteristics into the mix? That's exactly what the Mitsubishi Grandis did. It's spacious and capable to carry the clan, but still fun and exciting enough for the family man to drive.
Best Entry-Level SUV
MAZDA TRIBUTE 3.0 V6
The entry-level SUV will spend most of its time on paved roads rather than off them. And so, buyers expect the same levels of refinement commonly associated with executive or luxury cars. Of course, they must have enough flexibility to carry cargo when needed. The Mazda Tribute 3.0 V6 manages to give excellent value for money with its range of standard features, a powerful 206 horsepower engine and a capacious interior.
Best Luxury SUV
VOLVO XC70
Despite this category's rather wide price range and diverse choices, they are all going for the same kind of buyer: a black-tie executive with a penchant for the great outdoors. As such, the luxury SUV must look impressive on the streets of Manila as it is capable on rough roads. The Volvo XC70 Cross Country does all this. Its highly capable all-wheel drive chassis, along with a powerful turbocharged engine and estate-configuration cargo capacity, sealed its victory.
Best Ultra-Luxury SUV
MERCEDES-BENZ ML350
The ultra-luxury SUV is a barometer of personal success—it combines massive presence with technical savvy and cutting-edge features. The ultra-luxury SUV must be respected enough to be saluted and admired, but must be safe and sophisticated enough to carry your most precious cargo: your kids. The Mercedes-Benz ML350 mixes technical sophistication with a respected badge and unparalleled safety equipment. Of course, the jury found its appealing design, space and relative affordability added bonuses.
Car of the Year
MAZDA 6 2.3L
This year's COTY fleet represented a really wide range of choices compared to last year's. With the best from Germany, United States, Japan, and Korea vying for the Philippines' top automotive honor, the contest was too close to call. In the end, a car that seamlessly blends style, engineering, sophistication and space won the race. The Mazda 6 2.3L is the best in all these aspects, and for that reason, it is the Philippines' second Car of the Year. The 6's victory makes it two consecutive for the executive/midsize sedan. The Honda Accord won it all last year.
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Top Gear Philippines - June 2006
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