Each year, we report the results of the Japan Car of the Year (COTY) for good reason. Most of our cars originated from Japan, its automotive market and car culture is huge, and impressing the tech-savvy Japanese people is no small feat. In short, it's a pretty big deal when a car is voted as Japan's COTY. This year, that honor goes to the all-new Volvo XC60.
Launched earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish SUV was chosen because it "balanced the elements such as comfort, functionality, enjoyment of driving required for contemporary SUVs in an easy-to-handle affordable body at a high level." The awarding body also praised its design, powertrain options, and of course, its abundance of safety features.
The XC60 won the contest with 294 points according to the scoring criteria, beating out the BMW 5-Series which netted 242. The highest-ranking Japanese car this year was the Toyota Camry with 232 points.
The top 10 list for Japan's Car of the Year is as follows:
1) Volvo XC60
2) BMW 5-Series
3) Toyota Camry
4) Suzuki Swift
5) Honda N-Box
6) Lexus LC
7) Alfa Romeo Giulia
8) Mazda CX-5
9) Citroen C3
10) Volkswagen Tiguan
Congratulations, Volvo!
