As you know, the 2011-2012 Auto Focus People's Choice Awards were formally presented last week, and most of you basically ridiculed the results. You wondered how poor-selling cars could win most of the awards, with the Nissan Teana even bagging the top award of Automobile of the Year. Well, your guess is as good as ours. When the winners are determined by votes that could be bought by the car companies themselves, you end up with fantastic results. What's even more fantastic is that we will now see print ads in newspapers of these car companies congratulating themselves for "winning" such awards.
To the organizers' credit, they tried to balance out the picture by also giving out Media's Choice Awards. They asked motoring journalists to pick the best vehicles in various categories and in various classes. We think this was their way of saying: "Guys, these are the awards that really matter."
Interestingly (and quite expectedly), the Teana did not win a single award in the midsize sedan class in the eyes of the motoring media.
Among the Top Gear staff, those who cast their votes were associate editor Paulo Subido, associate features editor Dinzo Tabamo, online managing editor Barbara Lorenzo, motorsports editor/photographer Mikko David, columnist Al Mendoza and design critic Brian Afuang.
So here now is the complete list of the cars chosen by the press. As usual, you may have your say in the comment box below. Never mind the wrong classification of some cars--at least the picks are infinitely more credible.
2011-2012 Auto Focus Media's Choice Awards
BEST ON-BOARD ENTERTAINMENT SETUP
Subcompact - Ford Fiesta
Compact - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Midsize sedan - Audi A6
Large sedan - Lexus LS460L
Sports car - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
AUV - Isuzu Crosswind
Compact SUV - Mini Countryman
Midsize SUV - Nissan Murano
Large SUV - Isuzu Alterra
Minivan - Toyota Alphard
Large van - Hyundai Grand Starex
Pickup - Isuzu D-Max
Open - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coup
MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE
Subcompact - Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Compact - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Midsize sedan - Lexus GS460
Large sedan - Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Sports car - Lexus IS300
AUV - Toyota Innova
Compact SUV - Mazda CX7
Midsize SUV - Lexus RX450h
Large SUV - Lexus LX570
Minivan - Toyota Alphard
Large van - Kia Carnival
Pickup - Mitsubishi Strada
Open - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
BEST SAFETY FEATURES
Subcompact - Volvo C30
Compact - Lexus IS300
Midsize sedan - Volvo S60
Large sedan - Volvo S80
Sports car - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
AUV - Toyota Innova
Compact SUV - Volvo XC60
Midsize SUV - BMW X6
Large SUV - Volvo XC90
Minivan - Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Large van - Kia Carnival
Pickup - Mitsubishi Strada
Open - Volvo V60
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
Subcompact - Ford Fiesta
Compact - Chevy Cruze
Midsize sedan - Honda Accord
Large sedan - Hyundai Genesis
Sports car - Hyundai Genesis Coupe
AUV - Toyota Innova
Compact SUV - Hyundai Tucson
Midsize SUV - Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Large SUV - Isuzu Alterra
Minivan - Kia Carens
Large van - Kia Carnival
Pickup - Mitsubishi Strada
Open - Suzuki SX4 Crossover
BEST ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Subcompact - BMW 1-Series
Compact - BMW 3-Series
Midsize sedan - BMW 5-Series
Large sedan - Porsche Panamera
Sports car - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
AUV - Toyota Innova
Compact SUV - Subaru Forester
Midsize SUV - BMW X6
Large SUV - Porsche Cayenne
Minivan - Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Large van - Hyundai Grand Starex
Pickup - Nissan Navara
Open - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
BEST DESIGN
Subcompact - Ford Fiesta
Compact - Hyundai Elantra
Midsize sedan - Hyundai Sonata
Large sedan - BMW 7-Series
Sports car - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
AUV - Toyota Innova
Compact SUV - Hyundai Tucson
Midsize SUV - BMW X6
Large SUV - BMW X5
Minivan - Toyota Alphard
Large van - Hyundai Grand Starex
Pickup - Mitsubishi Strada
Open - Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
