Motoring writers honour Quinn
/Circuit magnate’s support programmes for rising racing talent acknowledged.
Read MoreCircuit magnate’s support programmes for rising racing talent acknowledged.
Read MoreSino-Brit becomes fifth electric to secure national title.
Read MoreAll contenders having electric involvement a first for national award.
Read MoreTwelve cars from 10 brand, most electric-involved and spanning a diversity of formats, price and uses.
Read MoreMotoring writers applaud Rally NZ chairman Peter Johnston
Read MoreMotoring Writers’ award for five-seater under spotlight for potential update.
Read MoreAll but one of the 10 finalists are electric-assisted to some degree and the other delivers zappy performance.
Read MoreNEW Zealand Car of the Year 2020 is the Mercedes EQC, the big premium sports utility becoming the third electric vehicle to take this annual accolade.
An award that is in its 33rd year first took an electric turn in 2015, with the BMW i3 being recognised.
Last year the title went to the Jaguar i-Pace, which also operates wholly off the mains.
That run means three of the six most recent winners, including today’s, have been electric.
Richard Edwards, president of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, the organisation behind New Zealand Car of the Year, says the recognition for the $142,000 Mercedes sends a strong signal about electrification’s place in the future for motoring in New Zealand.
Though all the electric cars to so far gain this recognition have come from premium makes and two sell in the $100,000-plus executive sector, he contends the EQC’s placement is an example of how, in some segments, electric vehicles are nearing price parity with their petrol and diesel counterparts.
“If you look at where the EQC fits into the broader Mercedes-Benz range on size, specification and performance, its price is not out of place at all.”
He also anticipates many more electrified vehicles to follow it as New Zealand Car of the Year and notes that this year’s announcement follows a watershed time, with the Government announcing a ‘Climate Emergency’ and pushing for an increasing uptake of electrified vehicles, including in its own fleets.
The award was decided by a voting process involving two dozen Guild members who actively road test vehicles, with 10 cars making the final cut for consideration.
The others were the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris , Audi Q3, Kia Seltos, Land Rover Defender, Mazda CX-30, Mercedes-Benz GLB, Peugeot 2008 and Skoda Kamiq.
MotoringNZ reviews new cars and keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments on the auto industry. All the major brands are represented. The site is owned and edited by New Zealand motoring journalist Richard Bosselman.