EQC becomes latest NZ COTY star

For a second year running, an electric car wins the nation’s top motoring prize.

Lance Bennett, general manager of Mercedes Benz Cars New Zealand, with the 2020 New Zealand Car of the Year, represented by the Peter Greenslade Trophy, and the EQC.

NEW 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.

NZ Car of the Year countdown begins

Contenders for the country’s annual motoring title are starring on television tonight

THE PRELUDE to the announcement of the New Zealand Car of the Year features on a high-rating television show tonight.

The 10 contenders for the 33rd winner of the national title, meted annually by the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild, will be assessed tonight by hosts of Television One’s ‘Seven Sharp’ programme.

The programme continues its COTY coverage tomorrow night, announcing the winner live at the culmination of the half hour current affairs programme, which screens from 7pm. 

The Guild membership comprises automotive journalists from around the country. The NZCOTY has established as the country’s most coveted motoring award and it has an unequalled history among various motoring prizes, with announcement annually since 1988.

Guild president Richard Edwards suggests the award’s mana comes down to it and the provider organisation having a good reputation. 

The selection of finalists is a robust and comprehensive process, which culminates in a vote involving more than 20 journalists and the Guild is fiercely independent “which not only adds to its credibility but also the high regard in which the award is held by the entire industry.” The input from Seven Sharp hosts Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells is extramural to the voting process, but has added an extra flavour in the three years of the programme’s involvement.

The 2020 finalists were announced in November. Eight of the 10 finalists are from the SUV sector, which now commands huge interest from consumers, and two are from the small car segment. One is a full electric vehicle.

The award involves the local distributor of the winning vehicle receiving the Peter Greenslade Trophy, named after a founding Guild member. The present holder is Jaguar New Zealand, whose i-Pace electric SUV won in 2019.

Contenders, in alphabetical order, are Audi Q3, Ford Fiesta, Kia Seltos, Land Rover Defender, Mazda CX-30, Mercedes EQC, Mercedes GLB, Peugeot 2008, Skoda Kamiq and Toyota Yaris.