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VW POLO wins Car of the Year 2010

  • By Carsguide team
  • Carsguide
  • 11 November 2010

VOLKSWAGEN has done it again.

For the second straight year, the German carmaker has topped the best of the best to claim the Carsguide Car of the Year award.  This time it's the baby Polo that has done the job, trumping the top 10 contenders and finishing ahead of the Kia Sportage and Skoda Superb wagon.

In the end the Polo scored a convincing win, not because of its $16,690 starting price but because of its impressive safety, quality, comfort and driving enjoyment.  Look no further - the Golf's little brother is the worlds best small car," says Paul Pottinger, one of the Carsguide COTY judges. 

The battle for the 2010 COTY prize began with a cull of more than 100 new arrivals in Australia through the year since the Golf claimed its COTY trophy. The eventual contenders cover every class and price category, from the baby Hyundai i20 through the luxury BMW 5 Series and the E-Class from Mercedes-Benz.

The only homegrown finalist is also the only hybrid - the Toyota Camry hybrid.  The Carsguide COTY contest is a national award which draws its judges from News Limited papers and websites from coast-to-coast, with former rally star - and current economy champion - Ed Ordynski also joining the panel for 2010.

The judges are led by managing editor Ged Bulmer, who is joined by Carsguide chief reporter Paul Gover, Karla Pincott of Carsguide.com.au, Neil Dowling of the Sunday Times in Perth, Stuart Martin of The Advertiser in Adelaide, Craig Duff of the Herald Sun in Melbourne, Paul Pottinger of the Daily Telegraph in Sydney, Peter Barnwell of news suburbans and Mark Hinchliffe of the Courier Mail, Brisbane.

Together they put the 10 finalists through two gruelling days of tests, from track laps to back-seat measurements, but concentrating on real-world driving in all conditions from stop-start city traffic to deserted gravel roads.

More on Carsguide Car of the Year 2010

WANT MORE?

First drive by Paul Gover
First drive of the GTI by Neil Dowling
Review by Paul Gover and Alison Ward

Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 12 comments

  • Big Tank ... Sounds like you are what you say ... Bet your driving an historic push rod engine, stop off at Maccas and think Australia Day is all about pi$$ing it away over a cold xxxx.

    Anyone on the know, knows that these journos have driven more cars than you’ve had ro&*s- substantially more, and that parts of Europe are just as extreme as the Penrith suburb you come from smile

    Can envy showing thru there ‘big’ tank ... Like sure.

    Edward Euro of Outback Posted on 28 January 2011 2:42pm

  • Big Tank, you just took the words out of my mouth! You have hit the nail right on the head.

    Personally, me thinks that for VW to win all COTYs in Australia this and last year suggests that journalists are listening to VW fan-boys who are making a big noise out about cars that will most likely fall apart after a couple of months.

    Just can’t wait until Mazda brings out Skyactiv and 3rd Gen models to silence the fans!

    R Posted on 02 December 2010 11:15am

  • These awards are crap and people looking for a car to purchase should take very little notice of them. This has absolutely no value for the everyday person buying a car. Why do they get journalists to rate the vehicles? Half of them couldn’t even open a bonnet.
    Good luck to anyone who purchases one of these, just make sure you get rid of it before 100 000 kms. That goes for all the over engineered european vehicles in the field

    Big Tank of perth Posted on 30 November 2010 11:27pm

  • YAY!! I’ve not always loved VWs, but with both the last and current Golfs and the last and current Polo’s (and Tiguan as well), I’m convinced!
    The new Polo seems like a great car - quality interior, nice ride, steering feel, new tech and decent space are very rare in the small car class! I think people would have to be crazy to choose the rubbish quality and driving/riding i20 over a Polo for such a small premium!!
    I’m seriously considering getting a new Polo GTi for my next car, and I’m extremely happy to see it getting the accolades it deserves!

    ED of WA Posted on 30 November 2010 11:01am

  • I’m a Polo owner- great car to drive, good quality control, plenty of guts, pleasure to drive.

    jennifer malloy of perth western australia Posted on 28 November 2010 2:21pm

  • VW Polo is built in the same Sth African plant as the Mk4 Golf. One should question its long term reliability and not be lured by its soft touch plastics.

    DB of Sydney Posted on 28 November 2010 6:42am

  • Anonymous styling usually means a pleasant car to live with for 10 years and good second hand fodder. Perhaps both companies chose this as car of the year because it is the best?  Is that a coincidence?

    sam of cairns Posted on 27 November 2010 9:17pm

  • I would really like to see a long term of this car.  Would the Judges feel the same way after living with it for 12 months? The 1 and only new car I have ever owned was a VW Passat.  A car that, for the first few months seemed wonderful, but over the next year steadily fell to bits, cost a fortune in repairs, and was almost worthless when it came trade in time 2 years later.  From memory, that, too, won a Car of the Year award.

    Rod of Tweed Heads Posted on 27 November 2010 3:09pm

  • A quality item but a pity the styling is so bland & anonymous compared to the Mazda2, Ford Fiesta & even Yaris.

    Jim C of Sydney Posted on 26 November 2010 12:59pm

  • I’m VW owner, good cars, shame the dealership network and the follow up service from headquarters is so bad, it makes Kia ownership desirable.

    Vduped of bne Posted on 26 November 2010 12:46pm

  • Agree. Poor coverage of the whole process. And you’ve selected the same winner as Drive’s car of the year - coincidence?

    Rusty Milweed of Murrembeena Posted on 26 November 2010 12:18pm

  • Great car, disappointing coverage. Not enough on quality, handling, performance, economy, space or just about anything else. No interior photos.

    Arkadii Itsikson of Brisbane Posted on 16 November 2010 4:05pm
Read all 12 comments

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