Drive Car of the Year

Determining exactly how fast a car is – or isn’t – can be extremely useful when evaluating cars, especially performance models. Getting reliable, accurate data, however, can be another story. Many car makers claim often unachievable performance figures and others don’t bother quoting any figures. Others, provide relatively conservative figures that can often be bettered.

During Drive's Car of the Year, we conduct our own independent performance testing. Cars are tested on the same track using the same equipment and by the same driver. For the Car of the Year finalists it’s the only set of directly comparable performance figures.

The result is a comprehensive consumer guide to the entire new-car market, giving an insight into the best car for you – whatever you're looking for.

EMBARGO: 6am 4/12/2015
DCOTY winner

And the winner is...

After our biggest Car of the Year awards ever Australian know-how comes out on top.

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Drive Car of the Year Category Winners

STRICT EMBARGO: 6am 4/12/2015
DCOTY Best small car group

2015 Drive Car of the Year: Best small car

Australia's most popular car segment brings together a trio of petrol-powered hatches from three popular brands.

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STRICT EMBARGO: 6am 4/12/2015
DCOTY Best family car group

2015 Drive Car of the Year: Best family car

Skoda's Octavia sedan takes on the Subaru Liberty, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo.

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STRICT EMBARGO: 6am 4/12/2015
DCOTY Best 4WD group

2015 Drive Car of the Year: Best 4WD

Jeep's Cherokee Trailhawk faces two rugged family off-roaders and a luxury alternative for the four-wheel drive crown

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STRICT EMBARGO: 6am 4/12/2015
DCOTY Best Ute group

2015 Drive Car of the Year: Best ute

After a one horse race in 2014 it turned into an intense four-way shoot-out in 2015.

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