2016 Drive Car of the Year

The automotive class of 2016 is one of the smartest, fittest and most focused since the Drive Car of the Year awards commenced over a decade ago.

All of the 44 finalists presented here across our 15 individual categories are the best of their breed, hand picked by our six expert judges from the hundreds of new car arrivals over the last 12 months.

While there are 15 category champions - making Drive's Car of the Year awards one of the most comprehensive and relevant of its type, particularly for new car consumers as we determine benchmark vehicles in key buying segments (see below) - there can only be one overall champion.

Only new class champions are eligible for the outright award, which left our judges with seven vehicles to choose from - the Ford Focus RS, Mazda CX-9, Mercedes-Benz E220d, Porsche's Boxster S and 911, Skoda Superb wagon and the Volkswagen Tiguan - to vote for and determine the four stand-out vehicles that enter the final fight for the Car of the Year.

This year, those contenders are the blue-hot Focus RS, which took out the Best Performance Car under $60,000, the refined and spacious Mazda CX-9, which won the Best Family SUV award, the techno-laden Mercedes-Benz E220d, which was deemed the Best Luxury Car over $80,000, and the Volkswagen Tiguan that took out the Best Small SUV category.

All four are amazing vehicles and set new standards in their individual categories.

The Focus RS, for starters, is a firecracker of a hot hatch that was praised by the judges for its potent and character-filled 2.3-litre turbo charged four cylinder engine, its supercar-rivalling handling and the electronic trickery in its all-wheel drive transmission that helps either provide massive traction or promotes sideways thrills (in the right environment).

At $51,990 (plus on-road costs), the Focus RS isn't the most affordable in its class, but it has the kind of performance only offered from more expensive machines that sit on the next tier up, making it somewhat of a bargain - and potential future classic.

Ultimately, while excelling against our criteria to win its category, its appeal was deemed a bit too narrow to challenge for the outright Car of the Year title.

The CX-9 is an impressive machine for the opposite reasons to the Focus. It is an excellent seven-seat SUV that excels at moving modern families with style and in comfort while supporting them with the latest in safety and fuel efficiency technologies.

The judges praised the CX-9 for its refined on-road manners, its flexible seating arrangements and the performance of Mazda's new-generation 2.5-litre turbo charged four cylinder engine.

While it is a significant improvement over its predecessor, and sets a new benchmark for a type of vehicle that is more popular than ever in Australia, the CX-9 doesn't break new boundaries like the Tiguan and E-Class which were the only two vehicles among the final four to score outright votes from the judges. In fact, both scored an equal number of votes... making for an interesting challenge that required a lengthy debate where the judges revisited each of the cars and scoured over their pros and cons ahead of a second vote.

Proving the judges stood by their initial call, the result of the re-vote ended in another tie.

Ideally, we would crown the Tiguan and E-Class as joint winners of the 2016 Drive Car of the Year as they are both deserving champions that pioneer new technologies within their segments and appeal to their target customers in such a thoughtful manner that they are clearly the best in their respective classes.

The E-Class was praised for its overall refinement, superlative comfort, the effortless performance of its new-generation turbo diesel engine and nine-speed automatic and the stylish yet user-friendly nature of its cabin, which is dominated by its two 12.3-inch digital screens. Moreover, it's the invisible elements of the E-Class that also received high praise, including its myriad world-first safety technologies such as front seats that push occupants towards the centre of the car in the event of a side impact and its PreSafe Sound that emits a burst to noise through the audio system to stimulate a reflex within the inner ear to prevent increased damage from louder noises generated by a severe accident.

It is also beautiful to drive, with great road manners, a whisper quiet ride and brings the driverless car of the future a little closer to reality with the latest in semi-automated driving functions.

The Tiguan, here in base-level 110TSI Comfortline specification and costing from $36,990 (plus on-road costs) isn't as ground breaking in terms of new technologies, but it raises the bar in what has rapidly become one of the most popular, most competitive and most relevant segments of the new car landscape today.

Volkswagen's second-generation compact SUV was commended by the judges for its spacious and flexible cabin, which caters for rear-seat occupants just as well as it does for those seated in the front - which is surprisingly rare among family-focused soft roaders - with tri-zone air conditioning, a rear bench that reclines and slides fore and aft and fold-down tray tables on the back rests of the front seats. It also has the biggest boot in its class.

The Tiguan's dash is also beautifully presented with top-quality materials, peerless build quality and the latest in connectivity and conveniences, including the option of a fully digital dash display that has been only available in high-end luxury cars up until now.

It also matches its clever and classy interior with equally impressive road manners, an efficient four-cylinder engine and the standard fitment of active safety systems such as automated emergency braking.

In the end, there can only be one winner. The E-Class' advances in technology, particularly its safety features, were highly praised and will no doubt spread across the rest of the car industry. But the Benz is still an expensive car in a conservative and declining segment of the market. So, it is the Tiguan's value and family focus - not withstanding its own improvements in safety, efficiency and comfort within a more competitive and more popular segment of the market - that narrowly edged it ahead of the E-Class to score the coveted 2016 Drive Car of the Year.

2016 Drive Car of the Year winners

Who won what at Australia's most comprehensive new car awards.

Before the Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI could compete for the overall Drive Car of the Year award it had to win the title of Best Small SUV.

But that was no easy feat, with competition from its sibling and defending class champion, the VW Golf Alltrack, plus the new Kia Sportage SLi diesel and Renault Koleos Zen.

The Best City Car title fell to the Mazda2 Maxx for the third consecutive year, fending off strong competition from the affordable and impressive Holden Spark LS and Kia Picanto Si thanks to its superior presentation and dynamics.

It was another retained crown in the Best Small Car contest with the Ford Focus Trend winning out with its combination of value and road manners. But it faced strong competition from the biggest field in this year's award from the all-new Holden Astra R, Renault Megane Zen, Honda Civic VTi-S and Kia Cerato S Premium.

Best Family Car was a three-way fight between the defending champion, the Ford Mondeo Trend, and the Kia Optima GT and Skoda Superb 162TSI in wagon form. In a close fight, it was the Czech model that took the title thanks to its spacious and thoughtful cabin and punchy powertrain.

The Suzuki Vitara Turbo took up where its non-turbocharged predecessor left off, winning Best City SUV. The more powerful engine added to the nice presentation and resolved on-road package to keep it ahead of the Jeep Renegade Sport.

In a two-way fight for Best Family SUV the new Mazda CX-9 Touring knocked off the Kia Sorento SLi diesel. The new Mazda won over the judges with its clever turbocharged petrol engine, quiet and spacious cabin and strong value.

Best Luxury SUV pitted three very different SUVs against each other - the Audi Q7 3.0TDI, Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport 30d and Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d. In the end the cutting edge design, potent turbo diesel and spacious cabin tipped the voting in favour of the Audi.

In the Best Luxury Car Under $80,000 the new Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Sport took on the Mercedes-Benz C200; the 2014 Drive Car of the Year overall champion. In the most tightly contested category of this year's award the two German sedans were tied on points in the judging. In the end the tie-breaker was the Mercedes' better value, ensuring it held onto its title for another year.

Best Luxury Car Over $80,000 was more clear cut with the Mercedes-Benz E220d taking a unanimous victory. The new German large sedan raises the bar in terms of technology and safety while being both luxurious, refined and efficient.

But that isn't meant to suggest the E220d had it easy in its class. Judges were also impressed by its rivals, the new Volvo S90, Jaguar XF Prestige 20d and Tesla Model S 70D; the returning champion.

It was an all-Ford contest in Best Performance Car Under $60,000 with the Focus ST up against the new Focus RS and Mustang GT.

The Focus ST remains a favourite for its sharp handling and equally sharp value and the Mustang brought a smile to most of the judge's faces. But it was the Focus RS that won the judges' votes.

The RS offers performance on a level above the Focus ST, adding the ground-breaking 'Drift Mode' to turn it into something truly exceptional.

About the only thing in common to our four contenders for Best Performance Car Over $60,000 is they are fast. With the defending champion, the Porsche Cayman GTS, not present as it about to be replaced by a new model that doesn't arrive in showrooms until later this month the category was up for grabs. Porsche was still represented by the new turbocharged 911 Carrera S to go up against the BMW M2 pocket rocket, Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe muscle car and the Audi R8 V10 supercar.

In what was the closest voting of this year's awards only six points separated first and fourth place, with a single vote between the winner and second placed car. It was the Porsche that emerged on top just ahead of the BMW.

Porsche took another victory in the Best Convertible contest with the new 718 Boxster knocking the Mazda MX-5 off its throne, as well as the new Ford Mustang EcoBoost. The new four-cylinder turbocharged Boxster won over the judging crew by being both fast, sporty and luxurious - perfect convertible ingredients.

Last year's overall champion, the Ford Everest Trend, successfully defended its Best 4WD title. It had to beat spirited competition from Holden's new Trailblazer and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

The Ford Ranger retained its Best Ute crown in a head-to-head fight with the updated Holden Colorado.

Best People Mover was a one-horse race with the Kia Carnival SLi diesel going uncontested after winning this category in 2015.

- By Stephen Ottley