For the second consecutive time, the 2018 World Car of the Year award will be won by yet another SUV following the Jaguar F-Pace’s triumphant feat last year. The winner, set to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show on March 28, will be chosen from three finalists – the Mazda CX-5, Range Rover Velar and Volvo XC60, each receiving enough votes from over 80 jurors.
The Velar and XC60 are also in the running to win the World Car Design of the Year, with the third entry being the stunning Lexus LC500. In Malaysia, the LC 500 carries a price tag of RM940,000, and it drives nearly as good as it looks.
Speaking of driving, the World Performance Car finalists are the Lexus LC 500, F90 BMW M5 and the FK8 Honda Civic Type R. The M5 has already been launched in Thailand and is currently on its way to Malaysia, but if you fancy yourself a manual-only performance car, then the Civic Type R can be yours for RM320k.
Over in the World Luxury Car category, Porsche took two spots with the Cayenne and Panamera, while the high-tech Audi A8 completes the list of three. Another finalist from the Volkswagen Group is the sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo, and it goes up against the Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta in the World Urban Car category.
The final category is of course the World Green Car, with the trio being the Nissan Leaf, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and G30 BMW 530e iPerformance. The Bimmer is the only car from this category that’s on sale in Malaysia right now, and the EEV is priced at RM344k. The all-electric Leaf, on the other hand, is slated for launch by the end of the year.
So, do you agree with this list, and between the XC60, Velar and CX-5, which model do you think is worthy of being the 2018 World Car of the Year? Sound off in the comments section below!
Looks like smart $$$ is on SUV. No wonder Mazda & Volvo SUV are selling like hot cakes.
CRV the suv should be nominated too.
CRV turbo very noisy. Sounds like a truck. Fail compared to CX5
Should be Honda Turbo very noisy, like engine bocor. Sure very short life-span, miles worst than VW…
Turbo tech is better from VW Group la
CRV is an oversized and heavy SUV. Nobody outside Malaysia cares about it.
CRV is not even nominated at all in top 10 let alone in the top 3
I see more crv than madza 5, as for volvo suv, i hardly see on the road. I see more 3008.
The world does not care what Malaysians drive. And the world does not necessarily drive what Malaysians do. So to remind everyone here, this is the World Car of The Year awards.
Malaysian think of resale value more than good car, which dont know why? resale value actually see how the consumer choose but Malaysian mind have only toyota and honda in mind for good resale value. CX-5 is a good car.
* Talk about toyota and RV, long time didnt see Sam Loo Comment… :D
That’s because CRV was launched earlier than cx5. I can see more previous version cx5 than the previous version CRV.
R u blind? More than 3008. But isn’t 3008 move?
If only Mazda CX-5 Malaysia come with full spec, there’s missing lots of good features compared to other region offered
Velar….
Wow Mazda again!
I think masda no chance at all
XC60!
Velar ftw
CX-5 ftw!!!
It would be an uphill task for CX-5, but go for it! Go! Go! Go! Mazda.
Volvo XC60 > all
Disappointed that the new Rolls-royce Phantom didn’t make it into the luxury list.
RR is in uber luxury list, together with Bentley & Maybach.
No Mercedes? This is BS.
But I strongly feel that masda won’t stand a chance at all. In term of sales, they are not doing so well neither in Asia nor Europe…