Oh that Camry, such a charmer. It's so not sitting home on Valentine's Day without a date. This time it's the Canadians giving up some automotive love, handing the Camry another trophy for its burgeoning display case - the Canadian Car of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Going home with Good Sport stickers (or plaques or certificates or whatever they get) are the Honda Fit, Volkswagen Rabbit, Lexus ES350, Audi S8, MazdaSpeed3, Volkswagen Eos and the BMW 3-Series Coupe. What a fight that must have been. The AJAC's press release is after the jump, and all their test data and performance numbers are on their site for comparison.
The award was given out today as part of the Canadian International Auto Show, where Toyota took home three more awards, one of which wasn't Camry related. The Lexus ES350 was named the best new luxury car under $50k, while the Camry LE got Best New Family Car $22k-$30k, and the Camry Hybrid also got Best New Family Car over $30k. In the photo above, that's one proud Stephen Beatty, managing director of Toyota Canada, with his company's CCOTYs.
In case you need some ammo with which to attack/support the AJAC's decision, last year's top CCOTY was the Civic Sedan, in 2005 the Mustang, in 2004 the Mazda3 and in 2003 the 350Z. The Altima won in 2002 and the PT Cruiser took top honors in 2001.
Thanks for the tip, Peter!
The Toyota Camry Hybrid beat nine other "best new" category winners, announced November 21st, to win the top prize. This is the first time in the awards history that a hybrid has won an overall "Car of the Year" title.
2007 CCOTY chair, Paul Williams, commented: "With manufacturers introducing an increasing number of new vehicles each year, consumers may find it harder to keep track of what's available in the marketplace, and how one vehicle differs from another. The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year program identifies and categorizes all the new vehicles each year, then subjects them to detailed testing in real-world situations. It's not a popularity contest; it's a thorough, objective and trustworthy process to help consumers make informed purchase decisions".
"We are thrilled that AJAC's members have endorsed the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid with this important award, and would like to thank the membership for their support", said Tony Wearing, Managing Director for Toyota in Canada. "As you know, the
The Car of the Year vote results are posted to the AJAC web site for use by consumers as a resource buying guide. The results show comparisons between all 13 category winners as announced on November 21, 2006.
In addition, consumers will also find comparative test data - acceleration, braking, manoeuvrability, cargo capacity - on over 180 new vehicles representing the 65 entries in the 2007 Canadian Car of the Year Awards. The data derives from the journalists' annual "TestFest". It's a rigorous three-day team testing program that includes "real world" driving on public roads -- where consumers drive.
Dennis DesRosiers of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants said recently: "As car awards go I personally believe that the Automobile Journalists of (AJAC) serve our industry very well... their choices are almost always right on the mark."
Photos from today's award announcements, the November 21st category winners, and the TestFest evaluation event, are available for print and broadcast media under <Canadian Car of the Year< Photo Gallery< on the AJAC web site: www.ajac.ca.
Still looking to buy a 2006 new car? AJAC archives the comparative test data and vote results from previous years on its web site.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
D Man @ Feb 14th 2007 4:35PM
Did it also earn the snout award, the car is SOO UGLY! I'd get the new Altima any day!
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 4:41PM
Shows were Canadians have their tastes
Tony @ Feb 14th 2007 4:57PM
"2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Toyota Camry"
Shows were Americans have their tastes. You leave Canada alone NoNameDenton.
rrr @ Feb 14th 2007 5:00PM
NOOOOOOOOOO IT'S A LIEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
No way can Camry be a good car, only people who do not understand cars buy that car. Ford 500 is way better, sorry i mean Taurus.
What people do not know is that CEO of Consumer Report is 1/25 Japanese and as we all know Japanese lobbie has its hands all over the Canadian media.
Malibu is way better, ........hey my F-150 gets 55 MPG. Only girls drive Japanese cars.
How come on Sept 11 there were no Japanese in the buildings?
Ethanol rules.
Stop the Japanese propaganda. Detroit is way better, my Silverado gets 50 MPG..................buy American.....i mean Mexican. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 5:10PM
Last time I checked, it said Motor Trend, not American, unlike this which says Canadian
Tony @ Feb 14th 2007 5:16PM
when I checked it said "Journalists" not all of canada. Be carefull what you say about Canada, we have a submarine!
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 5:18PM
Wow, a whole submarine, what a nation to be feared, I mean, Canada is just on their way to being a global superpower now
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 5:23PM
Don't forget to paint that sub yellow now
Tony @ Feb 14th 2007 5:24PM
Well, our sub isn't running right now, we had some engine problems. We could still cut off your fresh water supply.
Z @ Feb 14th 2007 5:30PM
NoName; Just what point is it that you're trying to make by taking potshots at Canada?
Gardiner Westbound @ Feb 14th 2007 5:47PM
COTY awards range from blatant merchandising to mutual self-promotion to just plain silly.
This one is hosted by the grandiosely self-titled Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), aka the Fraternal Order of Automotive Junketeers, and paid for by the manufacturers. Several years ago General Motors and others balked at paying thousands of dollars for a week-long party and booze-up and boycotted the proceedings. The journalists' reaction was predictable and continued until the manufacturers capitulated.
The prime failing is restricting the selection criteria to new or substantially changed cars which, coincidentally, also have the largest marketing budgets. That means many stellar cars including the Honda Accord were not even in the running.
fordman @ Feb 14th 2007 6:14PM
If GM won, it would be all good.
Since Toyota has won, you guys just dismiss it.
When you dont get your way you bash it, you dismiss it, and you belittle it. Nice work!
you people seriously have shortcomings in life.
bill @ Feb 14th 2007 6:19PM
You must be retarded to buy a toyota. Cheap under powered pieces of junk. Why buy from a car company that treats their workers like crap. No retirement pay and horrible health insurance. The people that buy toyota's are clueless about cars.
Sam @ Feb 14th 2007 6:23PM
Dont mind #12.
He had too much to drink this morning. He sits at home all day with his whiskey since he has no job and just hates the world for no reason.
He would like you to buy Pontiac G8 and Saturn Astra that are imports however.
ellerton @ Feb 14th 2007 6:23PM
Such a boring slushbox. Oh well, it's not even a country anyways.
NoNameDenton @ Feb 14th 2007 6:55PM
I would rather buy a Pontiac G8 with a V8 and rear wheel drive, then a Toyota with front wheel drive and smaller then V8 engines, even the Ford cars offer all wheel drive, front wheel drive limits performance, all and rear wheel allow for more, and I know not every one wants performance, but front wheel drive is boring
doug @ Feb 14th 2007 6:56PM
as a response to rrr: huh?
and the lexus es is based on the camry platform
so camry wins! but i think that the mercury milan is better (if your a girl) and also the nissan alima, but the passat beats all, luxury for a small price
Abro @ Feb 14th 2007 7:10PM
#11
Of course thats how it is. When did you wake up and smell the coffee.
As long as Toyota wins an award, the award is bought, means nothing, is irrelevant, or short sighted.
If GM wins an award, we applaud the organization for their honesty, integrity, and vision.
Therefore if aura won the AJAC = Great car great job on AJAC and great Canadians.
Since Camry won the AJAC = Losers, AJAC is meaningless, and damn retarded Canadians.
whofan @ Feb 14th 2007 7:28PM
I thought it was just us Americans who had bad taste! See I gave Canadians more credit than that.
Roni Biasa @ Feb 14th 2007 7:32PM
negative comments come from a bad person, such as a jealouse one
you know, in reality, most of your bad comment will not hear by most people, because the fact that they are knows about life