Car of the Year Japan

The annual Car of the Year Japan Award (日本カー・オブ・ザ・イヤー, nihon kā obu za iyā), also known as Japan Car of the Year (or JCOTY), is an annual Car of the Year award given for newly released or redesigned vehicles released in the car buying market in Japan in the twelve months beginning 1 November.

The award has been presented since 1980. The current recipient of the award for 2022 to 2023 is the Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV.[1]

The first non-Japanese car to win the award was the Volkswagen Golf in 2013, followed by the Volvo XC60 in 2017 and the Volvo XC40 in 2018.[2][3][4] The highest-placed car from the United States was the Jeep Cherokee, which was eliminated in the final round in 2014 and was placed eighth.[5] The supervisory board is made up primarily of Japanese automotive journalists.

The award is not associated with the more recent Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference (RJC) RJC Car of the Year Award, which has been issued since 1992.

Recipients

Car of the Year Japan
Year Winner Special Award
2023-2024 Toyota Prius Mitsubishi Delica Mini (Design)

Nissan Serena (Technology)

2022–2023 Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV BMW iX (Design)
Nissan X-Trail (Technology)
Honda Civic e:HEV/Type R (Performance)
Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK X EV (K Car)
2021–2022 Nissan Note[6] BMW 4 Series (Design)
Mitsubishi Outlander (Technology)
Chevrolet Corvette (Performance)
Honda N-One (K Car)
Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award)
Honda (Special Award)
2020–2021 Subaru Levorg[7] Mazda MX-30 (Design)
Audi e-tron Sportback (Technology)
BMW Alpina B3 (Performance)
Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK X Space/eK Space (K Car)
2019–2020 Toyota RAV4[8] Nissan Skyline (Innovation)
Jeep Wrangler (Emotional)
Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK X/eK Wagon (Small Mobility)
2018–2019 Volvo XC40[9] Honda Clarity PHEV (Innovation)
BMW X2 (Emotional)
Daihatsu Mira Tocot (Small Mobility)
Toyota Gazoo Racing (Special Award)
Honda N-Van (Special Award)
2017–2018 Volvo XC60 Toyota Prius PHV (Innovation)
Lexus LC (Emotional)
Honda N-Box (Small Mobility)
Toyota (Special Award)
Takuma Sato (Special Award)
2016–2017 Subaru Impreza Nissan Serena (Innovation)
BMW M2 (Emotional)
Daihatsu Move Canbus (Small Mobility)
Honda NSX (Special Award)
2015–2016 Mazda Roadster Tesla Model S (Innovation)
Suzuki Alto/Alto Lapin (Small Mobility)
Yanase (Special Award)
Toyota Mirai (Special Award)
2014–2015 Mazda Demio[10][11] BMW i3 (Innovation)
Honda N-WGN (Small Mobility)
Toyota’s approach to fuel cell vehicles (Special Award)
2013–2014 Volkswagen Golf Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (Innovation)
Mazda Atenza (Emotional)
Suzuki Spacia/Mazda Flair Wagon (Small Mobility)
Daihatsu Move Front Lift (Special Award)
2012–2013 Mazda CX-5 Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ
2011–2012 Nissan Leaf Mazda Demio
2010–2011 Honda CR-Z Peugeot RCZ
2009–2010 Toyota Prius Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Most Advanced Technology)
Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun)
Subaru Legacy (Best Value)
Honda Fit (Best Third Decade Car)
2008–2009 Toyota iQ Nissan GT-R (Most Advanced Technology)
Subaru Exiga (Most Fun)
Honda Freed (Best Value)
2007–2008 Honda Fit Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (Most Fun)
Volkswagen Golf (Most Advanced Technology)
Daihatsu Mira (Best Value)
2006–2007 Lexus LS460 Audi TT (Most Fun)
Mitsubishi i (Most Advanced Technology)
Honda Stream (Best Value)
2005–2006 Mazda Roadster Suzuki Swift (Most Fun)
Honda Civic/Civic Hybrid (Most Advanced Technology)
2004–2005 Honda Legend BMW 1 Series (Most Fun)
Mazda Verisa (Best Value)
Honda Legend (Most Advanced Technology)
2003–2004 Subaru Legacy Mazda RX-8 (Most Fun)
Nissan Teana (Best Value)
Jaguar XJ (Most Advanced Technology)
2002–2003 Honda Accord Nissan Fairlady Z (Most Fun)
BMW 7 Series (Most Advanced Technology)
2001–2002 Honda Fit Toyota Estima Hybrid
2000–2001 Honda Civic/Stream Subaru Impreza
1999–2000 Toyota Vitz/Platz/Fun Cargo Honda S2000
1998–1999 Toyota Altezza Honda Z
1997–1998 Toyota Prius Isuzu VehiCROSS
1996–1997 Mitsubishi Galant/Legnum Mazda Demio
1995–1996 Honda Civic Nissan Terrano
1994–1995 Mitsubishi FTO Honda Odyssey
1993–1994 Honda Accord Toyota Supra
1992–1993 Nissan March Isuzu Bighorn
1991–1992 Honda Civic Mitsubishi Pajero
1990–1991 Mitsubishi Diamante Toyota Estima
1989–1990 Toyota Celsior
1988–1989 Nissan Silvia
1987–1988 Mitsubishi Galant
1986–1987 Nissan Pulsar/EXA/Langley/Liberta Villa
1985–1986 Honda Accord/Vigor
1984–1985 Toyota MR2
1983–1984 Honda Civic/Ballade
1982–1983 Mazda Capella/Ford Telstar
1981–1982 Toyota Soarer[12]
1980–1981 Mazda Familia
Japan Import Car of the Year
Year Winner
2023-2024 BMW X1
2022–2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
2021–2022 Volkswagen Golf
2020–2021 Peugeot 208/e-208
2019–2020 BMW 3 Series
2018–2019 None
2017–2018 None
2016–2017 Audi A4
2015–2016 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer
2014–2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2013–2014 None
2012–2013 BMW 3 Series
2011–2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2010–2011 Volkswagen Polo
2009–2010 Volkswagen Golf
2008–2009 Citroën C5
2007–2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
2006–2007 Citroën C6
2005–2006 BMW 3 Series
2004–2005 Volkswagen Golf
2003–2004 None
2002–2003 None
2001–2002 Alfa Romeo 147
2000–2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
1999–2000 Rover 75
1998–1999 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
1997–1998 Renault Mégane Scénic
1996–1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK
1995–1996 MG F
1994–1995 Mercedes-Benz C200

Most wins by manufacturer

Total Wins Manufacturer
11 Honda
9 Toyota
6 Mazda
6 Nissan
5 Mitsubishi
2 Subaru
Volvo
1 Lexus
Volkswagen
1 Hyundai

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nissan Sakura Wins 2022–2023 Japan Car Of The Year Award & Kei Car Of The Year Award". cleantechnica.com. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  2. ^ Radu, Mihnea (25 November 2013). "Volkswagen Golf Named Car of the Year in Japan". autoevolution.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. ^ Kavermann, David (12 December 2017). "Volvo XC60 crowned Japanese Car of the Year". driven.co.nz. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  4. ^ Laurel, Drei (12 December 2018). "The Volvo XC40 is 2018's Japan Car of the Year". topgear.com.ph. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ Tragianis, Nick (17 October 2014). "Jeep Cherokee nominated for Car of the Year award ... in Japan". driving.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Nissan Note e-POWER Series Wins Japan Car of the Year 2021". 14 December 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ^ Braithwaite-Smith, Gavin (10 December 2020). "Subaru Levorg is Japan's Car of the Year". www.msn.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  8. ^ Redfern, John (9 December 2019). "Toyota RAV4 wins 2019 Car of the Year Japan award" (in Thai). www.motoringresearch.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  9. ^ Bijoux, Niles (11 December 2018). "Volvo takes back-to-back Japanese COTY award". www.autocar.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  10. ^ De Guzman, Marcus (13 October 2014). "All-new Mazda2/Demio wins the Japanese Car of The Year award". Autoindustriya.com. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  11. ^ Turkus, Brandon (14 October 2014). "Mazda2 nets Japan Car of the Year, Cherokee first US model to ever crack top 10 [UPDATE]". autoblog.com. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  12. ^ "TOYOTA SOARER NAMED JAPAN'S "CAR OF THE YEAR"". driving.ca. 23 December 1981. Retrieved 27 May 2022.

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