My judgement is based on following grounds:

A jump into hyperspace – this is how I’d describe what Citroën has done with the C5. Model by model, from a very average car, which many found rather bland, the C5 has been transformed into a vehicle everybody seems to be interested in. Dignified and elegant, but also dynamic and with a dash of extravagance, as befits all Citroën products, the new C5 is totally unlike its run-of-the-mill predecessor. This is also true about its interior and not only in respect of the versions in which even the dashboard is covered with genuine leather. It doesn’t matter that the upholstery seams on the dashboard that reflect in the windshield cut the road into pieces or that the microscopic hands on the sizeable car clocks make reading them problematic. Thanks to its hydropneumatic suspension, which ensures top-notch driving comfort, and to very small noise levels in the C5 cabin, you can really forget the annoying details. The car as a whole wins the first place among this year’s finalists (5 points), but this is only one point more than a group of cars, each of them unique in its own right.

The small Ford Fiesta, although no longer such a baby, as it drives better than all of its group rivals and looks good. The Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, as it is the most versatile construction among the popular middle-class cars (3 body versions, 9 engines, each meeting the Euro 5 emission requirement, and front- or four-wheel drive, plus innovative systems for making the car safer and easier to drive, e.g. the Opel Eye).

The Skoda Superb and the Volkswagen Golf, as they make use of the possibilities offered by middle-class and lower middle-class cars in 101%. You can expect nothing more in these segments if you’re not ready to pay a fortune. This year the top value-for-money position goes to Skoda Superb. The Golf must be admired for its ergonomics, quality of workmanship and perfectly refined details. Against such excellent rivals to the Car of the Year 2009 accolade, the Alfa Romeo MiTo and the Renault Mégane only receive two points each. Whereas the MiTo excites interest at least with its looks, the Mégane fails to arouse any emotions any more. It’s a very balanced design, but nothing above that. It simply lacks any character. And this is what modern cars need the most.