My judgement is based on following grounds:

With the new Polo, Volkswagen got a perfect hit in the maybe most serious year of the automobile industry. Wolfsburg’s new model perfectly fits into the change the car industry is going through at the moment. The new Polo is the answer to the question how much car we really need. The Polo’s development is impressive: with the fuel-efficient engines and its unrivalled value for money the Polo has turned into a fully-fledged, classless car following visually and technically the Golf. It has got a very self-confident and powerful appearance, it is pure without any trappings, simply impressive.

Another great success for Opel after the Insignia. The Astra, for sure, is the most attractive compact car that has ever left Rüsselsheim. The Astra of the 4^th generation follows widely the track of the car of the year 2009, which is definitely a recipe for success. Above all, the cockpit with its sense of style shows its premium quality. No other car on the shortlist offers more fun to drive – the handling is simply perfect. Also the price is sharply calculated: much car for a lean price. A big boost for Opel; producers of such cars needn’t worry about the future.

The Skoda Yeti deserves a mighty applause. It perfectly expresses the brand’s slogan ‘simply clever’. A nice car with a spacious interior, great variability, highly useable at a very competitive price.

The Toyota iQ draws attention with its superb concept. The midget is a giant not giving away an inch of space. Long distances are no problem for this 3-meter-car. The price is questionable.

 Mercedes launched its E-class at a most difficult moment. Although it has taken some time for hard-core E-class drivers to get used to it, it has to be said that the E-class has never been better, larger, safer and more intelligent – a legend.