My judgement is based on following grounds:

Toyota iQ: This car clearly brings something new on the market. It is the first very small car (less than 3 meters length) offering 4 seats (including 3 big ones). It is also the first “microcar” offering such a good handling and comfort on long-distance trips. The fuel and emissions features are also very efficient and this helps the iQ to be sold for a very good final price on several markets, including Belgium. The development of the car itself is a great achievement and I consider its innovation would really deserve the Car of the Year trophy.

 

VW Polo: No revolution for the Polo but this car is better and better after each generation. This one really seems close to perfection! In addition, there are two BlueMotion versions which are among the most fuel and emissions efficient overall.

 

Peugeot 3008: A great Crossover, showing all the knowledge of Peugeot in terms of handling, comfort and driving pleasure. It has already a great success on several markets and this is well-deserved. Even the fuel consumption is OK for this kind of car.

 

Opel Astra: This new Astra is a great improvement: everything is better than in the previous generation. But this is not a surprise because it was the same for the Insignia facing the Vectra. I’m just a bit disappointed about the roominess, in opposition with the overall length of the car. The right ECOflex versions are also coming later.