My judgement is based on following grounds:

Toyota  iQ represents a totally new thinking in the automotive industry. Creating a car like this has certainly required a lot of innovations. The iQ is short and extremely agile. So, it is really handy to drive in city traffic. It offers comfortable seats and a larger car feeling for two adult persons. They can also take some luggage along with them into the car. If needed, even four persons can travel in the iQ, but not very comfortably. However, because of its uniqueness I consider the iQ a perfect candidate for the Car of the Year.

The styling of Peugeot 3008 surely divides opinions. The car is an interesting mixture of a five-seater minivan, a SUV and a normal hatch back. It is definitely good to drive and clever in space utilization. It brings us a new and interesting car concept which most likely will find satisfied owners in abundance.

Opel/Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Polo are excellent new models in their own segments. Both are clearly better than their predecessors and very good in fuel efficiency. But I cannot see any extraordinariness in this fact. Usually all the new models are better than previous ones. So, the Astra and the Polo represent normal evolution in automotive industry.

The new Mercedes-Benz E class has changed the generation in style. The car differs remarkably from its predecessor but is still easily recognized. The car is fully loaded with safety features and the selection of equipments is breath-taking. The new E class is definitely one of the best cars in the market, but after all, it can be considered just a normal step in its long model history.     

If you need a “different” car, Skoda Yeti is a good candidate. A totally new model is assembled from the proven parts of VW group and finished with exciting styling. It looks a bit like SUV without being one, although 4x4-versions strengthen the impression. However this is a car for a special purpose, not for all around use.     

In this kind of though competition I can not see the sympathetic Citroën C3 Picasso as a strong candidate, although the car is rather original as well as comfortable. With this car Citroën has undoubtedly come very close to its roots.