MICHAEL MCALEERnarrows his favourites for European Car of the Year down to two main players
ONCE AGAIN it’s awards time in the motor industry, when the back-slapping and back-stabbing take over from recession-depression conversations. Where more than two petrolheads gather in November, reviews of the new models of that year inevitably follow. What was the highlight? What was the lemon? What caught the imagination? What was wide of the mark?
While the views of the car-crazy corner boys undoubtedly carry some weight in the local community, there are a few awards worth watching in this season of giving. One of the most respected is the European Car of the Year award and this year’s winner is due to be announced next Monday.
From a list of 33 models, seven have made it onto the shortlist: Citroen’s C3 Picasso; Mercedes’ E-Class; Opel’s Astra; Peugeot’s 3008; Skoda’s Yeti; Toyota’s IQ; and VW’s Polo.
The new C3 Picasso is impressively contemporary in its styling, like a mini-version of the Kia Soul. It’s rather boxy but solid looking. The interior is well laid out and the engine range is decent, if not exceptional. It’s an all rounder that’s worth a look if not quite at the forefront in its market segment. A worthy shortlist entrant but not a winner in our book.
The Mercedes E-Class may seem a little conservative in its styling, but it’s nothing of the sort. To understand the quality of the new E-Class you have to realise the mistakes made with its predecessor. In a market where BMW’s 5 Series was the motoring equivalent of Sea the Stars, the E-Class was an also-ran. Not any more: this is a thoroughbred competitor and not just as a mile-munching motorway runner, its star loses none of its shine on twisting back roads. Credit lies with the engineers for not only repairing the damage to the brand from the model launched in 2001, but also closing right up against the once invincible 5 Series. All eyes are now on BMW’s fight back with a new 5 Series.
When Peugeot announced it was adding to the ranks of small hatchbacks bulked up to look a bit like SUVs, we were not exactly giddy with excitement. It was hardly a pioneering endeavour. When eventually we hopped into the driving seat then, our preconceptions were shot through.
First off, while the exterior looks is a bit bland, the interior is arguably the best we’ve seen from Peugeot – and that includes its ill-fated attempts at premium models. On the road the surprise continues: the 1.6-litre diesel engine offers ample punch while the car’s handling is really impressive for its size.
Skoda’s Yeti is aiming for a similar market as the 3008, but with a little more exterior character and flair.
At the end of the day it’s a well-built hatchback that’s a little more rugged and with a set of foglights set prominently on the front. Its biggest boon is its ride quality, which can cope with the worst Irish roads. Inside, it offers the spaciousness that has earned Skoda its stars among Irish owners, particularly taxi drivers. The 2-litre diesel is the engine of choice, better than the 1.2-litre petrol. A strong effort that sees off several other similar newcomers.
Toyota’s IQ is a marvel, deserving of far more attention than it has garnered so far. For a start, there’s the spaciousness. This is a car that’s little bigger than the much-heralded Smart car, yet manages to accommodate three adults. You can pop two of these cars into the average parking space yet it handles like a car twice its size.
We spent hours in this car up and down the motorway network, overtaking cars that could swallow the IQ in the boot and it never once felt unstable. Even on the most blustery day, it pops along at 120km/h without a worry. It’s simply fantastic when you consider its size. And it’s green – with just 110g/km from its peppy little 1-litre engine. What’s more, unlike the Smart car with its jerky automatic gearbox, the IQ is available with a proper manual transmission.
In terms of safety it’s got so many airbags you’d fear it might float away if it ever got into a smash. And if you do, the good news is that the IQ has secured an incredible five-star EuroNCAP rating. To put that in perspective, the Citroen C3 and the Nissan X-Trail have four.
The IQ teaches the European a real lesson in the art of building small city cars and if only it was better-priced it would be a runaway winner. The IQ is a great second car for urban and suburban families, but it’s not quite the value proposition in a market so price-conscious.
Volkswagen’s Polo might not initially seem to revolutionise the world of motoring, but it’s got three things going for it: size, performance and price. You have to put all memories of previous Polos out of your mind. This might carry the small-car badge but it’s a Golf in everything but name. In fact, it offers as much interior space as several previous generations of Golfs. If the Golf from 2000 was big enough for you then the Polo should be your car of choice.
The three-cylinder entry-level engine is a little noisy but the other engines on offer are very impressive both in terms of power and fuel economy. As for the overall package, it offers levels of refinement and features that you don’t expect to encounter in this class. It’s a great little car that’s a match for its main rival, the Ford Fiesta, while offering some of the middle-class cachet that has made VW so popular in the past. It’s a Golf in everything but name and that means you can downsize without compromise. In today’s world that ticks an incredible number of motoring boxes.
Opel’s new Astra takes its cue from the outgoing Car of the Year, the Opel Insignia. It won us over with its enormous leap away from the outdated Vectra and closer to the premium offerings, but at mainstream pricing. This car follows suit, but to a far lesser degree and up against rivals like the VW Golf and Ford Focus to mention but two, it’s a strong performer if not quite this year’s star turn. The cabin has received a massive revamp that kicks it up towards the top of the segment, even if the handling is still not a match for its two main rivals.
SO WHAT’S going to win the much-prized European Car of the Year title? Given our amazing track record for picking winners – an ability that has kept bookies in profit for years – suffice to say any car we tip for the prize should automatically be regarded as an outside bet.
That qualifier in place, this year’s motoring slugfest looks set to be between the Toyota IQ and the VW Polo. The IQ brings a host of innovations to the motoring world, particularly in terms of space usage, handling and eco-credentials. It’s a car that also offers you a plot on the moral high ground. The downside is the limited practicality for everyday use and the price.
That’s exactly where the Polo does its tricks. This is a car that lets you tell everyone you’ve downsized and penny-pinched in the current economic climate, while at the same time giving up very little in terms of quality, refinement or performance.
Both these cars represent the future direction of the motor industry globally and it will be a close call. On Monday we’ll see if innovation wins out over the value proposition. One thing’s for sure – customers are looking for smaller cars that offer big-car characteristics. That’s what makes the Polo and IQ potential winners. Our vote goes to the IQ for engineering innovation and driving ability far in excess of what it should have for its size. We’ll have to wait until Monday to see how the rest of the jury voted.
Michael McAleer is the Irish jury member for European Car of the Year
