Every year, the team from Motor Trend gathers together all the latest vehicles and puts them to the test in an effort to find out which new car, truck or utility vehicle is the single best available that year in America.The candidates are judged on six criteria: advancement in design, efficiency, engineering excellence, performance of intended function, safety, and value.
At the outset, Motor Trend selected 15 new cars as eligible for its coveted Car of the Year trophy. Partway through, the field was whittled down to just seven finalists. In the end, there could be only one winner.
Winner: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
And the winner is... The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The Motor Trend team praised the Camaro for its “world-class sports car performance and dynamics.”
As you might imagine, Chevrolet is quite pleased with the award. "It's amazing, the fact that it's been recognized by the industry ... all the work that's gone into the car," said Al Oppenheiser, Chief Engineer of the Camar
Finalist: 2016 Audi TT
The first finalist, in alphabetical order, was the 2016 Audi TT. The voters from Motor Trend praised the TT for its visual design, excellent powertrain and high-tech cockpit.
Finalist: 2016 BMW 7 Series
Finalist: 2016 Honda Civic
The latest Honda Civic was a strong contender for Motor Trend's 2016 Car of the Year award, and it waspraised for its roomy cabin and nice interior.
Finalist: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Is it fair to say that the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata was Motor Trend's Car of the Year runner up? Possibly. The voters were clearly impressed with Mazda's latest convertible, saying they liked "just about everything."
Finalist: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S
While voters loved the car's performance and stunning design, that wasn't enough to name the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 2016.
Finalist: 2016 Toyota Mirai
The futuristic Toyota Mirai was the only finalist for the 2016 Motor Trend Car of the Year award powered by anything other than gasoline. The hydrogen-powered vehicle was praised for its ride quality, quick refueling and high-tech powertrain.
