The Volvo XC60 mid-size SUV has been chosen as 2018 World Car of the Year two weeks after CEO Håkan Samuelsson was named Car Person of the Year for successfully engineering the Swedish automaker’s turnaround.
The prizes, administered by a Toronto-based non-profit and voted upon by 82 jurors (myself included) across two dozen countries, were announced on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. SUVs swept the finalist pool for the World Car Awards’ highest distinction in “a definite sign of the times,” said Peter Lyon, awards chairman. To be eligible for the award, models must be available for sale on at least two continents between January 1, 2017, and May 31, 2018.
The XC60 bested two other mid-size SUVs, the Mazda CX-5 and Range Rover Velar. The latter won the title of Design Car of the Year, Jaguar Land Rover’s fourth win in the category in the last six years. The Velar, which made its debut last spring at an unorthodox venue, the London Design Museum, “pushes the boundaries of technology even further,” said CEO Ralf Speth.
Nissan claimed World Green Car for its Leaf electric vehicle, which has sold more than 300,000 units worldwide since launching in 2010. The 600-horsepower BMW M5 took the performance category over the Honda Civic Type R and Lexus LC 500, while the Audi A8 flagship sedan bested a pair of Porsches – the Cayenne SUV and the Panamera sedan – to win the World Luxury Car title.
The Volkswagen Polo compact car won World Urban Car, a category created last year to recognize vehicles designed for small spaces as cities around the world face increasing congestion.
