CAR OF THE YEAR
From Page 67
But its eight-seat cousin, the Kia Carnival Gt-line, made it through to our top three.
Judges were impressed by the Carnival’s comprehensive standard equipment – dual sunroofs, heated and cooled seats, power sliding doors and three-zone climate control.
Clever touches such as prominent USB points, fuss-free folding seats and a solid diesel motor won favour with our team, as did the Carnival’s butch looks.
Kia’s people-mover is a class leader and a fine machine.
But fully loaded it lacked a little composure over bumps and the brakes could have done with more bite. It also lacks the go-anywhere capability of rival SUV seven-seaters.
Ultimately, judges felt that it didn’t move the needle enough to take the gong.
The Subaru Outback won more support from judges, who appreciated the luxurious ride and a classy and spacious cabin trimmed in wetsuit-like water-repellent material with neon green stitching.
The mid-range Outback Sport priced from $44,490 plus on-roads (about $49,500 driveaway) has a comprehensive array of safety gear, including a facial recognition system that can detect signs of drowsiness.
A proper all-wheel-drive system, decent ground clearance and a useful wagon body make it a practical pick.
Judges didn’t like the Subaru’s underwhelming non-turbo four-cylinder engine, a coarse-sounding unit with doughy responses blunted by a CVT transmission.
The Outback and Carnival attracted one vote each as the best new car of 2021.
But four judges picked the Hyundai Ioniq 5. A family SUV shaped like a hatchback, the Ioniq’s futuristic styling turns heads on every drive. Its long wheelbase accommodates a luxuriously airy cabin made from sustainably sourced materials.
Perky responses from its 160kw/350nm electric motor deliver effortless, near-silent acceleration.
Rear-wheel-drive traction adds to its appeal, though its soft suspension didn’t deal with bumps as well as some rivals.
Faster to charge than the majority of battery-powered rivals, the Ioniq’s 450plus kilometres of claimed range make it viable for Australian families. The catch is that it’s not cheap at about $71,900 plus on-road costs.
Hyundai offsets the price with luxury features including heated and electrically adjustable seats in the front and rear, a Bose stereo, panoramic sunroof and twin widescreen displays as standard.
It includes an enormous array of safety gear, along with convenient touches such as smart keys, a powered tailgate, wireless phone charging and smartphone mirroring for both Apple and Android.
Though it’s not cheap, the Ioniq 5 is a futurefocused, innovative machine with cutting edge technology, sustainable materials and daring styling.
As growing numbers of people consider an electric car for their next set of wheels, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 represents an important step in the evolution of motoring.
It’s a clear winner as our 2021 Car of the Year.