COTY ROUND TWO

THE PG HAS ALLOWED THE CREAM TO RISE TO THE TOP, AND OUR THREE FINALISTS ARE NOW PRIMED TO HIT THE ROADS AROUND LORNE ON VICTORIA’S SURF COAST

A triumphant trio emerge from the proving ground punishment. Now time for them to shine in the real world

Our loop takes in long straights, tight corners, bumpy roads and inclines, before turning around again to head back. And repeat

JUST BECAUSE this year’s field of cars is fewer in number than in previous COTYs, it doesn’t mean the job’s any easier – or any less heated when it comes to discussion and debate.

The field could consist of five or 25 contenders – it doesn’t make a lick of difference. The processes of elimination, honed over several decades, remains the same.

With every variant now tested by every judge, it’s time to sit down in a private, quiet venue with an ample supply or water, caffeine and snacks, and begin the discussion process in the lead-up to the first round of voting.

With judges primed for robust debate, a timer is useful because journalists love the sound of their own voices, but also an alarm is effective in diffusing argy-bargy – or, at the very least, waking some of them up.

After we divide the number of cars by the available hours to set a time limit, we work alphabetically for the sake of order, consistency, structure, recording the discussion for posterity (and to jog our collective memories when writing up each car).

Then we’re all handed a piece of paper, and – for this year – we were asked to select a top five. Normally that number is up to 10, but with a smaller field, five sufficed.

From that list, the three vehicles with the greatest number of votes go through to the road loops.

Easy.

The road loops are completed two-up. From Torquay, the three finalists – consisting of a multitude of grades – drive in convoy to the small town of Deans Marsh, some 50km south-west via a range of demanding rural roads. From our base at the local cafe, it’s a 24km drive down to Lorne on the Deans Marsh road. It takes in long straights, tight corners, bumpy roads and inclines, before turning around again. The turnaround point put the cars through a threepoint turn, on a hill. Then we head back. And repeat.

Two judges per car, assessing each grade, with driverswaps half way and stops half way to take notes and discuss. Relentless repetition is the only way see how each model copes.

Finally, to the four-up testing. To simulate urban traffic and road situations, a loop of several kilometres is undertaken, snaking in and out of the beautiful seaside town of Torquay during the busy holiday season.

With four judges per vehicle, sat in exactly the same position for each individual car, the goal to assess every aspect of travelling within such environments.

These include entry and egress, available space, storage capabilities, cushion and backrest support, ride comfort, mechanical, wind, tyre and road noise intrusion/ isolation, audio quality, multimedia functionality, required conversation volume between front and rear occupants, general cabin ambience, build, trim and material quality, driving vision and ease of parking.

It’s a lot to remember and discuss, so notebooks and/ or recording devices are always at hand, and outside interruptions are shunned.