Off-road SUV costing up to $67,000 is named car of the year as a ‘practical all-rounder’ while a Chinese-made 4WD is the surprise best value vehicle
- Australia’s best cars have been revealed with a number of surprising results
- Drive’s Car of the Year 2021 awards are broken up into 25 different categories
- The Kia Sorento which retails between $47,000 to $64,000 took top spot
Australia’s best cars have been revealed with a Korean-made SUV the surprise overall winner across numerous categories.
The definitive list was made by an expert judging panel who road-tested hundreds of new models comparing comfort, performance, and value.
Drive’s Car of the Year 2021 awards were broken up into 25 different categories but the overall winner was the Kia Sorento.
The surprising pick is large SUV that retails for between $47,000 to $64,000 before on-road costs.
Drive’s Car of the Year 2021 awards were broken up into 25 different categories but the overall winner was the Kia Sorento (pictured)
The car with the best value overall was the MG ZS range (pictured) with a With a drive-away entry-point of $21,990
‘Sorento is efficient in the real world with the diesel presenting the better option for families who like to road trip and cover long distances, while the petrol engine is the pick for shorter trips around town,’ Judge Trent Nikolic said.
‘It offers plenty of space and storage for family buyers… and is tailor-made to our local road conditions.
‘The Sorento is a comfortable and practical all-rounder that works as well out in regional areas as it does around town.’
In another surprise, the car with the best value overall was the Chinese-made MG ZS range with a with a drive-away entry-point of $21,990
‘Regardless of flavour, the ZS, ZST and ZS EV presents a stylish and well-featured SUV with the compact footprint and functional layout that buyers are looking for,’ Judge James Ward said.
For those searching for a bit more adrenaline, the winner of best sports car over $100,000 was the Porsche 911 Turbo S.
For those searching for a bit more adrenaline, the winner of best sports car over $100,000 was the Porsche 911 Turbo S (pictured)
The best City Car was awarded to the popular Volkswagen Polo (pictured)
One of the most hotly-contested categories was the small car of the year, which was taken out by Toyota’s Corolla hybrid Hatch model
Drive judges said the pace the German-designed car generates is ‘astounding,’ in both wet and dry conditions.
‘It will blur your vision under hard launch off the mark. Yes, it is that fast,’ Nikolic said.
‘That initial assault is in no way lessened as you thunder through the mid-range. And it keeps piling on speed around a track with consummate ease, almost as if it’s laughing off your attempts to fluster it.’
The Audi A6 was awarded best luxury car, Volkswagen Polo received best city car and the Kia Carnival was agreed to be the best people mover.
One of the most hotly-contested categories was the small car of the year, which was taken out by Toyota’s Corolla hybrid hatch model.
Drive described it as a car that delivers first-class fuel economy in a classy and quality package.
The Best Large Luxury Car was awarded to the Audi A6 (pictured)
The Kia Carnival (pictured) took out best people mover for 2021
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