Category Finalists Announced for AJAC 2019 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards

Story and photos by Gerry Frechette

TORONTO, ON – The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) announced in mid-December the three finalists in each of 12 vehicle categories that will ultimately determine the 2019 Canadian Car of the Year and Utility Vehicle of the Year.

More than 1,500 ballots were submitted over more than six months by AJAC journalist members, who collectively comprise the most esteemed group of professional automotive media in Canada. Journalists drive the qualifying entries, which for the 2019 program saw last year’s category winners compete against next-generation or significantly updated vehicles, on the same roads and in the same conditions experienced by Canadian drivers from coast to coast.

In addition, AJAC members congregated at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) in Ontario in October to drive more vehicles at the famed TestFest event, so as to have the broadest possible exposure to all the cars on the market.

With how capable most of today’s vehicles are, it is a monumental task to actually choose from even a group of the top three in each segment, much less all the cars available. But there are always vehicles that stand out for their design, technology or performance.

For example, the “it” car that caught everyone’s attention at TestFest was the Jaguar I-Pace EV, which must be the quickest-accelerating CUV anywhere. The Pickup class might be the fiercest battle here, just as it is in showrooms, with the new Ford F-150 Diesel getting a lot of attention. And the Korean cousins, the Kia Stinger in Large Car, and the Genesis G70 in Mid-Size Premium, certainly won the journalists over with their performance capabilities. So, those four, at least, may be the favourites in their respective classes.

The next step in the 2019 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards will see the winning vehicles in each of these 12 categories announced on January 17 at the Montreal International Auto Show. The overall winners will be revealed as part of the opening ceremonies for the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto on February 14, and the Canadian Green Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards will be presented at the Vancouver International Auto Show on Tuesday, March 19.

Check the AJAC website, www.ajac.ca, for all the up-to-the minute news, and we’ll have updates as the above three announcements are made.

2019 Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year Category Finalists: