The jury board of the annual Japanese Car of the Year award has settled on this year’s winner: the latest-gen Toyota Prius. It has also put names on three other winners in specific categories; only one foreign car has made the list.
Speaking about the Prius, the award team praised it for reinventing the very approach to hybrid transports. According to the jury members, Toyota has managed to turn it from a cheap electrified car into a truly engaging hatchback with solid handling and stylish looks.
The BMX X1 won the Best Import Vehicle for its appealing combo of compact size, impressive agility and a broad selection of powertrains. In Japan, the X1 is available in petrol, hybrid and all-electric flavors.
The best-looking car award went to the Mitsubishi Delica Mini, a Kei microvan styled to resemble a crossover. The Nissan Serena was given a Technology award for exceptionally low drag, an e-Power hybrid drivetrain incorporating a 1.4-liter turbo three-pot, and a capable autopilot system.
Aside from the Prius and the X1, the top-5 short list included Honda ZR-V, Toyota Alphard, and the Nissan Serena mentioned above.
An important thing to note is that the nominees are determined based on score, and the Prius won this year’s prize by a landslide with a whopping 360 points. The X1 following it only managed to scrape up 150 points.