Europe’s Car of the Year 2004
It’s that time of the year when the Car of the Year (COTY) awards are announced and following the Car of the Year Japan last week, the European motoring media has also named a winner for 2004 – the new Fiat Panda. It’s the eighth COTY Europe for Fiat, the Italian carmaker having won the most times since the award was inaugurated in 1963,
The Panda, which was launched in Europe in early September, scored 281 points – 40 more than the Mazda3 and VW Golf which tied for runner-up. In fourth place was Toyota’s made-for-Europe model, the Avensis which scored 219 points, just beating the Opel Meriva by 6 points. Sixth place went to the new BMW 5-Series (144 points) and the Nissan Micra was seventh with 111 points.
The Panda’s selection as COTY 2004 in Europe can be explained by Steve Cropley of Autocar, the UK motor magazine, who was one of the 58 judges: “The Panda is my winner this year because it’s all-new, it’s cheap, it works brilliantly, and it’s the perfect example of Fiat getting back, at last, to what it does best. It has some exceptional features: the shape, the interior style, the steering and the gearchange, and especially the mechanical refinement which are worthy of higher-class cars. Just for good measure, it has a cheerful, uncomplicated character which is rare in modern cars.”
He added: “Without the Panda, the VW Golf would have been a worthy winner in my book. It improves upon an already excellent product in nearly every way (interior quality is the surprising omission) and comes with a series of fine optional engines and the brilliant DSG gearbox. It has success written all over it.”
PAST WINNERS OF COTY EUROPE:
2003 Renault Megane
2002 Peugeot 307
2001 Alfa Romeo 147
2000 Toyota Yaris
1999 Ford Focus
1998 Alfa Romeo 156
1997 Renault Scenic
1996 Fiat Brava-Bravo
1995 Fiat Punto
1994 Ford Mondeo
1993 Nissan Micra
1992 VW Golf
1991 Renault Clio
1990 Citroen XM
1989 Fiat Tipo
1988 Peugeot 405
1987 Opel Omega
1986 Ford Granada
1985 Opel Kadett
1984 Fiat Uno
1983 Audi 100
1982 Renault 9
1981 Ford Escort
1980 Lancia Delta
1979 Simca/Chrysler Horizon
1978 Porsche 928
1977 Rover 3500
1976 Simca 1307 – 1308
1975 Citroen CX
1974 Mercedes 450
1973 Audi 80
1972 Fiat 127
1971 Citroen GS
1970 Fiat 128
1969 Peugeot 504
1968 NSU Ro 80
1967 Fiat 124
1966 Renault 16
1965 Austin 1800
1964 Rover 2000
