After polling our Autos.ca contributors for category winner predictions, this is who came out on top
AJAC’s annual TestFest event pits the newest cars on the market against each other to see what models come out on top in their respective segments. We sent the list of eligible vehicles for 2015 to our Autos.ca contributors to predict which models would come out on top.
The prize? Bragging rights. And a picture of a juicy hamburger (the Autos.ca couch had limited change this year).
Without further ado, here are AJAC’s 2015 Best New Vehicles…
| AJAC 2015 Best New Vehicles | |
| Best New City Car | Kia Soul EV
Runner-up: smart fortwo electric drive |
| Best New Small Car (under $21,000) | Honda Fit
Runner-up: Nissan Micra SV |
| Best New Small Car (over $21,000) | Volkswagen Golf
Runners-up: Kia Forte5, MINI Cooper |
| Best New Family Car (under $30,000) | Subaru Legacy
Runners-up: Chrysler 200, Toyota Camry |
| Best New Family Car (over $30,000) | Hyundai Sonata
Runners-up: Subaru WRX, Toyota Camry Hybrid |
| Best New Luxury Car (under $50,000) | Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Runners-up: Acura TLX, Volvo V60 |
| Best New Luxury Car (over $50,000) | Hyundai Genesis
Runners-up: Acura RLX Sport Hybrid, Cadillac ATS Coupe |
| Best New Sports/Performance (under $50,000) | BMW M235i
Runners-up: Ford Mustang EcoBoost, Subaru WRX STI |
| Best New Sports/Performance (over $50,000) | Volvo V60 Polestar
Runners-up: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Ford Mustang GT |
| Best New Prestige Car (over $75,000) | Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé
Runners-up: Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade |
| Best New Prestige/Performance Car (over $75,000) | Porsche 911 Turbo S
Runners-up: BMW M4 Coupé, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible |
| Best New SUV/CUV (under $35,000) | Subaru Outback
Runners-up: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue |
| Best New SUV/CUV (between $35,000 and $60,000) | Toyota Highlander
Runners-up: Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 |
| Best New SUV/CUV (over $60,000) | Porsche Macan S
Runners-up: GMC Yukon XL Denali, Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG |
| Best New Pickup | Ford F-150
Runners-up: Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon |
And here is the (much more important) list of predictors and their scores…
Winning our first ever AJAC Best New Prediction Pool is a tie between…
*drum roll*
Jonathan Yarkony and Jeff Wilson! With both chaps scoring 12 out of 15 correct predictions, they will share their first place prize of a photo of a burger printed off and ripped in half.
Second place goes to Haney Louka (10 out of 15) who was the first — and one of the few — to predict the Volvo V60 Polestar would take home a performance award with a wagon.
Third place is a three way tie between Jacob Black, Simon Hill, and yours truly (Mark Stevenson) with 9 out of 15 correct predictions.
Fourth place is also a three way tie between Lesley Wimbush, Michael Bettencourt, and Benjamin Hunting with 8 out of 15.
And, dead last, and being awarded a picture of an empty plate that once held food, Dan Heyman, with 7 correct predictions.
