TestFest Report: 2014 AJAC CCOTY Small Cars and Family Cars

2014 AJAC CCOTY Small Cars and Family Cars. Click image to enlarge

Review by Greg Wilson, Jeff Wilson, and Jonathan Yarkony, photos by Jonathan Yarkony

Every fall, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) organizes its Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) and Canadian Utility of the Year (CUOTY) vehicle testing: TestFest. At TestFest we test dozens of new models, from the economical and affordable Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa Note up to exclusive prestige vehicles like the Merc S-Class and Land Rover Range Rover, or adrenaline-inducing sports cars like the new Corvette Stingray and Jaguar F-Type.

First, we cover the categories that are accountable for much of the consumer interest in new cars, Small Cars (divided into Under and Over $21,000) Family Cars (Over and Under $30,000), which has accounted for over 500,000 sales in Canada to date this year. As much as we get excited by Caymans and E 63 AMGs, we lost the battle-royal for the keys these are the segments most relevant to Canadian consumers, and as such we give them pride of place at Autos.ca. Each of these categories is reviewed by one of the voting members judging that category, who will share their insights and prognostications.

Category: Small Car under $21,000, Greg Wilson

Two things about this group of affordable small cars became apparent soon after getting behind the wheel(s): you can buy a lot of car for under $21,000 – but the cheapest car is not necessarily the best value. The Mitsubishi Mirage micro-hatchback had the lowest as-tested price but it wasn’t really in the running in this competition: its tiny 74-hp 1.2L three-cylinder engine/CVT combination offers the best fuel economy on paper, but the Mirage is noisy, underpowered, and tinny – $17,000 is too much to pay for this car.

The Nissan Versa Note subcompact hatchback, on the other hand, is a much roomier, quieter hatchback with acceptable performance from its 109-hp 1.6L motor and CVT. It was also the best-equipped car here with fancy features like ‘Around-View Monitor’, satellite radio, and navigation system. The Versa Note’s handling is a bit soft but its main drawback here is that it’s up against two superior compact sedans: the redesigned Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 sedan.

2014 AJAC CCOTY Small Cars and Family Cars. Click image to enlarge

The new Corolla is much improved over the previous model, particularly in its handling, interior design and feature content. Though it retains a 132-hp 1.8L four-cylinder engine, it offers a new continuously variable transmission that improves fuel economy without being a major drag on performance or driving pleasure. As well, this Corolla’s interior is quite spacious.

Rounding out the list is a 2014 Mazda3 sedan that offers the best acceleration, handling, steering and fun-to-drive experience of the bunch. Its 155-hp 2.0L engine and six-speed automatic provides superior acceleration while offering comparable fuel economy to the Corolla. The Mazda3’s cabin features a new iDrive-like control dial on the centre console for operating audio and telephone functions on the seven-inch dashtop screen, and though this tester wasn’t equipped with satellite radio or navigation, we think this 2014 Mazda3 sedan is likely to win this category.

Category: Small Car Over $21,000, Greg Wilson

Each of these four cars has specific advantages when compared to the others: the new Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is the most fuel efficient, the performance-oriented Fiesta ST is the most fun to drive, the Kia Forte sedan is the most stylish and cheapest of the bunch, and the Mazda3 Sport has the best combination of performance and practicality. It’s difficult to pick a winner here.

The Chevrolet Cruze diesel tester is comfortable, roomy and extremely well equipped with features like voice-activated audio and telephone and unique safety features like blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems. It has the advantage of a torquey 151-hp turbocharged 2.0L diesel engine with unbeatable fuel economy, but its major flaw is the diesel engine’s noisy clatter at idle.

2014 AJAC CCOTY Small Cars and Family Cars. Click image to enlarge

The Ford Fiesta ST, equipped with a turbocharged 197-hp 2.0L engine and six-speed manual transmission, is a fun-to-drive pocket rocket, but is smaller and less roomy than the other vehicles here and its stiff suspension, quick steering, and sporty engine sounds detract from ride comfort. It’s also the most expensive car in this category.

The 173-hp 2.0L Kia Forte sedan is attractively styled, features a stylish interior and generous feature content and is priced considerably lower ($21,895) than the other cars in this category, making it excellent value for the money. But it’s not quite as quick or as fuel efficient as the as the Mazda3, and has less cargo space.

The Mazda3 Sport offers attractive styling, great steering and handling, a stylish interior, roomy cargo-carrying capability, and includes unique features like voice-activated navigation and console-mounted control dial for the dashtop screen. We weren’t impressed with the flimsy plastic screen for the head-up display and its new instrument cluster but the Mazda3 Sport is still our favourite in this category.

Category: Family Car Under $30,000, Jonathan Yarkony

Personally, I found the Kia Rondo the hands-down winner in this category. The Rondo’s combination of a spacious interior, here equipped in five-seat configuration, smooth and refined ride with sufficient power from its 2.0L direct injection four-cylinder made it the class of the small family vehicles. However, things are never that simple, and in evaluating these cars, we have to be fairly specific in our judging of specific criteria, so it’s not as simple as my preferences even if I am a prototypical small family man.

At this end of the spectrum, price factors in heavily, so the Kia Soul’s lower price and superior feature list, not to mention its superior handling, braking and impressive cargo space for its size might have it winning back points – there isn’t much to pick apart between any of these three on the objective performance data gathered by AJAC technical data teams. However, Kia is looking strong to take this category, as the Soul and Rondo seem to have the market covered nicely. The Soul seems to hit the right notes with the youth crowd or empty nesters, while the Rondo is a flexible family vehicle for those looking to save footprint, fuel and cost over a minivan.

The Fiat, unfortunately, did not strike my fancy, and that, in my opinion is what it’s all about. While the 500L offers a fairly practical four-door hatchback (or wagon) configuration, rear headroom is more targeted at children and cargo space just isn’t quite up to the Rondo’s wide, deep trunk, and at a glance doesn’t even seem to match the Soul, and its steep price is a major obstacle in this value-conscious segment. Performance-wise it also lagged both the Kias in handling and refinement, although it does promise slightly better fuel economy. However, even if the quirky, colourful exterior and original, eye-catching interiors will captivate a smaller percentage of family vehicle shoppers, those it does charm, it will charm the pants right off. While it may result in fewer owners, I believe it will capture the hearts of its owners more fully than those sold on the merits and value of the excellent Kias, a choice of passion for those that want to express their individuality rather than simply fulfill a need.

2014 AJAC CCOTY Small Cars and Family Cars. Click image to enlarge

Category: Family Car Over $30,000, Jeff Wilson

Sometimes the Car of the Year categories are chock full of incredibly competitive vehicles, with nearly every one contending not only for its category win, but also the full enchilada Car of the Year prize.

Last year, the Family Car categories (both Over and Under $30,000) were fiercely fought with the Honda Accord Sedan eking out its win over the Ford Fusion by a single point and ultimately going on to wear the crown of Canadian Car of the Year.

Indeed this is a category that undergoes extreme scrutiny by AJAC’s journalist where budget, features, space and driving dynamics are all crucial for victory unlike in some more emotionally judged categories.

This year Honda has re-entered the Accord Sedan with its all-new Hybrid drivetrain in $35,690 Touring trim. Well designed and well built both inside and out, the Accord is a hybrid for people who dislike hybrids. This surprisingly luxurious sedan is not only smooth and serene when desired, but provides a more rewarding driving experience than most other hybrids. The regenerative braking is better sorted, enabling a more progressive application than the typically non-linear experience of competitive hybrid systems. The steering too is less artificial feeling than expected, and even the power delivery puts the electric muscle to good use by making the engine feel larger than it is. However, a repeat win for Honda’s outstanding Accord is far from guaranteed with at least one other solid competitor in this group.

Chevrolet’s new Impala gives a strong showing with solid driving dynamics, capacious interior and handsome styling sure to win the hearts of GM faithful, but its pricing (over $45,000) makes it a questionable value.

Volkswagen’s Jetta Turbo Hybrid also puts its combined power plant to good use and it handles surprisingly well, but a now-dated and low-rent interior, and spooky braking characteristics make the $35,600 VW fall a little short of the best of this group.

Ford has offered up its C-Max Energi – the only one in the group not a sedan this year – but its oddball styling, questionable ergonomics and nearly $40,000 price tag are likely to keep it from being a true contender.

Which brings us to the Accord’s most profound rival: the Mazda6 GT. Squeaking in at just under $35,000, the Mazda is the most affordable car here. Despite a budget-conscious sticker though, the gorgeous ‘6 is well equipped. Throw in the impressively efficient (yet still lively) SkyActiv 2.5 engine, a willing transmission and a stellar handling-versus-ride trade-off, and Mazda’s greatest competitor for Canadian Car of the Year may not be the Accord, but actually its own younger ‘3 siblings in the Small Car categories.