Wheels 2005 Car of the Year Nominees - what will be Australia's Car of the Year?

[motorsportnerd]

The January 2006 issue of Wheels has listed the cars which will be eligible to win the 2005 Wheels Car of the Year.
The list is:
BMW 3-series
Chrysler 300C
Citroen C4
Ford Focus
Hyundai Sonata
Holden Tigra
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover Discovery 3
Lexus IS
Lexus GS
Mercedes B-Class
Merecedes CLS
Merecedes M-Class
Mitsubishi 380
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Renault Scenic
Porsche Boxster
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Yaris.

The criteria for the award are:
FUNCTION (how well the car drives, performance, packaging, ergonomics, comfort, refinement)
EFFICIENCY (fuel consumption and environmental issues, advances in production/manufacturing methods that result in improved efficiencies)
TECHNOLOGY (advances and innovation - at a reasonable price)
SAFETY (active and passive)
VALUE (does the car deliver a worthy blend of abilities and qualities for the price).

Cars eligible are any car released during the 2005 model year is eligible, providing that it meets the following requirements:
NEWNESS - that the car scores at least two ticks against the following: New Design and Purpose, New Dimensions and New Technology
SEATBELTS - cars must have a lap-sash seatbelt in every model.
SALES - at least 250 a year must sell - hence no exotica qualify.

As a result the NEWNESS criteria the following are ineligible:
Falcon BF and Territory SY (may be class leaders, but only qualifies on new technology - the six-speed auto);
Mazda6 (as with BF);
VW Golf GTI (meets new design and purpose compared to other Golfs, but is just an addition to the range);
Honda Accord Euro (minor facelift only);
Subaru Impreza (major design change, but no change in dimensions or new technology) and a number of cars that wouldn't have a chance anyway - Audi A3 Sportback and A4, Holden Astra Coupe and Wagon, Holden Barina and Viva (rebadged Daewoos, so not "new").

The Kia Sportage and SsangYong Stavic failed to meet the Seatbelts criteria.
Finally, several cars were eligible but not nominated - mainly due to being behind the class standard: Kia Rio, Nissan Pathfinder, Renault Megane Coupe-Convertable, Mercedes A-Class, Range Rover Sport and Suzuki Grand Vitara.

So what will win?
I think the winner will be either the Suzuki Swift - don't laugh - or th Toyota Yaris.
The Mazda MX5, Chrysler 300C, Lexus IS250, Mitsubishi 380, BMW 3-series, Ford Focus, Nissan Murano and Hyundai Sonata will likely round out the top 10.
Reasoning? I realise most here probably aren't small car fans - but both cars have strong claims.
First the Suzuki Swift - this little car has been picking up a stack of awards.
It won UK Car Magazine's Car of the Year award - to quote the Jan 06 issue: "It looks fantastic - sturdy, stylish, fresh; the sort of thing current Mazdas try but fail to be - and it has the practicality of the [Fiat] Panda combined with the agility of the smaller [Peugeot] 107". It then asked the question, why does it win: "Not by being extraordinarily superior in any one area, but by being good in all areas, and by not getting its priorities tangled....the Swift is stylish, roomy, good value, pretty quick and a lot of fun to drive."
It won NZ Autocars' Small Car of the Year award (o/all went to Golf GTi): "Suzuki finally puts on of its funky small-car concepts into production, and it instantly goes to the top of the class".
Wheels notes in its Showroom section that: "looks terrific, rides and performs well" but that its rear seat is uncomfortable and steering not the best.
Toyota Yaris should be closest competitor - a clunky four speed auto its main problem. Wheels notes: "Outstanding value; solid body feel; sprightly dynamics; clever interior packaging" but that its added safety kit adds weight and blunts performance.
The Suzuki does well against the function, efficency, technology, value and safety criteria, as does the Yaris. Never seen an Aussie comparison between the two - the UK comparos suggest the Suzuki is the better car.
As for the rest?
Mits 380 won't win since its neither class leading nor particularly innovative.
Mazda MX5 is fantastic to drive, but limited in appeal. However, original MX5 did win, and the Wheels road test in the December issue raved about it.
Chrylser 300C an outside chance - particular with the innovative way the engine shuts down four cylinders in sedate motoring. However, quality issues may get it - never read a report that didn't moan about the quality of the car.
BMW 3-series - good, but not great. We don't get the turbo-diesels. Both Top Gear and Fifth Gear in the UK have suggested the Ford Mondeo is nearly as good, so no, it shouldn't win.
Lexus 250 - looks great, and it doesn't beat the 3-series to the class win.
Focus - its problem is the Golf. Focus isn't the class leader and Golf didn't win last year.
Murano - looks good, is different and novel - but probably not good enough to win.
Sonata - probably best value for money car on the market. Dynamics still let it down - but having said that its much, much better than a Camry V6.

While I think it will be between the Swift and Yaris, I don't think 2005 was a great year. There were no stand outs. And whichever car wins, it will be a slightly hollow victory. Three cars were released in the past year that didn't meet the "newness" criteria - Falcon BF, Mazda6 and VW Golf GTi. If these three qualified, they would be in the top three. These three cars appear to be Wheel's current real world favourite cars. Perhaps it is time to revise the criteria?
I'd suggest that if the class leader/s (as based on Wheels' comparos) or a past COTY winner has been mildly revised in the model year (ie: it meets one of the newness criteria, rather than the usual two), it should be automatically eligible - which would give the BF, Mazda6, Accord Euro, Impreza (WRX) and Golf GTi a start.
Any car such as the Golf GTi which is merely an addition to an existing model range, but which would probably have helped that model range win the COTY award if it had been released with the rest of the range, should be eligible. For example, if the Golf GTi had been available on the market for last years COTY award, it probably would have given the Golf Mk 5 range enough of a boast to win the award over the Territory.
Any other thoughts on what should win this year OR whether the eligibility criteria should be changed?