The Automotive Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC) has now revealed the winners of its Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year awards for 2023.
Starting from a pool of more than 250 eligible vehicles, the group of about 50 journalists from across Canada picked their favourite vehicles in twelve specific categories which were announced last month at the Montreal Auto Show.
Now, the same journalists were asked to choose their favourite car and utility vehicle from a shortlist of three entries for each category. Each of these six vehicles in total has won its specific category already.
The three finalists for the 2023 Canadian Car of the Year were:
BMW i4 (Best Premium EV in Canada for 2023)
Hyundai Elantra N (Best Sports Performance Car in Canada for 2023)
Mazda3 (Best Small Car in Canada for 2023)
The 2023 Canadian Car of the Year is: BMW i4
The BMW i4 won the title of 2023 Canadian Car of the Year ahead of the Hyundai Elantra N and the Mazda 3 due to its impressive performance that comes from an electric powertrain which can deliver up to 536 horsepower in Boost mode. The BMW i4’s range is also sufficient for most use cases at 484 kilometres on a charge.
The three finalists for the 2023 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year were:
Hyundai Ioniq 5 (Best EV in Canada for 2023)
Kia Telluride (Best Large Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2023)
Mitsubishi Outlander (Best Mid-Size Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2023)
The 2023 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year is: Hyundai IONIQ 5
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is not new to winning awards, having received the prestigious title of World Car of the Year in 2022. Its style, its range, and its versatility have allowed it to edge out the Kia Telluride and the Mitsubishi Outlander to get the distinction of being the 2023 Canadian Utility vehicle of the year.
2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Long-Term Review: Perfect Blend of Versatility and Fun