The race is on for the title of Carsguide ‘Car of the Year’ – metaphorically speaking that is. As the supreme prize of Aussie motoring, all contenders are anxiously hoping to claim the throne from last year’s champion – the VW Golf.

Ranging from low-priced Euro hatchback to an expensive luxury model, the contenders battling for the prize are from two of the most trusted and acclaimed brands in the industry.

In addition to next week’s announcement of the top-five finalists, top-ranking contenders for the enviro-friendly ‘Green Car of the Year’ and ‘People’s Choice Judging’ award will also be announced.

The top-ten finalists have been chosen out of more than 100 new vehicles from the Australian market that have showcased locally within the last year. The group represents a cross-section of classes and categories, from baby hatches to sports models to SUVs.

Some of the finalists include those from the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Peugeot RCZ, Suzuki Kizashi, and Volkswagen Polo lineups.

A Carsguide panel of nine Australian judges will determine the final cull. Collaboratively the panel has over 100 years of industry, testing, and judging experience, and will test each car against a comprehensive criteria covering aspects such as ‘excellence’, ‘safety’, ‘design’, ‘comfort’, ‘quality’, and ‘economy’.