ShareThisTHE MOTOR REPORT is pleased to announce its 2009 ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Passenger Car Awards.
This is the second year of an annual Award from The Motor Report, Australia's fastest growing independent automotive news, analysis and car reviews site.
The TMR 'Best Drive, Best Value' awards are conferred each New Year’s Eve and granted to the car that, in the view of our road testers and writers, wins on a ‘best drive, best value’ comparison in its market segment.
This year, the Award features four passenger car categories:
- Best Drive Best Value Light Car
- Best Drive Best Value Small Car
- Best Drive Best Value Medium Car
- Best Drive Best Value Large Car
In each category, we announce both a winner and runner-up; there is also an overall winner – the car adjudged as being the standout model release of the year.
To be in contention for The Motor Report ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Award 2009, a car must:
- Be enjoyable at the wheel
- Have ample power and offer sharp driving dynamics
- Be comfortable and well-finished inside and out
- Offer a high level of capability in the driving environment for which it was designed
- Offer genuine value
- Be a ‘best buy’ in its category for the totality of the package
- Have been released in the preceding calendar year
So, if a car is not good value, if it does not make you feel good when you slide behind the wheel, if it does not perform or meet the expectations of buyers for the category in which it competes, then it will not get a look-in to the TMR Best Drive, Best Value Award.
The winners and runners-up in each category are:
- Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Light Car: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
- Runner up: Suzuki Alto
- Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Small Car: Holden Cruze CD (diesel)
- Runner up: Volkswagen Golf 118TSI
- Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Medium Car: Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 TSI
- Runner up: MB Mondeo Zetec TDCi
- Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Large Car: Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI
- Runner up: Holden Commodore Omega 3.0 SIDI
Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Light Car: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic is the standout car release of 2009. It offers the fuel efficiency and planet-friendly emissions of a hybrid vehicle but at a hybrid-crushing price. It also comes with stylish lines, a smart interior and involving driver dynamics.
At the wheel, few in the light car sector can get near to matching its balance, ride quality and overall competence.
The Fiesta ECOnetic is, quite simply, the way of the future. Its low-stressed, strong and astonishingly efficient diesel engine is the ace in the ECOnetic's deck.
Currently available in manual only, at $24,990 drive-away, it is priced within reach of the average buyer. Ford's agile and sporty Fiesta ECOnetic shows no-one need pay a premium for hybrid-style 'green motoring'.
The Fiesta ECOnetic is the most significant new model release of the year and a worthy winner of The Motor Report’s ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Light Car Award for 2009.
Click: Read our review of the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
Runner up: Suzuki Alto
Runner up in the light car segment is the appealingly packaged and surprisingly zesty Suzuki Alto. The Alto proves that “less can be more” - less impact on the planet and more fun to drive.
While offering just three cylinders and 1.0 litre capacity, the Alto is both good value, good fun, nifty and inexpensive to own and run
Click: Read our review of the Suzuki Alto
Winner: ‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Small Car: Holden Cruze CD (diesel)
The appealingly-styled and very sharply-priced Cruze is the surprise package in this year's TMR 'Best Drive, Best Value' Awards.
While very hard to better on value (starting at $20,990 plus on road costs for the base model, and just $23,990 plus on roads for the CD diesel), it offers much more than just a sharp price and handsome lines.
Laden with safety features, a strong diesel engine and unexpected luxuries like the heated leather seats of the CDX, the Cruze is an excellent package for anyone downsizing from a larger car but not wanting to come up short on features and equipment.
Coupled with a rewarding driving experience, good road manners and willing acceleration (with 320Nm of torque available in the diesel), Holden’s newest small car offers a lot for a little.
It might not have changed the category forever, but the Cruze has certainly advanced it.
The TMR team was pleasantly surprised by the Cruze. Its price, value and on-road manners make a convincing argument in its favour for buyers. As an overall package, it is, in our view, a clear winner in the category.
Click: Read our review of the Holden Cruze CD diesel and CDX petrol
Runner up: Volkswagen Golf 118TSI
Also an excellent car, offering arguably the sharpest driving dynamics, the $32,990 (plus on road costs) Golf 118TSI is edged out for overall value by the nicely composed and competent Cruze.
The 118TSI offers willing performance (its 1.4 litre petrol engine is a micro-powerhouse), excellent on-road balance and high levels of refinement; as such it is a deserving runner-up in the small car category.
Click: Read our review of the Volkswagen Golf 118TSI
Winner:‘Best Drive, Best Value’ Medium Car: Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSI
With the backing of the powerful Volkswagen Group, the Czech Skoda brand now offers a level of quality that seriously challenges the parent company's products, with pricing that places it at the pointy end of Euro offerings.
The versatile Octavia is nicely styled, offers family-friendly space inside, refined on-road balance and – for the totality of the package – very appealing value. For its on-road dynamism and value, the sporting RS is the pick of the range and, in TSI trim, winner by a short half-head in the medium car sector.
Pricing starts at $37,990 for the manual TSI hatch. The TDI (diesel) adds $2000 and the DSG gearbox a further $2300 – for the wagon, add another $2000.
The manual TSI hatch is a genuine sporting drive and sure to appeal to anyone who values the experience at the wheel.
Petrol or diesel, manual or DSG, hatch or wagon; the Octavia RS is beautifully built and a bucket-load of fun to pilot. There are no wrong choices to be made here.
In the RS diesel, the 2.0 litre TDI turbo-diesel engine produces 125kW at 4200 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1750 to 2500 rpm. The 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol motor produces 147kW of power between 5100 and 6000 rpm, with torque of 280Nm between 1800 and 5000rpm.
For its Euro-style performance feel, value and refinement, the Octavia RS TSI is a 'Best Drive, Best Value' buy in the medium car category.
Click: Read our review of the Octavia RS 2.0 TSI
Runner up:Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCi
Edged out by the excellent Octavia TSI, Ford's supremely capable and nicely – if conservatively – styled Mondeo Zetec TDCi is a close runner up in the medium car segment.
While pricing for the Mondeo range begins at $31,990 plus on-roads for the LX hatch, the Zetec TDCi at $39,990 plus on-roads is a very appealing and well-featured drive. With an effortlessly strong diesel engine and a robust, unfussed larger-car on-road feel, it is a fine car and worthy runner-up.
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Comments
7 months ago 0 points
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7 months ago 0 points
A well deserved award!
7 months ago 0 points
7 months ago 0 points
This is why the Government only rates the Econetic a '4 star' green car - The Jazz and Yaris both rate 5 stars.
7 months ago 0 points
Besides it's all irrelevant, the average punter in Australia doesn't see any real value in Skoda and won't for another 5 years or so. Looking at the vfacts it appears they only sold 1,400 Australia wide for 2009 which equates to about 0.2% of the market a long way off commodores 13.9% amd VW's 3.9%
Badge snobbery will see people pay more for a mazda 6 wagon which is slower, uses more fuel and has technology about 5 years behind and build quality from the 80's and for more money because 'its a mazda'
7 months ago 0 points
As for the Skoda... what else came into the market this year, offers genuine value and be well furnished?
Beemer's 7 series is out of most peoples' budgets, the stretched Holdens are a bit old, I think despite Skoda's obvious lack of power and slightly oldschool styling they do deserve it...
and from personal experience anything VW has generally been good bar a few pathetic churnouts
7 months ago 0 points
Look, I don't want to get into the whole badge snobbery argument but I myself would love a new Skoda, either a Superb or an Octavia RS.
I am afraid I would never touch another Holden again until they lift, and I mean substantially lift, their fit and finish and reliability. Holden and Ford just don't measure up in those departments. They also rate as having the worst customer satisfaction in regards to servicing and owner happiness.
The results of a survey (similar to the JD Powers one) on Australian satisfaction levels were released early last year, much to the horror of Holden and Ford who ranked last out of all the manufacturers available in Australia.
I just wish more die hard Holden and Ford fans would drive cars like the Superb and see what they are missing out on. Maybe then Holden and Ford would be forced to lift their game.
Cheers everyone :)
7 months ago 0 points
7 months ago 0 points
At the end of the day, we'll all have our opinions and experiences about cars/manufacturers that we do and don't like. Thankfully, that's what makes us all different and that's why you see different cars on the road. Otherwise we'd all be driving Toyota Whitegoods.
Obviously we're all here because we like cars (or like arguing haha). Now come on, group hug....
Happy New Year! ;)
7 months ago 0 points
This suggests that a wider voice should be heard. In other words, take this opinion with a grain of salt. Euro cars are statistically the most unreliable.... this is fact. Skoda is among the cheapest Euro available, make your own mind up. These guys only drive the cars when they're brand new... not with 100k+ on the clock.
Peace.
7 months ago 0 points
7 months ago 0 points
They seem to tick every box except visual appeal. But that will probably help avoiding the cops and getting cheaper insurance too. Would like to hear from a travelling sales rep who's put lots a k's on one and hear their opinion.
7 months ago 0 points
However in regards comments to Skodaman, you obviously have not driven a Mazda 6 let alone seen one. Build quality from the 80s? Huh???
People buy the Mazda 6 (as well as cars like the Subaru Liberty and Honda Accord Euro) because they are great cars to drive, quality build and good fun. I have no bones to pick with the Skoda and hopes it does well in order to increase competition. So choosing a Mazda 6 has nothing to do with badge snobbery ....
7 months ago 0 points
"Mazda" and "Badge snobbery" ???
Pfffffff!.
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I have driven several oilers, they are not on my list under any circumstances.
7 months ago 0 points
I mean for another couple more $k you could buy a real Volkswagen or Audi with more refinement more features not to mention more heritage
I mean its like expecting someone to pay $20-30K for a Daihatsu
7 months ago 0 points
January 9, 2010 @ 12:30 am
"All I can say is that anyone considering buying a Skoda better hurry up as I don’t think there are that many dealerships left in Australia.."
Skoda Started with a 14 dealer network, which has expanded to a 32 dealer network!! Even more in the near future!!!
As for for your dribble about spending more for a VW or an AUDI...
No1) Why would you when many reviews in europe, including in germany rank the skoda's above their VW counter parts in terms of build quality?!!
No2) Their aren't exactly identical to their VW counterparts!!
For example Skoda superb is based on an extended version of a passat platform, and has many of it's own unique fuetures!!
No3) Why throw away 10K?
No4)Skoda is significantly older then VW therefore has heritage, and VW does originate from Skoda's neck of the woods, with the beetle having been created by a czech engineer Ferdinand Porsche and having been created using tatra t-97 designs / technology....
7 months ago 0 points
Spot on with the Daihatsu comment.
7 months ago 0 points
11 in NSW
+ 6 in QLD
+ 7 in VIC
+ 2 in SA
+ 2 in WA
+ 2 in TAS
+ 1 in ACT
= 31 Dealers
Still not many; considering how many Mini had within 2 years of being in Oz.. although it is a couple more than SEAT had I guess
7 months ago 0 points
7 months ago 0 points
Yet in my last comment i said "Still not many; considering how many Mini HAD within 2 years of being in Oz.
However; given that there are 74 VW dealers around Australia so why don't they have more Skoda dealers sharing VW showrooms - Like BMW did with Mini?
Not to mention the Number of Audi dealers there are which would take it over 100
6 months ago 0 points
On 18th September 2009 we picked up our brand new Skoda Superb Elegance 2.0 TDI in Light Silver with several factory extras (leather trim, sat nav system, etc) after ordering it in July.
We have now travelled just 5,850 klms in it anfd that includes three highway trips, but I have to say that its by far the best new vehicle that we have ever owned.
Our selling dealer couldn't have given us better service or a better deal and the buying and driving experience of a Superb is second to none.
For all those skeptics who knock Skodas, I pose a simple question and that is.. have you ever driven one, and if, so, have you driven one on any decent distance?
The ride is phenominal, the fuel comsumption is a joy to my wallet, and on the freeway it scoots along and goes faster than we ever expected.
Over the years I have had many news vehicles and this one is by far the best! The car is so good that two of my friends have since bought them.
I hope all those who buy a Superb enjoy the car as much as I enjoy mine.
I often post in the Skoda Superb section of TMR, so there are many more comments on this amazing vehicle for all to read.
6 months ago 0 points
Thats a massive amount of dealers for a product that has 3 models in total. This year will see then Superb wagon, Yeti and the Fabia released by October. This will see volume increase rapidly and the image of Skoda will be something mopre than people asking 'whats that' with a blank face.
Skoda is not a God send but it is a really good alternative to those wanting to come away from the japanese market to the next level or to have something a little more versatile (and nicer interior finish) than its VW counterpart.
VW was a joke 8 years ago and most said 'why on earth would you buy that when for a little more you could buy an Audi' My how things have changed............................
6 months ago 0 points
I can recall when Skoda, VW, Fiat, Alfa-Romeo, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, etc were fairly strong sellers along side marques like Holden, Ford, Austin, Morris, Wolsely, MG etc.
I even bought a new Skoda 1100MB when I got back from duty in overseas. It had as standard equipment a radio - cassette player, and in those days that was an expensive luxury in some makes.
Then the European and British cars left our shores, some tried a comeback and others died off such as Leyland.
In the 1960's and 1970's we had these weird names called Datsun, Toyota, Izuzu, Hino, Bridgestone, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu and Honda etc land on our shores from Japan and all the "experts" rubbished them.
In the 1980's we then saw vehicles called Hyundai, Ssangyong, Daewoo, Kia etc land from Korea,. and again all the "experts" rubbished them.
Since Merceded-Benz, BMW and to a lesser extent, Audi, started to find more volume sales in the 1990's, we then saw the resugance of the Europeans with Renault, Peugeot, Citroen and VW in our country. When ALL of these marques came the skeptics who didnt really like Euro cars rubbished them.
Now Skoda has arrived and they are rubbishing their vehicles.
Yes, we've seen a few flops, Lada from Russia for one. Tatra from Czeckoslavakia, Niki FSM from Poland and quite a few others.
With manufacturers now sourcing cars world wide we would have never imagined that some family Holdens would be made in Korea, Fords in South Africa, Korea and Thailand and even Suzukis from India.
I think it's great to see such a wonderful collection of new cars available in Australia, and as times move on we will see more Euro vehicles as they make them as good, if not better, than other marques throughout the world.
My Skoda Superb is a GREAT Car! It's a pity these "experts" wouldnt get off their asses and drive one.
Cheers from Ron
6 months ago 0 points
You are a perfect example of how an open mind can lead to bigger better things. I'm glad to here you are a Skoda owner and appear to be all the better for it.
Anyone that has the chance to see the Skoda product in the flesh and look ta the pro's and con's against its competitors will realise it is well worth considering and after the drive i would highly doubt they woul buy anything else thats in competing the market at the moment.