2018 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards: Category Finalists Announced

by Michel Deslauriers December 21, 2017

Every year, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada celebrates the best vehicles in each of several categories in addition to naming the overall Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year.

For 2018, AJAC decided to make some changes to its program, and every vehicle on the market—if available to voting journalists for test-drives—was eligible to win its category, not just the new and significantly redesigned ones.

After compiling the results of almost 3000 ballots submitted on 182 different vehicle models, here are the category finalists.

Best City Car in Canada for 2018

(minicars as well as electric vehicles with a driving range of 200 km of less)
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Nissan Micra
Volkswagen e-Golf

Best Small Car in Canada for 2018

(subcompact and compact cars)
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid/PHEV
Mazda3

Best Large Car in Canada for 2018

(midsize and full-size cars)
Honda Accord
Mazda6
Toyota Camry

Best Small Premium Car in Canada for 2018

(subcompact and compact luxury cars)
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Infiniti Q60
Jaguar XE

Best Large Premium Car in Canada for 2018

(midsize and full-size luxury cars)
Genesis G80
Lexus LC
Volvo S90/V90

Best Sports/Performance Car in Canada for 2018

Honda Civic Si
Honda Civic Type R
Volkswagen Golf R

Best Premium Sports/Performance Car in Canada for 2018

Jaguar F-TYPE
Porsche 718
Porsche 911

Best Convertible in Canada for 2018

Mazda MX-5
Mercedes-Benz SL
Porsche 718 Boxster

Best Small Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018

(subcompact and compact utility vehicles)
Honda CR-V
Mazda CX-5
Nissan Rogue

Best Large Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018

(midsize and full-size utility vehicles)
Chevrolet Traverse
Mazda CX-9
Toyota Highlander

Best Small Premium Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018

(subcompact and compact luxury utility vehicles)
Porsche Macan
Range Rover Velar
Volvo XC60

Best Large Premium Utility Vehicle in Canada for 2018

(midsize and full-size luxury utility vehicles)
Acura MDX
Land Rover Discovery
Volvo XC90

Best Minivan in Canada for 2018

Chrysler Pacifica
Honda Odyssey
Kia Sedona

Best Pickup Truck in Canada for 2018

Honda Ridgeline
Ram 1500
Toyota Tundra

The overall winner of each category will be announced at the Montreal Auto Show in January 18, 2018. Those winners will then be eligible for the overall titles of 2018 AJAC Canadian Car of the Year and 2018 AJAC Utility Vehicle of the Year, which will be announced at the Toronto Auto Show on February 15, 2018. Finally, AJAC’s Canadian Green Car of the Year and Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year will be revealed at the Vancouver Auto Show on March 28, 2018.

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