The cars of the year

The cars of the year

The election for the Grand Austrian Automobile Prize from the Arbö Club Journal Freiefahrt has been won. As part of a photo session, the four winning vehicles were honored by Arbö President Peter Rezar and Arbö General Secretary Gerald Kumnig. A total of 29 vehicles were chosen this year in three categories (Start, Medium, Premium).

In the Start category (vehicles up to 20,000 euros) there was a premiere in the 39th year of its existence: only two vehicles were eligible to start this year, namely the Dacia Jogger and Toyota Aygo The medium category (vehicles from 20,001 to 50,000 euros) produced two winners: the Volvo C40 and the BMW X1 shared first place. Third place goes to another SUV: The Mazda CX-60 still makes it to the podium. With 19 representatives, the Medium category was the category with the largest starting field and thus showed the entire range of drive and body shapes. From sports cars to vans, from pure electric cars to classic petrol engines: no other category showed such a variety of different vehicles.

It was a close call between the eight representatives in the Premium category (vehicles from 50,001 euros). Ultimately, the jury chose the Mercedes-Benz GLC for first place. Behind them, the electric SUV BMW iX and the all-rounder VW Multivan came in second and third place. After an electric car won the category three times in a row in the past few years, this year the GLC, a car with a classic combustion engine or hybrid drive, wins again. Arbö President Peter Rezar said on the occasion of the award ceremony: “Even if not everyone wants to hear it, owning a car is still an important and popular form of mobility for many Austrians.”