2010 Prius - Not Motor Trend Car of Year

There have been stories/rumors in the past that the MT Car of the Year award goes to the highest bidder. Perhaps Toyota found something better to do with its $$.

 

Well I wonder (smile) if it's all about advertising $$...you got to keep the clients that pay the bills happy.

 

I think that's generally true.

In the old days at least Motor Trend seemed to overwhelmingly favor American cars for its Car of the Year award (and maybe it still does ... I haven't followed it that much recently).

I once owned a Motor Trend Car of the Year -- the Chevy Vega. That worked out well.

 

COTY doesn't mean much beyond marketing, which Toyota doesn't have any problem with in the Prius. I think a more valid award would be to wait 3 years and then let customers vote on the best car of 2010. I guarantee you that it won't be the Ford!

 

It's advertising and/or circulation. Ad rates are based on paid circulation.

 

"on paid circulation"..

And chosen by (advertising) clients based on the demographics, which brings up a question.

How many Prius owners buy MT and/or subscribe to MT or other auto magazines?

 

Don't care.

 

Every year it is different. They are trying to sell magazines. A single car seldom win twice even if there is a totally new model. I wouldn't get too worried.

 

I rented a Ford Fusion (non-hybrid) recently for a week and came to the conclusion that it was a P.O.S. It was basically brand-new with only 700 miles on it. There were pieces falling off the exterior. There appears to be a rear quarter-panel / bumper piece that is plastic that was slightly dislodged on both sides of the car. I could snap them back into place, drive a couple miles, and they'd be dislodged again. There were terrible rattles on the inside. The instrument panel looked very cheap and fake. The visibility wasn't as good as my 2006 Prius, neither was the storage space. The car had decent power and handling, but I didn't like the accelerator response. Too much of a lag time when accelerating from a dead stop. When the car finally did get going, it seemed overly sensitive and jumpy to the accelerator.

Perhaps this was a case of a really bad lemon, but I wasn't surprised based upon other Fords I've driven (many of my relatives tend to own them for some reason). Perhaps the hybrid is THAT much better than the non-hybrid Fusion. I'll reserve my judgment there until I get to drive one.

Just my 2 cents.

 

The american automakers have been in deep trouble. It is not surprising that the Motor Trend Car of the Year is not for a Japanese/European car! I would have been really suprised if it had been otherwise. Not to say that the Ford Fusion is not a good car, thoug, I have never tried one... Just my 1.90 cents (Cad 2 cents).

 

Crap. Who wants to buy my 2010 with 900 miles on it?

 

Who is Motor Trend?

 

Forget Motor Trend...

The only numbers that matter are those determined by the purchasing public - Annual Sales Numbers. Vote with your wallet.

Keith

 

I used to read Motor Trend and all the other car magazines, but in the early 70's I realized Motor Trend and the others were too interested in staying in good graces with their advertisers. So here's an interesting history on Motor Trend's COTY from this site:

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Trend_Car_of_the_Year]Motor Trend Car of the Year - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Car of the Year

2010 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fusion"]Ford Fusion[/ame][1]2009 Nissan GT-R2008 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_CTS"]Cadillac CTS[/ame]2007 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Camry"]Toyota Camry[/ame]2006 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic"]Honda Civic[/ame]2005 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_300"]Chrysler 300[/ame]2004 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius"]Toyota Prius[/ame]2003 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infiniti_G35"]Infiniti G35[/ame]2002 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird"]Ford Thunderbird[/ame]2001 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_PT_Cruiser"]Chrysler PT Cruiser[/ame]2000 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_LS"]Lincoln LS[/ame]1999 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_300M"]Chrysler 300M[/ame]1998 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette"]Chevrolet Corvette[/ame]1997 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Malibu"]Chevrolet Malibu[/ame]1996 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Caravan"]Dodge Caravan[/ame]1995 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Cirrus"]Chrysler Cirrus[/ame]1994 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang"]Ford Mustang[/ame]1993 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Probe"]Ford Probe[/ame] GT1992 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Seville"]Cadillac Seville[/ame] Touring Sedan1991 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Caprice"]Chevrolet Caprice[/ame] Classic LTZ1990 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Town_Car"]Lincoln Town Car[/ame]1989 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird"]Ford Thunderbird[/ame] SC1988 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Grand_Prix"]Pontiac Grand Prix[/ame]1987 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird_Turbo_Coupe"]Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe[/ame]1986 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taurus"]Ford Taurus[/ame] LX1985 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_Golf"]Volkswagen GTI[/ame] (eligible due to it being built in VW's now-defunct Pennsylvania plant)1984 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette"]Chevrolet Corvette[/ame]1983 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Motors"]AMC[/ame] / [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Alliance"]Renault Alliance[/ame]1982 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Camaro"]Chevrolet Camaro[/ame] Z281981 Chrysler K Cars, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Aries"]Dodge Aries[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Reliant"]Plymouth Reliant[/ame]1980 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Citation"]Chevrolet Citation[/ame]1979 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Riviera"]Buick Riviera[/ame] S1978 Chrysler, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Omni"]Dodge Omni[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Horizon"]Plymouth Horizon[/ame]1977 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Caprice"]Chevrolet Caprice[/ame]1976 Chrysler, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Aspen"]Dodge Aspen[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Volare"]Plymouth Volare[/ame]1975 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Monza"]Chevrolet Monza[/ame] 2+21974 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang"]Ford Mustang[/ame] II1973 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Monte_Carlo"]Chevrolet Monte Carlo[/ame]1972 Citroën SM (an imported vehicle that was selected overall "Car of the Year")1971 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Vega"]Chevrolet Vega[/ame]1970 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Torino"]Ford Torino[/ame]1969 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Road_Runner"]Plymouth Road Runner[/ame]1968 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_GTO"]Pontiac GTO[/ame]1967 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Cougar"]Mercury Cougar[/ame]1966 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Toronado"]Oldsmobile Toronado[/ame]1965 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac"]Pontiac Motor Division[/ame]1964 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company"]Ford Motor Company[/ame] (not for the Mustang)1963 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Motors"]American Motors[/ame] (AMC) Rambler (all models: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambler_American"]American[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambler_Classic"]Classic[/ame], and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Ambassador"]Ambassador[/ame])1962 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Special"]Buick Special[/ame]1961 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Tempest"]Pontiac Tempest[/ame]1960 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvair"]Chevrolet Corvair[/ame]1959 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac"]Pontiac Motor Division[/ame]1958 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird"]Ford Thunderbird[/ame]1957 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Corporation"]Chrysler Corporation[/ame] (all makes: Plymouth, [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge"]Dodge[/ame], DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial)1956 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company"]Ford Motor Company[/ame]1955 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet"]Chevrolet Motor Division[/ame]1954 No award1953 No award1952 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac"]Cadillac Motor Division[/ame]1951 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Corporation"]Chrysler Corporation[/ame]1950 No award1949 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac"]Cadillac Motor Division[/ame] Import Car of the Year

Introduced in 1970 due to distinguishing differences between imports and American cars, was discontinued after the 1999 model year when the line between what is truly American and what isn't became very blurry.
1999 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_New_Beetle"]Volkswagen New Beetle[/ame]1998 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_GS"]Lexus GS[/ame]1997 BMW 5-Series1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class1995 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Maxima"]Nissan Maxima[/ame]1994 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Accord"]Honda Accord[/ame]1993 Mazda RX-71992 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_SC"]Lexus SC[/ame] 4001991 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_3000GT"]Mitsubishi 3000GT[/ame] VR-41990 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_300ZX"]Nissan 300ZX[/ame] Turbo1989 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Galant"]Mitsubishi Galant[/ame] GS1988 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CRX"]Honda CRX[/ame] Si1987 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_Legend"]Acura Legend[/ame] Coupe1986 Mazda RX-71985 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_MR2"]Toyota MR2[/ame]1984 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CRX"]Honda Civic CRX[/ame]1983 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_626"]Mazda 626[/ame]1982 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Celica"]Toyota Celica[/ame] Supra1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD1980 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic"]Honda Civic[/ame]1979 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datsun_280ZX"]Datsun 280ZX[/ame]1978 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Celica"]Toyota Celica[/ame]1977 Mercedes-Benz 280E1976 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Celica"]Toyota Celica[/ame] Liftback1971-1975 no award1970 [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_914"]Porsche 914[/ame]

 

That was an interesting Wiki article.

No wonder the Car of the Year was overwhelmingly American in the old days -- until 1999 only cars manufactured in the US were eligible. I didn't know that. I had thought it was like the Oscars where a foreign movie could be eligible for Best Picture as well as Best Foreign Picture.

And now, of the winning cars since 1999, 6 were American and 5 were foreign -- including the Prius which won the 2004 Car of the Year.

 

The prius won once before, did Toyota pay Motor Trend? That's just silliness, but honestly, the fusion fits a much wider audience than the prius. With 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder and hybrid powertrains, it's going to make more people happy. My parents own a 2010 fusion hybrid, and as much as I like my prius, the fusion is more deserving of the title. It looks better, it rides better, the interior materials and comfort are much better and it has a proven record of reliability. If ford can build a hybrid that matches the prius's price and mpgs, then I'll become a convert. However, $22,000 for 50mpg is something Ford just can't do. Still, we don't need to be sore losers. The Fusion is the best car to come out of America in quite some time and fully deserving of it's award.

 

The Fusion though is a solid choice. They hybrid version alone makes this new iteration a standout over the rest of the crowd. The FFH is every bit as good if not better than the TCH in terms of fuel economy. Styling and features are pretty subjective but I think Ford stands out on performance and interior workmanship. From all reports the Fusion, even the FFH, is more compelling to drive.

It's a significant step up to the level of Toyota - beyond? From Detroit that's saying a lot given that this is a mass marketed auto, not a truck. It really is significant.