Motor Trend Announces 2004 Car of the Year

Motor Trend magazine, the world's #1 automotive authority and part of the PRIMEDIA Consumer Automotive Group, today announced the selection of the Toyota Prius as the 2004 Car of the Year. Now in its 55th year, the title of Motor Trend Car of the Year is the most coveted and most recognized award in the automotive industry.

"We realize the selection of a hybrid vehicle is going to stir controversy, but we believe the performance, engineering advancements, and overall significance of the Toyota Prius merits the distinction of Motor Trend's Car of the Year," said Kevin Smith, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "The Prius is a capable, comfortable, fun-to-drive car that just happens to get spectacular fuel economy. It also provides a promising look at a future where extreme fuel-efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and exceptional performance will happily coexist. That makes it meaningful to a wide range of car buyers."

After weeks of exhaustive testing, Motor Trend editors found the Toyota Prius to be a user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an impressive 60 miles per gallon in city driving. It is the first of such vehicles to move into the automotive mainstream, with performance, style and quality. Spacious enough to be classified as a midsize sedan, the Prius' futuristic bodywork, innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive, pleasing interior and five-door hatchback design, clearly placed it above the competition.

"We're thrilled Motor Trend magazine has chosen the Toyota Prius as the 2004 Car of the Year," said Don Esmond, senior vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. "This may be the first hybrid vehicle to win the award, but it won't be the last. The Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Prius is cutting-edge technology and we applaud the editors of Motor Trend for recognizing its significance in the evolution of the automobile."

This year, the editorial staff of Motor Trend conducted testing on 26 new vehicles, from sports cars to minivans, searching for the automobile that best represented exceptional value, superiority in its class, and the most significant development on the new-car scene for 2004. All truly new or substantially revised cars were considered with the condition that they be available for public sale by January 1, 2004.

For the 2004 Car of the Year competition, the following models were included: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A8 L, BMW 5 Series, BMW Z4, Cadillac XLR, Chevrolet Malibu and Maxx, Chevrolet Aveo, Chrysler Crossfire, Ford Freestar, Jaguar XJ8/XJR, Mazda RX-8, Mitsubishi Galant, Mitsubishi Lancer/Ralliart/Evolution, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac GTO, Scion xA, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza/WRX/STi, Suzuki Verona, Toyota Camry Solara, Toyota Prius, Toyota Sienna, and the Volkswagen Phaeton.

"Our readers trust the Motor Trend brand to provide the most authoritative and unbiased vehicle evaluation for the Car of the Year award," said Smith. "Each year our staff dedicates hundreds of hours to vigorous testing and focuses on identifying the best and most noteworthy automobile to receive the award. We are very proud of the credence and trust placed in our selection by our readers and the automobile industry. "

The Motor Trend Evaluation Process
Each year, the editorial staff of Motor Trend evaluates the eligible vehicles based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value. Significance refers to impact on the market and looks for mastery and innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging, as well as envisioned sales forecasts for that model line. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of performance, style, and value within its specific competitive set--not among all new vehicles. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, "What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?"

In making the selection, vehicles are taken to task through thousands of miles of on-track and on-street driving, in a wide variety of weather and road conditions to evaluate many factors, including styling and design; fit, finish and materials; engineering and technology; interior; safety; performance; and value. Additional aspects evaluated included handling balance, response, predictability, and power delivery.

The complete report on the 2004 Car of the Year can be found in the January 2004 issue of Motor Trend, on newsstands December 2, 2003. Multimedia coverage of the testing and selection process will appear on Motor Trend Television, hosted by feature editor John Matthius. Motor Trend Online will post a behind the scenes photo gallery and wallpaper in December.