2014 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

[ApplePhy]

CORRECTION: 2015 NACOTY


Once again, HYUNDAI has made it on the short list of the NACOTY contenders.

Quite remarkable actually since in the past 6 years, Hyundai has won NACOTY honors 2 times, and was runner up once.

-2009 Hyundai Genesis: winner
-2011 Hyundai Sonata: 2nd place
-2012 Hyundai Elantra: winner
-2015 Hyundai Genesis: on short list. Top 3 Finalists to be announced later this
year, and winner in January at the Detroit Auto Show.

Pretty much the most prestigious award in the auto industry.

Among the cars on the short list listed below, I honestly believe the 2015 Hyundai Genesis will be a finalist (top 3), and has an EXCELLENT chance of winning again this year.

I can't think of another car that has garnered as much critical acclaim from not only US/Canadian auto journalists, but from overseas car critics as well (i.e. Australia).

Don't get me wrong, the list includes some worthy contenders (particularly the new MB C-Class), but in total, the Genesis is hands down the best car when all attributes are taken into consideration: Stlyle, interior quality, engine, fuel efficiency (only drawback really), Safety (the best of the group with top safety scores across the board), and best of all: VALUE.

What does everyone else think? Do you like the Genesis' chances this year? If not, who do you think out of the list below, will win?

Acura TLX
Audi A3
Chrysler 200
Ford Mustang
Honda Fit
Hyundai Genesis
Hyundai Sonata
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Golf/GTI

 

[Mark_888]

I think you mean 2015 NACOY. I think the 2014 winner was Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The 2015 Genesis is a very good car, but I think the Mustang may win.

 

[ApplePhy]

I think you mean 2015 NACOY. I think the 2014 winner was Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The 2015 Genesis is a very good car, but I think the Mustang may win.

Yes. Thanks for the correction. That's 2015.

 

[YEH]

I think you mean 2015 NACOY. I think the 2014 winner was Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The 2015 Genesis is a very good car, but I think the Mustang may win.

If the Mustang wins, it's more for the nameplate than anything else - the reviews have been less than stellar.

Likely will come down to the Genesis, Golf and C Class (think the Golf might just edge out the Genesis).

 

[Mark_888]

If the Mustang wins, it's more for the nameplate than anything else - the reviews have been less than stellar.

Likely will come down to the Genesis, Golf and C Class (think the Golf might just edge out the Genesis).

For this particular award announced at the Detroit Auto Show, I think American cars may have an slight edge. Reviews I have seen of the Mustang are quite good, especially considering the price. The cars on the short list cannot be compared straight up, or else a luxury car would win every time. They have to be compared to other cars in the same class/price-range, and that is why I think Mustang may win. Obviously, nameplate and history will be a factor.

 

[ApplePhy]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

. They have to be compared to other cars in the same class/price-range, and that is why I think Mustang may win. Obviously, nameplate and history will be a factor.

Which is PRECISELY why the Genesis (in my eyes) is the favorite, and should win.

Given the overall build quality, safety (the safest mid sized luxury car you can buy, with the best crash scores in its class), content, NVH reduction (many testers say it has the lowest interior noise decibel of almost any other car they've tested at highway speeds), technology (CO2 sensors in cabin, smart trunk, active lane keep assist, arguably best in class heads up display, auto emergency breaking, etc...) and value, the Genesis stands above its peers like no other car in this list.

Because one of the metrics of this award includes VALUE, the Genesis should be at the top in consideration.

Question is, are the Mustang and C-Class (both outstanding cars) better than their respective competitions when VALUE is factored in? I'm guessing no. This is one of the huge demerits of the C-Class, as I believe you can easily option out this car to mid $50k's (which is E Classe territory).

 

[Mark_888]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

Which is PRECISELY why the Genesis (in my eyes) is the favorite, and should win.

Given the overall build quality, safety (the safest mid sized luxury car you can buy, with the best crash scores in its class), content, NVH reduction (many testers say it has the lowest interior noise decibel of almost any other car they've tested at highway speeds), technology (CO2 sensors in cabin, smart trunk, active lane keep assist, arguably best in class heads up display, auto emergency breaking, etc...) and value, the Genesis stands above its peers like no other car in this list.

Because one of the metrics of this award includes VALUE, the Genesis should be at the top in consideration.

Question is, are the Mustang and C-Class (both outstanding cars) better than their respective competitions when VALUE is factored in? I'm guessing no. This is one of the huge demerits of the C-Class, as I believe you can easily option out this car to mid $50k's (which is E Classe territory).

I am not going to argue as to who "should" get the award. But like Academy Awards, sentiment usually plays a big part in the selecting the winner. I don't know if you are old enough to remember the original Mustang, but it is still one the most iconic cars in US automotive history, and it is going to be the sentimental favorite for that reason at the Detroit Auto Show.

 

[ckon]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

I am not going to argue as to who "should" get the award. But like Academy Awards, sentiment usually plays a big part in the selecting the winner. I don't know if you are old enough to remember the original Mustang, but it is still one the most iconic cars in US automotive history, and it is going to be the sentimental favorite for that reason at the Detroit Auto Show.

+1.

 

[YEH]

For this particular award announced at the Detroit Auto Show, I think American cars may have an slight edge. Reviews I have seen of the Mustang are quite good, especially considering the price. The cars on the short list cannot be compared straight up, or else a luxury car would win every time. They have to be compared to other cars in the same class/price-range, and that is why I think Mustang may win. Obviously, nameplate and history will be a factor.

While the reviews on the Mustang have been good, they have not been glowing like for the Golf or Genesis, or for that matter, the C7.

And while there very well may be a domestic/nostalgic bent regarding the Mustang, it can be 2-sided as there has been very high expectations for the new Mustang (maybe too high) - which I don't think it has met.

While the new Mustang has improved its ride, many consider the previous 'Stang to be the more fun track car and the Mustang has already lost comparisons to the Camaro (which, itself, will soon be replaced).

And it's not just in the handling dept. - there have been remarks about how some of the interior bits are still too chinzy (remarks which we did not really see for the C7).

As an aside, one of the surprises was the weight gain when many were expecting a weight reduction - which puts the weight gain of the 2G Genesis in better perspective.

Unless an automaker is prepared to use a good bit of more expensive weight reducing materials (carbon fiber, aluminum, etc.), it's very difficult to prevent a weight increase if one wants to pass the IIHS slight overlap test and have all the amenities that consumers expect today.

 

[Mark_888]

And it's not just in the handling dept. - there have been remarks about how some of the interior bits are still too chinzy (remarks which we did not really see for the C7).

Give me a break. The Mustang has a starting MSRP of about $24K.

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[YEH]

^ They are talking too chinzy for that pricepoint - duh!!

 

[ApplePhy]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

I am not going to argue as to who "should" get the award. But like Academy Awards, sentiment usually plays a big part in the selecting the winner...

Debating is a significant reason why forums such as this exist.

As far as sentiment is concerned, you might have a point here with the 'stang.

However keep in mind, there are over 50 auto journalists/publications responsible in the voting, from all over North America. Not all are American. Quite a bit are from Canada.

And Hyundai, more than any other automaker in the past 6 years, has quite the track record (for the non-SUV/truck category that is)

 

[Mark_888]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

Debating is a significant reason why forums such as this exist.

I don't have any objection if someone else wants to debate the subject about who "should" win. But I am not going to do that for several reasons.

One is that I have not driven all the cars in contention (and don't intend to). Second, it is very hard to predict a contest of various cars that are so different, and are priced so different. It's about as subjective as picking the best in show at the Westminster Dog Show (purely a matter of opinion, and in most cases just a wild-ass guess). If all the cars were in the same class/price range, that would different.

 

[ApplePhy]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

I don't have any objection if someone else wants to debate the subject about who "should" win. But I am not going to do that for several reasons.

One is that I have not driven all the cars in contention (and don't intend to). Second, it is very hard to predict a contest of various cars that are so different, and are priced so different. It's about as subjective as picking the best in show at the Westminster Dog Show (purely a matter of opinion, and in most cases just a wild-ass guess). If all the cars were in the same class/price range, that would different.

My insistence that the 2015 MY Genesis should win is not based on my having driven every single car on the short list. It's based on my having read numerous reviews of most of the cars on the short list from a good number/sampling of the major auto publications in North America.

The reviews are for the most part, universal, in that they give high praise for this vehicle for all of the metrics on which this award is based on (see below). As I'm sure you know, when polling 50 journalists of any kind, this is no easy feat.

And speaking of the metrics, you do realize this award is probably the most objective award in the industry? There are clear categories in which judges use to objectively rate these cars, and assign points to.

It's not some rear wheel drive, Euro obsessed, Nurburgring loving, pedigree focused auto publication arbitrarily favoring the newest Audi in its review simply because it's an Audi.

"...The goal is to select a car and a truck that set new benchmarks in the classes in which they compete. Jurors evaluate the vehicles on factors including value for the dollar, innovation, handling, performance, safety and driver satisfaction...."

The Genesis is not competing directly against the Mustang. It's how well these respective cars compete with others from THEIR SAME RESPECTIVE CLASSES in which they compete. For example, If Car X (a mid-sized car) sets the standard BETTER for its class than does Car Y (a compact luxury car) setting the standard better for it's respective class

Each judge is then assigned 25 points to distribute for both the car, and SUV/truck categories

Admittedly, out of these, 'driver satisfaction' is indeed objective. But the rest is as objective as can be.

 

[Mark_888]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

The Genesis is not competing directly against the Mustang. It's how well these respective cars compete with others from THEIR SAME RESPECTIVE CLASSES in which they compete. For example, If Car X (a mid-sized car) sets the standard BETTER for its class than does Car Y (a compact luxury car) setting the standard better for it's respective class.

That is exactly how they judge "Best in Show" at the Westminster Dog Show. They don't directly judge each dog against the other finalists (since there is only one dog per breed in the Best of Show contest), they claim to judge each dog against all other dogs of the same breed.

But the reality is that this kind of contest is 99% subjective. That is why the Westminster Dog show has only one judge per contest, otherwise there would be a fist-fight among the judges every time they tried to decide the winners.

Also, I just don't really care who wins Car of the Year. It has no impact on my life, no impact on my buying decisions, and is just the personal opinion of other people who I probably don't agree with. Even though I think the Mustang has a good chance of winning, I would never consider buying that car.

 

[ApplePhy]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

That is exactly how they judge "Best in Show" at the Westminster Dog Show. They don't directly judge each dog against the other finalists (since there is only one dog per breed in the Best of Show contest), they claim to judge each dog against all other dogs of the same breed.

But the reality is that this kind of contest is 99% subjective. That is why the Westminster Dog show has only one judge per contest, otherwise there would be a fist-fight among the judges every time they tried to decide the winners.

Also, I just don't really care who wins Car of the Year. It has no impact on my life, no impact on my buying decisions, and is just the personal opinion of other people who I probably don't agree with. Even though I think the Mustang has a good chance of winning, I would never consider buying that car.

This isn't an enthusiast forum for dog shows, so I don't care for the Wetsminster Dog Show, or for any other dog show for that matter.

But this IS an enthusiast forum for the Hyundai Genesis, a car which is nominated for the most prestigious award in North America. As a senior member of this forum, and one who chose to purchase this car, I would hope you would care!

The thing is, industry recognition for what Hyundai has managed to do (go from a fledgling car company that makes shoddy entry level cars, to now building world class vehicles competing with the very best of what the Germans/Japanese have to offer), is an amazing feat.

You might not care, but the Germans/Japanese surely do. They can no longer rest on their laurels, and will only drive other automakers to step up their game.

The end result? Competition: which WILL ultimately benefit customers such as yourself.

 

[ApplePhy]

Re: 2015 North American Car of the Year: Genesis likely to win?

Well here it is...

The finalists for NACOTY 2015!

Hyundai Genesis
Ford Mustang
VW Golf/GTI

Some pretty stiff competition.

Who do you think will win next month?

 

[YEH]

Well, the Golf/GTI won which isn't surprising since it has gotten the most effusive reviews of the 3 finalists across the board.

 

[Mark_888]

Well, the Golf/GTI won which isn't surprising since it has gotten the most effusive reviews of the 3 finalists across the board.

Mustang would have won, but they gave the F-150 truck of the year, so can't give both to Ford without looking biased.

 

[YEH]

^ Oh, please - that has no bearing despite what you may think (really, where do you come up w/ some of this stuff?).

The Golf/GTI had pretty much garnered most of the COTY awards from the auto press.

Some previous dual winners.

2010 - Fusion hybrid, Transit Connect
2007 - Aura, Silverado
2006 - Civic, Ridgeline