The Audi A3 has won the 2014 World Car of the Year, as voted by 69 jurors from 22 countries. The luxury compact car toppled the widely-tipped favorite, the Mazda3 from Japan, in the awards announced at the New York Motor Show. The Audi A3 was among five German cars that took out a clean sweep of the 2014 World Car of the Year categories, and it was Audi’s second win in 10 years, having won the inaugural award. Indeed, German cars have won seven of the past 10 World Car of the Year awards, Japanese brands have won the remaining three.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the Luxury Car of the Year while the Porsche 911 GT3 was awarded top performance car honours. But the Mazda3 had emerged as an early favorite for the outright World Car of the Year award following rave reviews globally since it went on sale late last year.
2014 World Car of The Year category winners
- Green car of the Year – BMW i3 electric car
- Car Design of the Year – BMW i3 electric car
- Performance Car of the Year – Porsche 911 GT3
- Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S-Class
World car of the year winners
- 2014 – Audi A3
- 2013 – Volkswagen Golf Mk7
- 2012 – Volkswagen Up
- 2011 – Nissan Leaf
- 2010 – Volkswagen Polo
- 2009 – Volkswagen Golf Mk6
- 2008 – Mazda2
- 2007 – Lexus LS460
