Globe Drive

Last week, 70 members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada tested 51 all-new or redesigned 2010 vehicles to pick the best new cars and utility vehicles in 12 categories.

Volkswagen Group vehicles dominated the 2010 Canadian Car of the Year awards; VW-Audi models took four awards, and Porsche's Panamera four-door won the Prestige car category.

From these 12 category winners, the AJAC voting members will choose the 2010 Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year. Those awards will be announced in February at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, along with the awards for Best New Technology and Best Design of the year.

Ford was the only Detroit-based auto maker to win an award – the Ford Taurus took the Family Car over $30,000 category – although a few in the crowd were lamenting that General Motors didn't come away with any hardware for some of the best products the company has produced. Chrysler Group didn't bring any vehicles to the event.

Two vehicles were unexpectedly disqualified; the BMW Z4 was set to enter the convertible group, but the test vehicles were equipped with manual transmissions, which were not allowed in the group as they attract such a small proportion of buyers. The Lexus HS 250h was also disqualified in the Luxury Car over $50,000 category, as it tops out at a fully loaded $48,900, and arrived with vehicles that cost closer to $41,000.

The winning models:

SMALL CAR (under $21,000): Mazda3

SMALL CAR (over $21,000): Mazda3 Sport

FAMILY CAR (under $30,000): VW Golf Wagon TDI

FAMILY CAR (over $30,000): Ford Taurus

LUXURY CAR (over $50,000): BMW 335d

PRESTIGE CAR (over $75,000): Porsche Panamera Turbo

SPORTS/PERFORMANCE (under $50,000): VW Golf GTI

SPORTS/PERFORMANCE (over $50,000): Audi S4

CONVERTIBLE: Audi A5 Cabriolet

SUV/CUV (under $35,000): Subaru Outback

SUV/CUV ($35,000-$60,000): Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel

SUV/CUV (over $60,000): Lexus RX 450h